JFK Approaches
 

Question for those of you based at JFK. When the arrival configuration is 13L/22L, the VOR 13L is preferred because of conflicting traffic from EWR. That's easy enough to understand, but why does it seem that 22L arrivals always get assigned the (offset) VOR approach instead of the ILS or RNAV?

Noise abatement probably.

Notice the super huge houses off the right (west) side of the plane when youre on that east offset course of the VOR 22L approach. Money talks!

Don't believe it's noise abatement.

If LGA is departing 13, I believe the VOR 22L JFK approach provides enough offset to meet the required TERPS clearance for JFK 22L arrivals. ILS 22L results in conflict. Go visit the tower supervisor next time you have a sit there. They'll be glad to explain the technicalities.

Onfinal

+1 to this.

Also I think the vor 13l is about lga not ewr

It is not noise abatement, it is airspace.

If JFK uses the VORDME to 22L (as opposed to the ILS), that allows LGA departures to depart RWY 13 and use the Whitestone Climb. Also, JFK landing RWY 13L (Canarsie) precludes the other LGA RWY 13 climb outs -- Maspeth and Coney.


The 'VOR' approach to 22L is really moot when it come to IFR/Visual approaches when 13L is also in use -- that operation is only allowed during decent VFR conditions (5SM and 2500CIG IIRC).


Also, the TNNIS RNAV SID off RWY 13 at LGA allows both ILS 22R and 22L to be in use at JFK, yet I believe it's still old SOP to use conventional nav SIDs off LGA when JFK is using 22L and 13L simultaneously.

No expert on the matter, but did visit both NY TRACON and JFK TWR.

Also, it is 'normal' for JFK to be using the ILS to both 22L and 22R while departing 22R and 31L/KE while LGA departs RWY 13 via the RNAV climbouts -- assuming the winds are light and from the south or southeast -- after about 4:30pm local or during the 8am departure push.

Interesting, Starscream. That was always what I assumed the reason was for VOR22L until I recently noticed the serious real estate that approach path avoids as well.

NIMBYs are all over. They have made a stink over the increased use of the 22s in recent years.

Now, ILS 22 vs LDA-A at LGA is a different matter. A LGA controller from N90 told me the LDA (overwater offset) is used when feasible for noise. At JFK, though, it's purely separation from LGA departures.

Thanks guys. Good info.