KENTUCKY DERBY
LOUISVILLE, KY
May 1-5, 2024
SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES
Special air traffic procedures to manage increased traffic, enhance safety, and minimize delays are in effect for the following airports:
AIRPORTS | IDENTIFIER |
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport | SDF |
Bowman Field Airport | LOU |
Clark Regional Airport | JVY |
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
When traffic demand exceeds airport capacity, the Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center (ATCSCC) may apply traffic management initiatives to domestic, IFR arrivals. Pilots should anticipate Expect Departure Clearance Times (EDCT), airborne holding, or other potential delays.
Expect heavy demand and potential traffic management initiatives during the following periods:
DAY | DATE | TIME EDT | TIME UTC |
Wednesday | May 1, 2024 | 0800-1959 | 1200-2359 |
Thursday | May 2, 2024 | 0800-1959 | 1200-2359 |
Friday | May 3, 2024 | 0800-1959 | 1200-2359 |
Saturday | May 4, 2024 | 0600-2159 | 1000-0159 |
Sunday | May 5, 2024 | 0600-1559 | 1000-1959 |
PREFERRED IFR ARRIVAL ROUTES
Jet and turboprop aircraft are requested to file one of the following preferred routes:
DESTINATION | EQUIPMENT | ROUTE |
KSDF | RNAV | PXV SACKO DAMEN5 |
KSDF | RNAV | UKATS CVG DLAMP6 |
KSDF | RNAV | RAMSE FRIZN5 |
KSDF | RNAV | VXV GREDY MAUDD6 HMV LAFOX MAUDD6 HVQ UNCKL MAUDD6 NOPOE Transition Not Authorized |
KSDF | RNAV | WANAV MBELL4 |
KSDF | NON-RNAV | TTH V171 HONOS |
KSDF | NON-RNAV | PXV CHERI4 |
KSDF | NON-RNAV | VXV DARBY8 HMV LOZ DARBY8 HVQ UNCKL DARBY8 HCH Transition Not Authorized |
KSDF | NON-RNAV | UKATS CVG RDSTN6 |
KJVY | NON-RNAV | PXV CHERI4 |
KJVY | NON-RNAV | TTH V171 HONOS |
KJVY | NON-RNAV | VXV DARBY8 HMV LOZ DARBY8 HVQ UNCKL DARBY8 HCH Transition Not Authorized |
KJVY | NON-RNAV | UKATS CVG RDSTN6 |
KLOU | NON-RNAV | PXV CHERI4 |
KLOU | NON-RNAV | TTH V171 HONOS |
KLOU | NON-RNAV | VXV DARBY8 HMV LOZ DARBY8 HVQ UNCKL DARBY8 HCH Transition Not Authorized |
KLOU | NON-RNAV | UKATS CVG RDSTN6 |
FLIGHT PLANS
Indy Center and Louisville ATCT will not accept air filed flight plans to or from the Louisville area May 1st through May 5th, 2024, except in emergencies. Airborne filed flight plans filed with other facilities may experience lengthy delays.
ATIS
MONITOR ATIS prior to initial contact with Louisville Approach Control.
SDF – 118.725 MHz
LOU-- 124.15 MHz
VFR ARRIVALS
***CLASS C SERVICE IS MANDATORY***
VFR ARRIVALS
Single and twin-engine propeller aircraft are encouraged to use LOU/Bowman Field Airport (5nm northeast) or JVY/Clark County Airport (11nm north), due to parking congestion at Louisville International Airport.
Other Airports within the Louisville ATCT Area: Radar service will be available to aircraft landing at airports outside of Louisville Class C Airspace, workload permitting. For IFR clearance/cancellation at airports without a clearance delivery frequency, contact Louisville ATCT at (502) 375-7499.
DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
LOUISVILLE MUHAMMAD ALI INTL – (SDF): IFR clearances will be delivered via PDC/CPDLC. If unable, contact clearance delivery on 126.1 for clearance.
DO NOT CALL GROUND CONTROL TO TAXI until you are the number one aircraft that can enter a taxiway from the ramp or parking area designated exit point.
DO NOT LEAVE RAMP / PARKING AREA until you have received taxi instructions and, if IFR, have received an IFR clearance.
DO NOT CALL THE TOWER FOR DEPARTURE
RAMP / PARKING areas are considered uncontrolled.
BOWMAN FIELD (LOU): All departing aircraft contact clearance delivery on 118.90. Ground control will be on 121.80. Advise if IFR or VFR.
DO NOT CALL GROUND CONTROL TO TAXI until you are the number one aircraft that can enter a taxiway from the ramp or parking area.
DO NOT LEAVE RAMP / PARKING AREA until you have received taxi instructions and, if IFR, have received an IFR clearance.
DO NOT CALL THE TOWER FOR DEPARTURE until you are in the number one position for the runway.
RAMP / PARKING areas are considered uncontrolled.
CLARK REGIONAL (JVY): All IFR departing aircraft should contact Louisville Clearance Delivery on 118.05 for IFR clearance and RADAR release. Prompt cancellation of IFR by arriving aircraft is necessary due to volume.
IFR Departures: IFR aircraft departing JVY can expect an eastbound or northbound heading due to the proximity to SDF.
VFR Departures: Due to numerous heavy jet aircraft landing and departing SDF, immediate westbound departure to the west of JVY not recommended.
IFR DEPARTURE ROUTES
If RNAV equipped, file the RNAV SID for the appropriate departure gate.
DEPARTURE GATE | ROUTE |
NORTH | V53 STREP or STREP5 (RNAV Only) |
EAST | V4 HYK or FEDRA5 (RNAV Only) |
SOUTH | direct MYS or CRRGO4 (RNAV Only) |
WEST | V4 APALO or APALO6 (RNAV Only) |
VFR DEPARTURE/AIRBORNE IFR PICKUP FROM JVY/LOU
VFR departures should not expect to obtain an IFR clearance within 50 miles of SDF.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER INFORMATION
The FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at LOUISVILLE INTL – MUHAMMAD ALI (SDF) will operate during the following periods:
DATE | TIME (UTC) |
All Dates – Daily - 24 Hour Facility | 0000Z - 0000Z |
The FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at BOWMAN FIELD (LOU) will operate during the following periods:
DATE | TIME (UTC) |
All Dates - Daily | 1100Z – 0200Z |
ADDITIONAL PILOT INFORMATION
Wake Turbulence: Exercise caution when flying within 30 miles of Louisville due to numerous heavy jet aircraft operations and potentially significant wake turbulence.
Overflight Traffic: Aircraft not landing in the Louisville Area, avoid overflight below 10,000 feet MSL within 50 miles of Louisville International Airport.
Restricted Area Advisory: Restricted Area R3704A to the southwest of the Louisville (IIU) VORTAC is active daily 0600-0000 EDT (1100-0500 UTC); other times by NOTAM. R3704B is active only by NOTAM.
SDF Parking: For General Aviation parking at the FBO, contact Atlantic Aviation on 129.9 thirty minutes prior to arrival for parking instructions. For advanced reservations, contact Atlantic Aviation at (502) 368-1515, ext. 0. Long-term parking will be on airport taxiway A, and others as necessary.
Transponders on: All aircraft conduct ground operations with transponder in the “on” position.
***CAUTION***
Expect numerous helicopter, banner tow, and blimp operations near Churchill Downs Race Track, 2NM northwest of Louisville International Airport, Wednesday, May 1st - Saturday, May 4th, 2024.
OBTAIN A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING AND REVIEW ALL APPLICABLE NOTAMS PRIOR TO CONDUCTING FLIGHT
Lockheed Martin Flight Service | |
Telephone Flight Planning | 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433) |
Web Site | www.1800wxbrief.com |
For further information contact:
FAA Indianapolis ARTCC
Traffic Management Unit
1850 S. Sigsbee Street
Indianapolis, IN 46241
317-247-2243
TCHU1-ZHU [Published 3/8/24]