Air Traffic Management Optimization Through the Development of a Visual Flight Rules Holding Pattern for Runway 35 at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport

Abstract

The continuous growth of air traffic has increased the operational complexity of
managing mixed Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations,
particularly at regional airports operating within controlled Class C airspace. At Sultan
Iskandar Muda International Airport, Indonesia, the absence of a standardized Visual Flight
Rules (VFR) holding pattern for Runway 35 requires air traffic controllers to apply tactical
vectoring and ad hoc holding instructions whenever VFR arrivals conflict with higher-priority
IFR traffic. This operational condition increases controller workload, reduces traffic
predictability, and may affect operational safety and air traffic flow efficiency. This study
aims to optimize Air Traffic Management (ATM) by developing a standardized VFR holding
pattern for Runway 35 based on operational requirements, international aviation regulations,
and local airspace characteristics. A qualitative operational research approach was employed
through direct field observations, interviews with licensed air traffic controllers, analysis of
local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), aeronautical charts, and spatial mapping using
Google Earth Pro. The proposed holding pattern was assessed against the provisions of ICAO
Annex 2 (Rules of the Air), ICAO Annex 11 (Air Traffic Services), ICAO Doc 4444
(Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Air Traffic Management), Civil Aviation Safety
Regulations (CASR), and Indonesian airspace classification standards. The operational
analysis identified the absence of a designated VFR holding point as a significant limitation
in sequencing mixed IFR–VFR traffic during Runway 35 operations. Based on terrain
characteristics, operational visibility, aircraft maneuvering requirements, and controller
workload considerations, a VFR holding point was proposed near Seumileum, located
approximately 13.4 NM from Banda Aceh VOR (BAC VOR) on the 130° radial, with a
recommended holding altitude of 7,000 ft. The proposed holding pattern provides adequate
terrain clearance, maintains safe separation from IFR procedures, supports standardized
aircraft sequencing, and minimizes tactical controller interventions during high traffic
demand. Furthermore, the proposed design contributes to achieving the five objectives of Air
Traffic Services established by ICAO by improving flight safety, maintaining orderly traffic
flow, reducing operational complexity, and enhancing situational awareness for both
controllers and flight crews. The findings demonstrate that implementing a standardized VFR
holding pattern constitutes an effective Air Traffic Management optimization strategy for
Runway 35 operations at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport. The proposed procedure
is expected to improve operational safety, increase air traffic flow efficiency, strengthen
procedural standardization, and support future revisions of local Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs). Moreover, this research provides a practical reference for developing VFR
holding procedures at regional airports with comparable operational environments and mixed
IFR–VFR traffic characteristics.