The Thailand Division has written this tutorial/information document to aid in your flying in or through the Thailand Division. We hope that you find this document useful and that you have a great flight through our Country.

This document is also available in format HERE

Airspace

Thailand uses ICAO standards.

• Class A airspace FL290 up to FL600 along airways (contact with ATC required)
• Class B airspace FL280 and below along airways (contact with ATC required)
• Class C airspace, looks like a two tier upside down wedding cake surrounding a controlled airport. Clearance required by all aircraft to enter or depart. Class C can be assigned to just the outer ring or both rings.
• Class D airspace, looks like a two tier upside down wedding cake surrounding a controlled airport. Clearance required by all aircraft to enter or depart. Class D can be assigned to just the inner ring or both rings.
• Altimeter, Thailand uses QNH. Standard pressure in QNH is 1013. Thailand also uses both Transition Level and Transition Altitude. These altitudes are published on approach charts for each airport (you may also find this information on the Thailand OPS SOP). If not published on any chart the Transition Altitude will be 6000 ft. The Transition Level may be determined by ATC.

Routing / Airways

Thailand route/airway structure is different than many other countries. There are two classifications of airways in Thailand.

1. Domestic Airways, if you plan to fly within the country of Thailand, you must fly on a Domestic Airway. All Domestic Airways start with a "W" (WHISKEY Routes/Airways). All whiskey airways start at the MSA listed (minimum safe altitude) and extend up to FL450. The only time you can fly on a route other than a Domestic route/airway in Thailand is when no domestic route/airways exists between your departure and arrival airport.
2. International Airways, if your departure airport is in Thailand and your arrival airport is outside of Thailand or if your departure airport is outside Thailand and your arrival airport is inside Thailand you will file for a International routing/airway. Over flights will also be required to use International airways/routing. International Routes/airways are identified by the following letters "A", "B", "G", "R". International RNAV routes/airways are identified with the following letters and require RNAV capabilities: "L", "M", "P". All International Airways start at the MSA (minimum safe altitude) and extends up to FL450.

Altitudes

Aircraft flying on magnetic tracks 000^o to 179^o will fly at odd altitudes (example 5000, FL150, FL330). Aircraft flying on magnetic tracks 180^o to 359^o will fly at even altitudes (example 6000, FL140, FL340). Thailand uses RVSM. There are some altitude restrictions along some airways in Thailand. Below is a list of airways that have altitude restrictions. If you forget the controller will adjust your altitude to meet the requirements.

Choose your airway:  -- Select -- A1 A202 A464 B202 G474 L301 L645 L759 M751 M753 M755 M765 M768 M770 N891 N895 P628 P762 R468 R588 W1 W2

Airports

Thailand's busiest (most popular) airports are:

• VTBS (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi)
• VTBD (Bangkok Don Mueang)
• VTCC (Chiang Mai)
• VTSP (Phuket)

SID / STAR

Most Thailand airports do NOT have and SID's (Standard Instrument Departure) or STAR's (Standard Instrument Arrivals). Below is a list of airports that have SID's or STAR's:

• VTBS has both RNAV SID's and STAR's. You must have RNAV capabilities to fly these.
• VTBD has both RNAV SID's and STAR's. You must have RNAV capabilities to fly these.
• VTCC only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)
• VTCT only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)
• VTSG only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)
• VTCL only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)
• VTSP only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)
• VTUU only has pilot nav SID's (NO STARS for this airport)

Approaches

Most of Thailand's airports use non precision approaches in the form of VOR or NDB approaches. Some airports do have ILS approaches to all runways like VTBS (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), and VTBD (Bangkok Don Mueang) but most that do have ILS approaches, only have a ILS approach to one runway (in one direction). That means that if IFR conditions exist you may have to land with a tail wind or circle to land. Thailand Division staff members have also found that several airports that have charted ILS approaches are missing the ILS in the airport scenery files. It is vital that you check your scenery file to see if you can tune in the ILS. In the airport charts section you will see a download named "Notes". This is information about the airport that pertains to Flight Sim (like if the ILS is missing). If you don't have the ILS for a particular airport, don't worry, just let the controller know and expect a VOR or NDB approach if published. Pilots will be expected to fly the full procedure unless advised to expect Radar Vectors to the final approach course or the localizer. Vectors to the final approach course or localizer will be provided on request.

VFR Operations

• VFR operations are permitted in Thailand. Detailed information for VFR operations is available in document AIP ENR 1.2
• VFR altitudes are the same as IFR altitudes but you must add 500 feet. Example: 3500, 10500.
• VFR flight shall be conducted when a flight visibility of not less than 5 km below 3,050m (10 000 ft) AMSL and 8 km at and above 3,050m (10 000 ft) AMSL and capable of maintaining at least 1,500m horizontally and 300m (1000 ft) vertically clear of clouds.
• VFR flight shall not be operated above FL200 except military operations.
• VFR operations are permitted in Thailand at night. (unlike the real world in Thailand)
• VFR departures / arrivals and VFR transients are required to file a basic VFR flight plan.
• VFR departures and arrivals at controlled airports require a clearance and must maintain two way radio contact with ATC at all times.
• VFR Departures from uncontrolled airports will make position reports on 122.800. Once the VFR departure is clear of the traffic pattern the pilot is required to contact and maintain two way radio communications with ATC.
• VFR arrivals to uncontrolled airports will maintain two way radio contact with ATC until ATC release them from frequency at which the pilot will transmit position reports on 122.800.
• There are NO VFR squawk codes in Thailand. Since all aircraft are required to be in contact with ATC, the controller will issue each aircraft a unique code.

Thanks and Happy flying in Thailand!!