The Central Florida TRACON (Orlando Approach Control) provides IFR separation services to VFR aircraft conducting practice Instrument Approaches during times the respective control tower is operational at the following airports, 

Orlando International Airport (MCO)       Leesburg International Airport (LEE)   

Orlando Executive Airport (ORL)            Titusville/Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX)

Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB)               Patrick Air Force Base (COF)

Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM)         Melbourne International Airport (MLB)

At the other uncontrolled airports and during the periods when the control towers are not operational, aircraft will be instructed to maintain VFR and traffic advisories will be provided.

Controller responsibility for separation begins at the point where the approach clearance becomes effective.  Except for super or heavy aircraft, 500 feet vertical separation may be applied between VFR aircraft and between a VFR and an IFR aircraft.  Controller responsibility for separation ends at the Missed Approach Point, unless the published missed approach is specifically requested and approved.

Request for practice approaches should be made on the frequencies shown below:

              Airports                       Aircraft Positions                Frequency

                                                North of ORL                         134.05

  ORL, SFB, ISM, LEE            Southwest of ORL                  119.4

                                               Southeast of ORL                   119.77

                                               Vicinity of TIX                         134.95

  TIX, MLB, COF                    Vicinity of MLB                        132.65

This service does not relieve pilots of the responsibility to see and avoid other traffic operating VFR.  It will, however, enhance safety by providing separation from other VFR aircraft making practice instrument approaches, and from those operating under IFR in the terminal area.

                         PRACTICE APPROACHES IN THE ORLANDO AREA

The following procedures have been implemented to convey practice approach requests in an abbreviated format when filing an IFR flight plan.  This has proven to aid in the efficiency of the operation along with reducing frequency congestion.  This procedure is only valid for aircraft operating within Orlando Approach Control Airspace, as shown on the following airspace figure. Pilots may indicate the abbreviated practice approach and holding requests in the order you would like to fly them within the remarks when filing IFR Flight Plans.

All aircraft operators:

The abbreviations indicated in the following tables may be utilized to convey the instrument approaches and/or type of holding requested; i.e., intersection or navaid.

Airport   Symbol

  SFB          F

  ORL         T

  ISM          K

  MCO        M

  LEE          L

  MLB         B

  TIX           S

  COI           I

  COF         P

 Type Approach    Symbol

       ILS/BC             I

         NDB              N

         VOR              V

   RNAV/GPS         R

                                                                                                                            HOLDING:  Indicate the first three letters of the holding fix, i.e. MAMBO – MAM

Request Examples:

  a.  Two ILS approaches at ORL.............................TI TI

  b.  One ILS and one NDB at SFB............................FI  FN

  c.  One ILS at ORL, followed by holding at MAMBO..TI  MAM

  d.  One ILS at COF, followed by one VOR at MLB.....PI  BV

  e.  One ILS at MLB, followed by holding at MLB.......BI  MLB

In the event of traffic saturation at your requested airport or fix, you may expect alternate instructions.

In an effort to increase system capacity, you have the option to conduct approaches VFR. Once airborne and in communication with approach control, advise the controller, “Request to cancel IFR and continue approaches VFR.”