Amsterdam Airport "Schiphol" Air Traffic Procedures

ATC communications (RT) between Air Traffic Controllers and pilots are displayed in green and ATC frequencies are displayed in red.

The flights used here to illustrate ATC communications, are two daily Boeing 747-400 or 777-200(ER) flights operated by KLM: KLM 642 (New York JFK to Amsterdam, scheduled arrival at 07:45 LT) and KLM 641 (Amsterdam to New York JFK, scheduled departure at 13:30 LT).

DISCLAIMER -- NOT FOR OPERATIONAL USE !
Most of the information on this page is my own interpretation of what I hear on the frequencies listed, and complemented by the information on several Jeppesen charts dated February-March 2003 and updates May-June 2005. My interpretation could be wrong: I am not a licensed pilot, nor an Air Traffic Controller; I just happen to listen to VHF/UHF ATC frequencies quite often.

1. Inbound Traffic

1.1 Schiphol Approach

Inbound traffic to Schiphol is, after crossing the NL border, initially controlled by Amsterdam Radar (ACC) who manages the flow towards Schiphol. During peak hours, traffic might have to hold in holding area's (stacks) at the IAFs (Initial Approach Fix) ARTIP (near Lelystad), RIVER (near the Zeeuwse eilanden/Haringvliet) or SUGOL (over the North Sea, west of IJmuiden). Amsterdam Radar finally hands over traffic to Schiphol Approach, usually on 119.05 for traffic from ARTIP and 121.2 for traffic from SUGOL and RIVER. Schiphol Approach guides (radar vectors and speed instructions) traffic to the ILS (Instrument Landing System) entry points for the runway(s) in use. During peak hours, Schiphol Approach might request pilots to contact Schiphol Arrival (118.4 or 131.15):

APP: KLM 642, contact arrival on 118.4 - Bye.

Once nicely lined up for the runway ILS, the aircraft is handed over to Schiphol Tower:

ARR: KLM 642, contact the tower on 119.225

1.2 Schiphol Tower

Flight KLM 642 now contacts the tower:

KLM 642: Tower, good morning, the KLM 642 established on the ILS runway 06
TWR: Hello KLM 642, number 1 for runway 06
KLM 642: Roger, number 1, KLM 642

"Number 1" means that another aircraft, which has just landed in front of the KLM 642, is still rolling-out on runway 06. Once this aircraft has vacated the runway, the KLM 642 is cleared to land:

TWR: KLM 642, cleared to land runway 06
KLM 642: Roger, cleared to land

Pilot of arriving aircraft vacating the landing runway shall contact Schiphol Ground immediately.

1.3 Schiphol Ground

Traffic on the ground is controlled by `Schiphol Ground', who has three areas of responsibility (updated according to charts effective 7 July 2005):

south (121.7) for aircraft landing on runway 06/24.
This includes the B, C and D aprons upto the L9 taxiway-crossing which is directly in front of the D-ramp.
North (121.8) for aircraft landing on runway 18L/36R, 18C/36C, 09/27 and 04/22.
This includes E, F and G aprons as well as the `Schiphol Oost' apron.
west (121.9) for aircraft landing on runway 18R/36L.
This includes E, F and G aprons as well as the `Schiphol Oost' apron.

In the meantime, our KLM flight has vacated the runway and contacts Schiphol Ground on 121.7:

KLM 642: Ground, good morning, KLM 642 vacated 06

Schiphol Ground will guide the aircraft towards its gate:

GND: KLM 642, roger, taxi via the Bravo track to Foxtrot 4

Pilots may expect instructions to change frequency from 121.7 to 121.8 or vice versa when crossing the boundary between the two areas of responsibility of Schiphol Ground and this is what happens after a few minutes with our KLM flight too:

GND: KLM 642, monitor ground on 121.8

That completes the arrival of KLM 642.

2. Outbound Traffic

No earlier than 20 minutes prior to the ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) may the pilot request the enroute clearance from the Schiphol Delivery controller on 121.975.

KLM 641: Delivery, KLM 641 at Foxtrot 5
Delivery: KLM 641, clearance to New York JFK, Bergi 1-Sierra departure, runway 24, squawk 0142
KLM 641: Roger, runway 24, Bergi 1S and 0142 for the squawk
Delivery: KLM 641, read-back is correct. For startup call 121.65 when ready.

When fully ready (doors closed, all passengers seated, push-back truck connected), the pilot asks for permission to start the engines:

KLM 641: Startup, KLM 641 fully ready at Foxtrot 5
Startup: KLM 641, start-up is approved; contact Ground on 121.8

Several minutes later, KLM 641 will be ready for push-back and taxi:

KLM 641: Ground, KLM 641 ready for push-back
Ground: KLM 641, push-back approved; taxi via the Alpha track to the beginning of runway 24

When approaching the holding area for runway 24, the ground controller hands the aircraft over to the Tower controller:

Ground: KLM 641, contact the tower on 118.1

Flight KLM 641 is now close to the holding area of runway 24:

KLM 641: Tower, KLM 641 approaching runway 24
TWR: KLM 641, behind the NorthWest DC10 line up behind
KLM 641: Roger, behind the NorthWest DC10, lining up behind

The KLM 641 is now making its progress through the queue and will, at some point, be the next airplane to take-off.

TWR: KLM 641, line up and hold runway 24
KLM 641: Roger, line up and hold
.....
.....
TWR: KLM 641, cleared for take-off
KLM 641: Roger, cleared for take-off runway 24, KLM 641

Unless otherwise instructed, departing aircraft shall contact Schiphol Departure on 119.05 (for ANDIK, PAMPUS, ARNEM, LOPIK and LEKKO departures) or 121.2 (for SPIJKERBOOR, BERGI, GORLO and VALKO departures) when passing 2000 feet and report altitude for identification by ATC.

KLM 641: Departure, good afternoon, KLM 641 out of 2000 on the Bergi 1S departure
Departure: KLM 641, identified. Continue the climb to FL 90

This is where we leave the KLM 641. It will continue on the Bergi departure and will be handed over to Amsterdam Radar on 123.7.

3. ATC Frequencies (updated: 14/Jul/2005)

3.1 Schiphol Tower/Ground/Local

118.100    Schiphol TWR (secondary, RWY 18C/36C)
118.275    Schiphol TWR (RWY 18R/36L, Polderbaan)
118.950    Schiphol TWR (O/R)
119.225    Schiphol TWR (primary)
119.900    Schiphol TWR (O/R)
362.300    Schiphol TWR (UHF)

121.700    Schiphol GND South (t/m gate D-28)
121.800    Schiphol GND North/East
121.900    Schiphol GND West/Polderbaan
122.425    Schiphol GND (O/R)

120.875    Schiphol Discrete Emergency Frequency
121.650    Schiphol Startup Control
121.975    Schiphol Delivery Clearance
130.475    Schiphol Airside Operations Manager (GND spare)

131.350    ATC Operational Information Schiphol (formerly "Channel Nine")
122.200    Schiphol ATIS (departure information)
132.975    Schiphol ATIS (arrival information)
126.200    Schiphol VOLMET

121.300    Schiphol De-Icing "Snowdesk"
168.590    Schiphol Brandweer
135.125    Schiphol Baankanaal (VHF)
447.175    Schiphol Baankanaal (UHF)
457.310    Schiphol Security
465.770    Havendienst (OPS 1)
466.470    Havendienst (OPS 2)

3.2 Schiphol Approach/Arrival/Departure

118.400    Schiphol ARR (primary)
119.050    Schiphol ARR/DEP (primary)
121.200    Schiphol ARR/APP (secondary)
118.075    Schiphol APP (O/R)
126.675    Schiphol APP (O/R)
131.150    Schiphol ARR (secondary)
281.425    Schiphol APP (UHF)
291.150    Schiphol ARR (UHF)
312.825    Schiphol APP (UHF)

3.3 Area Control Centre & Flight Information Centre Amsterdam

118.800    Amsterdam RDR (Northsea holding, "Sea" ARR)
119.175    Amsterdam FIC South of Den Helder
120.550    Amsterdam RDR (IJsselmeer holding, "Lake" ARR)
123.700    Amsterdam RDR West (sector 5)
123.850    Amsterdam RDR South (sector 3)
124.300    Amsterdam FIC + RDR Night
124.875    Amsterdam RDR East (sector 2)
125.750    Amsterdam RDR South-West (sector 4)
127.775    Amsterdam RDR South (sector 3, O/R) 
128.575    Amsterdam RDR East (sector 2, O/R)
130.950    Amsterdam RDR (Zeeland holding, "River" ARR)
133.100    Amsterdam FIC North of Den Helder
134.375    Amsterdam RDR North (sector 1)
275.725    Amsterdam FIC + RDR sector 1 + 2 (UHF)
290.325    Amsterdam RDR South (sector 3) (UHF)
340.350    Amsterdam FIC North of Den Helder (UHF)
369.275    Amsterdam FIC South of Den Helder
378.200    Amsterdam RDR West (sector 4 + 5) (UHF)

3.4 Airliners, Company frequencies, ACARS

130.5750   Globe Ground Operations Amsterdam
131.4250   KLM Commuters
131.4333   KLM Flow Control / Slotcoordination (Channel 131.435)
131.4666   Martinair Handling (Channel 131.465)
131.4750   Martinair Maintenance (Channel 131.480)
131.4833   Martinair Operations (Channel 131.485)
131.6250   KLM General Aviation
131.6500   KLM Operations
131.8750   KLM Aerocarto, Dutch Dakota Association
131.9000   Transavia
131.9417   KLM Maintenance (Channel 131.940)
131.9750   Amsterdam Jet Center
131.9750   KLM UK Commuters

131.5250   ACARS (secondary, among others: British Airways, KLM)
131.7250   ACARS (primary)
131.8250   ACARS (secondary, among others: SAS, Finnair, EasyJet)
136.7500   ACARS (secondary, among others: KLM, Lufthansa)

(Sources: Johan Beck's site, Charts, Maps, NOTAMs)

4. References

Jeppesen charts (new and second hand) can be found at the Luchtvaart Hobby Shop near Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
Beware: this is a dangerous place to go for aviation enthusiasts with a credit card :-)