ESPA - Luleå/Kallax

Overview

Luleå/Kallax is one of the few remaining air force bases in Sweden, and is home to the F 21 air wing. The civilian side of the airport is also relatively busy, with around 15 daily flights to Stockholm/Arlanda and several flights a day to Göteborg/Landvetter, making Kallax the number six airport in Sweden in terms of passenger numbers. There is also scheduled traffic to, amongst other places, Tromsö in Norway and Oulu in Finland, as well as charter flights to holiday destinations.

At almost 3400 metres, the runway at Kallax is the longest runway in Sweden. The airport is equipped with ILS for both runway directions.

Charts and AIP information

Scenery

Freeware scenery for FS2004 and FSX available at RB Design.

A basic scenery for P3D and FSX that includes correct taxiways, aprons and signage also on the military side of the airport is available here:

ESPA.rar

Local Regulations

IFR clearance

ATC clearance will be delivered prior to/at start-up. Such clearance will be issued for RWY in use and appropriate SID. Transponder code will be communicated during taxi. The initial altitude clearance for all SIDs is 5000 ft unless otherwise instructed by ATC.

Military traffic – general

• Swedish military traffic uses feet or metres (1000 ft = 300 m) for altitudes, nautical miles (NM) or kilometres (km) for horizontal distances (1 NM = 2 km) and knots or kilometres per hour (kmh, 1 knot = 2 kmh) for speed. Note that feet, NM and knots shall be used unless otherwise requested.
• When using metres to express levels, QFE is used below the transition altitude.
• For take-off and landing, wind direction and speed may be expressed as the angle from the runway and the strength in knots or kmh (the latter is used when the aircraft is using metres and kmh). Example: RWY 32 in use and the wind is 340°/10 knots (20 kmh). This is expressed as: “wind from right 20 degrees, 10 knots” (or “20 kilometres” if kmh is used). Kmh is only used for aircraft applying metric units.
• Military aircraft may fly in different formations, normally with two to four aircraft. When this is done the leading aircraft should squawk its assigned transponder code, and the other aircraft in the group should squawk standby. All aircraft in the group will receive individual transponder codes, to be used when/if splitting up the group.

TMA speed restriction

Maximum speed for aircraft type 60, 37, 39, and veteran aircraft type 32 and 35 is 300 kt (550 km/h) in TMA unless otherwise coordinated with ATC.

Military traffic – arrival

In VMC the VFR entry points may be used by military traffic.

When landing in formation one landing clearance is given for all aircraft in the formation, except in extended formation when landing clearance is given to each individual aircraft.

Landing clearance also constitutes a clearance to vacate the runway at the runway end and taxi to stand.

 Military traffic – departure

Start-up/taxi

Military aircraft do not require start-up clearance.

Clearance

Military jets are cleared via ”standard departure” unless otherwise indicated or coordinated with TMC. Phraseology: CLEARED (destination, e.g. name of training sector) VIA STANDARD DEPARTURE [NORTH/SOUTH]. After departure the airplane climbs straight ahead until a specified distance and turns to a heading according to the table below. The traffic climbs to 1500 m (5000 ft) unless otherwise instructed or coordinated.

Standard Departure	Distance from ARP on RWY TRK	Direction of turn	Heading after turn
14 (North)	3 km/1.6 NM	Right	145
14 (South)	3 km/1.6 NM	Right	195
32	3 km/1.6 NM	Left	300

Note: ARP = Aerodrome Reference Point: The centre point of the runway

Further clearance is given by Kallax Control at 1500 m (5000 ft) and a distance of 10 km (5.4 NM) from ARP.

In VMC the VFR exit points may be used by military traffic.

Military traffic – callsigns

Below are some of the most common military callsigns used at Kallax.

The following callsigns are used by military traffic flying as operational air traffic (OAT).

Division/operator	RTF callsign	Abbreviation
211 Division	WOLF	WOLF
212 Division	DALTON	DALT
11 Heli Division	WHITEFOX	WX
21 Heli Division	ICEPAC	IP
23 Heli Division	DUSTY	DU
31 Heli Division	STINGRAY	ST
32 Heli Division	OSPREY	OY
TP84 (Hercules)	MIGHTY	MITY

When flying as general air traffic (GAT) the Swedish Air Force uses the callsign SWEDEFORCE (SVF). GAT is used for example for transport flights and means the flight is operating on a “normal” civilian flight plan.

Callsigns are constructed using two or three numbers as follows:

TP84 (C130): 800 series (fin number is used)
S100/TP100 (SF34) and S102/TP102 (Gulfstream IV and G550): 600 series
JAS39 (SB39): 01-99
SK60 (SB05): 200-299 (two seater), 400-499 (four seater)
Helicopters: 300-399

Examples:

JAS39 flying as OAT: WOLF15 (“Wolf 15”)
SK60 flying as OAT: DALT235 (“Dalton 235”)
Helicopter: WX349 (“Whitefox 349”)
TP84 fin number 846: MITY846 (“Mighty 846” – when OAT), SVF846 (“Swedeforce 846” – when GAT)

Parking

Military aprons and taxiways are south of the runway, so all civilian aircraft should vacate the runway to the north side, where the civil apron is located.

Pushback is required at stand 3-5. All other stands are self-manoeuvring stands. Apron 10 is available for small GA aircraft.

Communications

ID – Frequency – Callsign – Channel – Remarks 

ESPA_TWR – 128.200 – Kallax Tower – A – CTR
ESPA_APP – 125.450 – Kallax Control – C2 – TMA

ESOS_K_CTR – 131.050 – Sweden Control – ACC sector responsible if no local ATS is available
ESOS_N_CTR – 132.150 – Sweden Control – *
ESOS_3_CTR – 131.125 – Sweden Control – *
ESOS_1_CTR/ESOS_CTR – 118.400 – Sweden Control – *

*Sectors responsible in order of priority when no local ATS or ESOS sector K is available

Airspace classification

TMA and CTR: Class C