Belmont Stakes
Saratoga Springs, New York
June 4-8, 2025
SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES/Traffic Management Initiatives
In anticipation of a large number of aircraft operating to and from Saratoga Springs, New York area during the 2025 Belmont Stakes, special air traffic procedures/traffic management initiatives will be used for the following airports:
| Airport | Identifier |
| Saratoga County | 5B2 |
| Floyd Bennett Memorial | KGFL |
| Albany International | KALB |
| Schenectady County | KSCH |
Aircraft should be prepared for potential airborne holding, reroutes, miles-in-trail, altitude restrictions, ground stops, and/or Expect Departure Clearance Times (EDCTs) that may be issued for IFR arrivals and departures. In order to assist FBOs with staging aircraft and to ease ramp congestion, aircraft departing from airports in the Saratoga Springs area are strongly encouraged to coordinate their departure times as early as possible.
General
Albany CLASS C AIRSPACE
VFR pilots contact ALB Approach at least 20 miles outside of the Albany Airport for Class C service on the following frequencies:
| Location | Altitude (MSL) | Frequency |
| West/SW/NW of Albany | At or below 10,000 | 118.05 MHz |
| East/SE/N/NE of Albany | At or below 10,000 | 132.825 MHz |
| GFL Area | at or below 10,000 | 132.825 MHz |
| 5B2 Area | at or below 10,000 | 118.05 MHz |
Due to traffic volume and controller workload, practice instrument approach requests may incur large delays or be unavailable.
Preferred IFR Arrival Routes
Jet and turboprop aircraft file one of the following preferred routes:
KALB/KSCH Arrivals (Filed AOB 170)
| Direction | Route |
| From New York City Metropolitan Area | SOARS V487 CANAN direct |
| From ZNY | DNY/HNK direct |
| From Northwest | direct |
| From North/Northeast | CAM direct |
| From ZOB/western NY | GONZZ direct |
KALB/KSCH Arrivals (Filed AOA 190)
| Direction | Route |
| From South of New York City Metropolitan Area | LLUND TRUDE V487 CANAN ALB |
| From Southwest | RKA OAKIL |
| From Northwest | direct |
| From North/Northeast | CAM direct |
| From West | JOSSY direct |
K5B2/KGFL Arrivals
| Direction | Route |
| From New York City Metropolitan Area | SOARS V487 CAM |
| From all other directions | CAM |
IFR ARRIVAL Flight Plan Cancellation
To minimize delays, IFR aircraft should cancel flight plans with Albany Approach Control as they get the airport in sight. The pilot is not required to cancel IFR flight plan while airborne. If cancelling on the ground, cancel promptly upon arrival via:
| Facility | Phone Number/ Frequency |
| KGFL | (518) 862-2299 (518) 862-2345 |
| K5B2 | 118.125 MHz |
IFR DEPARTURES
To minimize delays, file IFR flight plans via preferred IFR routes. Routes are listed in the Chart Supplement U.S. and are also available at https://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp.
If a flight is planned to or from an area having such routes but the departure or arrival point is not listed in the Chart Supplement U.S., pilots may use that part of a Preferred IFR Route which is appropriate for the departure or arrival point that is listed. You may also contact Boston Center to obtain the correct routing prior to filing your flight plan via the following phone numbers:
| Facility | Phone Number |
| Boston ARTCC Clearance Delivery Relay | (603) 879-6859 |
| Boston ARTCC Traffic Management Unit | (603) 879-6861 |
Please do not taxi without receiving an IFR clearance or call-for-release until first for departure at the end of the runway. ATC will amend the proposed departure time if necessary.
To obtain IFR clearance and release from KGFL and 5B2, may contact ATC via the following numbers/frequencies:
| Facility | Phone Number/Frequency |
| KGFL | (518) 862-2299 (518) 862-2345 |
| 5B2 | 118.125 MHz |
PREFERRED IFR DEPARTURE ROUTES
| Destination | Type Restrictions | Route | Altitude Restrictions |
| KEWR | Turbojets | ALB V213 FLOSI FLOSI4 | |
| KEWR | Props/Turboprops | ALB V489 COATE | |
| KFRG/KJFK | Props/Turboprops 250KTS IAS or less | ALB ATHOS PWL PWL2 | |
| KFRG/KJFK | Any greater than 250 KTS IAS | ALB IGN IGN1 | Must file AOA FL200 |
| KHPN/KDXR | Any greater than 250 KTS IAS | ALB V157 VALRE VALRE5 | |
| KHPN/KDXR/KLGA | Props/Turboprops 250KTS IAS or less |
ALB V123 CASSH NOBBI5 | |
| KISP/KFOK | ALB SHIGY PONEE NELIE NELIE3 | ||
| KISP | Props/Turboprops 250KTS IAS or less | ALB ATHOS PWL LOVES2 | |
| KLEX | HNK J49 PSB Q71 GEFFS HVQ | ||
| KLGA | Turbojets | ALB IGN V157 HAARP | |
| KLGA | Props/Turboprops 250KTS IAS or less | ALB V123 CAASH NOBBI5 | |
| KLOU | PAYGE Q822 GONZZ Q29 JHW UKATS | ||
| KSDF | PAYGE Q822 GONZZ Q29 JHW UKATS DLAMP8 | ||
| KSWF | ALB V123 TRESA | ||
| KTEB | ALB V489 COATE KTEB | ||
| Eastern Florida Airports | PONCT Q133 LLUND Q437 VIILS Q409 CRPLR | ||
| Western/Central Florida Airports | PWL BIZEX Q75 SLOJO |
VFR DEPARTURES/AIRBORNE IFR PICKUP
VFR departures should not expect to obtain an IFR clearance within 100 miles of ALB VOR.
LEIDOS FLIGHT SERVICES
Pilot briefing and flight planning services are available online through the LEIDOS Pilot Portal at https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website/ or by telephoning LEIDOS Flight Service at 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433).
Contact Burlington Radio on 122.2 in the Saratoga Springs/Albany, New York area for VFR flight plan activation, closure, or in-flight pilot reports.
REMEMBER TO CLOSE YOUR FLIGHT PLAN!
