Regarding IFR/VFR Aircraft Departing RWY 17 and new Potomac TRACON IFR procedures at Leesburg Executive Airport:

In the interest of flight safety, this letter is issued to heighten pilot awareness of the close proximity of the Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) to the Dulles International Airport (IAD).

See Attachment 1.

It is imperative that the pilot maintain situational awareness when departing JYO RWY 17, especially IFR.  Departing JYO RWY 17 creates a circumstance where departure traffic from IAD RWY 30 and/or arrival traffic to IAD runways 19R/C/L could receive an increase in Terminal Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisories (RA).

In an effort to ensure IFR separation with traffic landing Runways 19R/C/L and departing runway 30 at IAD, Potomac TRACON has implemented new clearance procedures for JYO IFR departure aircraft:

Advanced RNAV:  Capable aircrews should file and expect the PTOMC SID.

All other Aircraft:  The following phraseology will be used to issue instructions for aircraft departing RWY 17:

“When entering controlled airspace fly heading 300 radar vectors to (route)”

The Aeronautical Information Manual states that when given a control instruction of “fly heading” the pilot is expected to turn in the shorter direction to the heading unless otherwise instructed by ATC.  Aircraft are expected to notify ATC if they are unable to comply prior to departure.  Prompt compliance making a westbound turn is necessary to ensure separation with aircraft operations at IAD.  

IFR JYO RWY17 departures may be sequenced with IAD RWY 30 departures.  During high volume operations, departures may be impacted.

VFR departures, with intended airborne IFR flight plan activation, are authorized.  JYO RWY 35 operations can operate simultaneously with IAD RWY 30 departures.

Any questions or comments concerning these procedures may be sent to the address above, contact Joshua Gosseling, Potomac TRACON Airspace and Procedures Manager at (540) 349-7530, or you may log on to the following website:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/air_traffic_services/tracon/pct/