Approach setup and route
Tune IKS ILS/DME, 109.5 MHz, and follow final course 155°. Special-authorization Category I requires DME or GNSS. Category II and special-authorization Category II require DME.
The initial profile altitude is 3,000 ft. URDEN is at 11.4 IKS DME / 11.2 NM from the threshold. During PRM operations, expect to intercept the localizer at least 6 NM before URDEN, at 3,000 ft.
Follow the 3° glidepath through IGALA, at 5.3 IKS DME / 5.2 NM from the threshold, at a path altitude of 1,700 ft. Those distance pairs are reproduced as printed. Reference datum height is 52 ft.
Aircraft near taxiway A1 can cause false glidepath indications.
Speeds and holding
Cross URDEN at no more than 185 kt indicated airspeed and IGALA at no less than 150 kt. ATC approach speed ranges are 160–185 kt at URDEN and 150–160 kt at IGALA. Holding is as advised by ATC.
Descent checks
The following altitudes are on the 3° glidepath, with distances referenced to IKS DME.
Minima
These minima apply to categories A, B, C and D/DL. RA is the radio-altimeter value; DA is barometric decision altitude. Heights are above threshold; runway visual range (RVR) is in metres.
Missed approach
Track 155°. At 600 ft, turn right onto track 170°. Climb to 3,000 ft, or as directed by ATC.
Authorization and parallel approaches
Special aircrew and aircraft certification is required for these minima. Circling is not available. Sydney has closely spaced parallel runways. Simultaneous approaches are authorized with runway 16L under the precision runway monitoring instructions.
During PRM operations, dual VHF communications are required. Transmit on tower frequency and monitor both tower and PRM; the local PRM guide includes participation, receiver setup and break-out instructions.
Aircraft may be radar vectored to final approach.
Frequencies
All frequencies are MHz.
Terrain and chart conventions
Use QNH. Bearings are magnetic, with 13° east variation. Altitudes and elevations are feet above mean sea level unless identified as radio-altimeter readings or heights. The map scale is 1:500,000. Aerodrome elevation is 21 ft; runway 16R threshold elevation is 7 ft.
The 25 NM minimum sector altitude is 2,700 ft and the 10 NM minimum sector altitude is 2,100 ft, centred on the YSSY aerodrome reference point.
The map labels obstacle and spot elevations of 160, 190, 250, 255, 259, 299, 306, 320, 385, 389, 421, 430, 545, 641, 677, 725, 862, 887, 894, 1,001, 1,074 and 1,085 ft. Their geographic placement still requires a complete text description.
Chart SSYII20-183, revised 12 June 2025, from the fixed publication cycle effective 3 September 2026.
Source: © Airservices Australia, Departure and Approach Procedures, SSYII20-183.Last modified on October 30, 2026
