The intent of this Letter to Airmen is to advise aircraft operators of the seasonal considerations of flying around Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket from May through September.

Historically the traffic volume and demand for services for the Cape and Islands airports increases during the summer months. Coinciding with these traffic demands, is an increase in the number of inclement weather and IFR condition days. Historically heavy traffic demand periods for summer traffic are as follows: 

• Thursdays from 5 PM to 8 PM EST
• Fridays from 1 PM to 8 PM EST
• Sundays from 1 PM to 8 PM EST
• Mondays from 6 AM to 9 AM EST

The combination of IFR weather conditions along with the increased demand for air traffic services may sometimes cause a significant delay in your ability to obtain an IFR clearance to the Nantucket (ACK), Martha’s Vineyard (MVY) or Hyannis (HYA) airports. To minimize your potential for significant delays, it is strongly recommended that you plan your arrival and departure times during those periods when the demand for services is lower.

To balance demand with capacity to the ACK, HYA and MVY airports, Boston TRACON will be utilizing various traffic management initiatives. These initiatives may include, but are not limited to a miles-in-trail (MIT) aircraft spacing program or minutes-in-trail (MINIT) aircraft spacing program. These programs are designed to provide a safe and orderly flow of traffic to the ACK, HYA and MVY airports. When demand exceeds capacity, delays may occur due to these initiatives.

Boston TRACON is often unable to issue IFR clearances to airborne aircraft during the summer months due to the increase in traffic demand and inclement weather conditions. There is also a strong possibility that air-filed flight plans will not be accepted or issued to aircraft flying into the Cape and Islands airspace under VFR conditions. Rapidly changing weather conditions associated with Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard indicate that all pilots should be prepared to encounter IFR weather during the summer months. On the ground at non-controlled airports, you may obtain your clearance through Lockheed-Martin FSS via 1-800-WXBRIEF, Boston TRACON's recorded number: (603) 594-5554; or through available Remote Communication Outlets (RCOs) associated with the departure airport.

Clearances may be obtained prior to departure for Boston TRACON’s uncontrolled airports on the following frequencies:

AIRPORT          FREQUENCY

Plymouth         127.75

Provincetown  120.65

Chatham          127.3

Practice instrument approaches are either approved or disapproved by the Boston TRACON personnel subject to workload conditions. When weather, workload conditions, or anticipated workload conditions dictate, a local advisory NOTAM is issued regarding “no practice instrument approaches in the Boston TRACON Cape and Islands airspace area.” The local advisory NOTAM serves as a traffic management tool and it notifies the pilot that, in all likelihood, practice instrument approaches will be disapproved. Upon receipt of the NOTAM, pilots should anticipate the need to make alternative plans regarding practice instrument approaches.