"VFR Tower"

[cathaywannabe]

What exactly is a "VFR Tower"? How is it different than a "non-VFR tower"?

I've done internet searches and haven't been able to track down a good answer. Any references would be appreciated.

 

[FlyinFife]

FWIW - I believe it has to do with the availability of radar at that tower or not. Some Class D airports have radar, others do not. I don't have any resources to back me up, just going on a hunch.

My $.02

 

[Westwindflyer]

Yeah it is the services they have. I guess it would be like doing an approach in nonradar environment.

 

[cathaywannabe]

Well, Boca Raton (BCT) is in a radar environment served by PBI TRACON...but they are considered a VFR Tower. Does a VFR Tower NOT have a Brite scope?

 

[dickburns]

afaik, all class d towers are considered VFR towers. They cannot issue ifr clearances, so even though you fly through there on an ifr flight plan, they are considered a VFR tower due to who owns/controls their airspace (the approach control).

 

[whaleroast]

afaik, all class d towers are considered VFR towers. They cannot issue ifr clearances, so even though you fly through there on an ifr flight plan, they are considered a VFR tower due to who owns/controls their airspace (the approach control).

Wrong.

 

[dickburns]

reallY?

please tell me then.

I'm sure you've issued plenty of clearances eh? I happen to BE a controller!

 

[dickburns]

and while you're proving me wrong, please list an example of a VFR tower (or class D tower) that can issue an IFR clearance.

 

[whaleroast]

Are you saying you can't get an IFR clearence from a VFR tower? I know I have received one from them before while on the ground.

 

[dickburns]

No, I said a VFR tower can't issue an IFR clearance.

 

[whaleroast]

If you have to call the tower while on the ground to get your clearance, and they give it to, who are you talking to then?

 

[dickburns]

You're talking to the tower, and they give you the clearance, but my point is, because they're not an ifr facility, a vfr tower cannot ISSUE the clearance, or "clear" the clearance. If that makes any sense.

You call them for your clearance, and they contact the controlling agency for their airspace to get the clearance, be it an ARTCC or TRACON.

 

[whaleroast]

Ok. Thanks.

 

[cathaywannabe]

This link provides the best explanation I've found so far:

http://www.awp.faa.gov/ccr/radar.htm

Would places like LAX, LGA, JFK be considered VFR towers? They don't need a "release" per ce to get planes off the ground from a TRACON, assuming their are no EDCT's, etc.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

and while you're proving me wrong, please list an example of a VFR tower (or class D tower) that can issue an IFR clearance.

How about any of the TRSA's? Like TRI, AZO, MBS, ERI, ect...

 

[GIVDrvr]

A VFR tower is a facility at which the Tower controllers are not radar certified. A VFR tower may have BRITE equipment to assist the local controller with situational awareness but the controllers do provide radar services as defined in the AIM.
The VFR tower provides IFR separation between arrivals and departures and successive departures per LOA with the overlying radar facility. VFR towers issue IFR clearances all the time. However that is not what sets them apart. Even at big terminals like JFK the clearances issued by the tower outside the TEC structure are only issued with approval of the overlying ARTCC. Additionally, VFR tower can issue a special VFR clearance which is a form of IFR clearance in that IFR separation is provided to that a/c. Biggest difference? They dont vector. At big terminals local controllers are radar qualified for at least limited radar services often full services are provided and the tower may have an distinct area of jurisduction beyond a class d separate from the Tracon.

 

[cathaywannabe]

So can I assume any tower with an associated TRACON (TRSA, most class C, all class B) is not just a "VFR Tower"?

 

[GIVDrvr]

Thats likely a safe assumption. At smaller level three and four towers the controllers rotate position assignments between the tower and the tracon. One place that is changing is PSP. The Tracon is being absorbed by SoCal Approach leaving...a vfr tower behind.

 

[dickburns]

Most up/down are going by the way-side.

 

[Hold West]

What exactly is a "VFR Tower"? How is it different than a "non-VFR tower"?

I've done internet searches and haven't been able to track down a good answer. Any references would be appreciated.

A VFR tower is a tower that does not exercise any IFR authority. Any clearances they give are formulated and issued by an overlying ATC facility, and simply relayed, verbatim, to you by the VFR tower.

Some IFR or semi-IFR (like special VFR) authority may be delegated to a VFR tower in a Letter of Agreement. For example, "silent clearance" authority may be given to a VFR tower, where they are authorized to issue clearances based on flight plans delivered to them via automated means, such as a flight strip printer in the cab. This does not authorized them to release IFR flights, typically after issuing the clearance, they must call the overlying IFR facility, either a TRACON or a center, and request release of an IFR flight, usually within a 3 minute window.

A VFR tower may or may not have radar available in the cab, it really doesn't matter. Radar in a VFR tower is supposed to be used as an "extension of the controller's eyes" and they are usually not certified to provide any true radar services.