Washington Center SOP

When the entire center is combined the frequency is 123.85 and the ID is 24.

The Low Area sectors are the primary combined sectors. High Area sectors may be opened as needed, but there must be at least one Low sector opened prior to opening the high sector

See the Letters of Agreenment and Low Area sector SOP for each sector to determine crossing altitudes, handoff points, and frequencies for neighboring sectors.

The radio callsign for every sector is "Washington Center"

Positions and Procedures

Low Sectors

High Sectors

Super High Sectors

Beacon Codes

The following set of beacon codes are assigned to the Center:

Area Code Range
A 0620-0647
B 0500-0537
C

0540-0567
D 0570-0617
E 5200-5227
F 5230-5257
G 5300-5327
H 5330-5357
I 5260-5277
J 5360-5377
K 0650-0677

Handoffs

To a Center Sector - laterally

  1. Requests must be made at least 15 miles prior to the end of each sector but may be made up to 40 miles in advance. The transfer of communication should occur at least 5 miles from the sector boundary.

To a Center Sector - vertically

  1. Request should be made at least 3,000ft prior to the airspace ceiling/floor but may be made up to 6,000ft in advance. The aircraft must be assigned an altitude no higher/lower than the airspace ceiling/floor of the current sector unless coordinated with the next sector. The receiving controller will climb/descend the aircraft into their sector. Transfer of communication should occur 1,000ft prior to the ceiling/floor of the sector.

To a TRACON

  1. Requests to a TRACON must be made at least 20 miles prior to entering the TRACON but may be made up to 50 miles in advance unless specified by an LOA with the facility. Transfer of communication should occur at least 5 miles from the TRACON.

Opening Individual Sectors

When the Potomac TRACON arrival volume is heavy, the following individual center sectors may be opened

  1. Sector 15- Heavy volume on BUCKO6, JASEN4 (MGW) and EMI4 arrivals.
  2. Sector 02- Heavy volume on FINKS7 and JASEN4 (HVQ) arrivals.
  3. Sector 14- Heavy volume on IRONS4, COATT4 and OTT5 arrivals.

When the Potomac TRACON departure volume is heavy, the following individual center sectors may be opened

  1. Sector 05- Heavy volume via LDN, AML, J149 and J134.
  2. Sector 60- Heavy volume via HAFNR and FLUKY.
  3. Sector 11- Heavy volume via DAILY.
  4. Sector 17- Heavy volume via SWANN and PALEO.
  5. Sector 06- Heavy volume via BUFFR and JERES.

When New York TRACON area volume is heavy, the following individual sectors may be opened

  1. Sector 18- Heavy volume on DYLIN2 arrival
  2. Sector 19- Heavy volume on KORRY2 arrival
  3. Sector 51- Heavy volume on VCN7 arrival
  4. Sector 53- Heavy volume on DQO4 arrival

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