Departure
96%
vs 95% ▲ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Falcone-Borsellino Airport (LICJ) serves Palermo, the capital of Sicily, from a dramatic site on the island's north-western coast between the sea and high ground near Cinisi. Named after the anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, it is a busy commercial gateway with two hard-surfaced runways, full radar and tower service, and ILS approaches, making it a substantial and demanding destination for any simulator pilot flying VFR or IFR into Sicily.
Falcone-Borsellino Airport, commonly known as Palermo Airport and formerly Punta Raisi Airport, lies at Cinisi on the north-western coast of Sicily and is the principal air gateway to Palermo. It is operated by GESAP S.p.a. and named in memory of the anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, murdered by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992. For a simulator pilot the appeal lies in its coastal setting hemmed in by rising terrain, its long runway pair capable of handling wide-body jets, and the mix of low-cost, legacy and seasonal long-haul traffic that gives the field a genuinely international character.
The airport sits on the coast at Cinisi, some 19 nautical miles (35 km) west-northwest of Palermo city centre, on Sicily's northern shore. It is a controlled aerodrome with its own approach, tower and ground services, reflecting its status as a major scheduled and charter hub for the island. Terrain rises quickly inland from the coastal strip, and high ground including Monte Longa lies close to the approach paths, a feature that has long shaped operations at the field.
The airport has two paved, lit runways. The main runway, 07/25, is 10,475 ft long on the 07 threshold and 10,269 ft on the 25 threshold, with an ILS serving runway 25. The secondary runway, 02/20, is 6,974 ft long on the 02 threshold and 6,843 ft on the 20 threshold, with an ILS serving runway 20. Field elevation is 36 ft, and the airport is located at 38.1819N, 13.0994E.
Palermo Approach is available on 120.2 MHz. The airport ATIS broadcasts on 123.875 MHz. Ground movements are handled on 121.625 MHz, with a further Raisi Ground frequency also published. Tower control, identified as Raisi Tower, operates on 119.05 MHz. Instrument approaches are available, with ILS equipment provided for runway 25 on the main runway and runway 20 on the secondary runway.
As a controlled international airport, all traffic is handled under instrument and radar procedures through Palermo Approach and Raisi Tower rather than an informal visual circuit; pilots should expect to be worked onto the ILS for runway 25 or runway 20 as appropriate. The proximity of high terrain, including Monte Longa close to the approach paths, has historically made careful adherence to published approach procedures particularly important at this airport.
The airport sits directly on the coastline at Punta Raisi, giving a clear seaward reference for arriving traffic, while the town of Cinisi lies immediately adjacent to the field. Higher ground, notably Monte Longa, rises close to the approach paths inland and is a significant visual and terrain feature for pilots to note when planning arrivals from the south and east.
The airport opened in 1960 and was originally known as Punta Raisi Airport after its coastal location. It was renamed Falcone Borsellino Airport in honour of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, the two leading anti-mafia judges assassinated by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992; a plaque by the sculptor Tommaso Geraci commemorates them at the terminal. On 5 May 1972 Alitalia Flight 112 crashed into Monte Longa while on approach to the airport, a tragedy that underscored the challenges posed by the surrounding terrain. GESAP took on partial management of the airport in 1994, gaining responsibility for landside activities, and in 1999 assumed control of airside infrastructure including the runways, taxiways and aprons. The airport has since seen the development of long-haul services, including a seasonal Eurofly route to New York using Airbus A330s launched in 2005 and continued after Eurofly's merger into Meridiana Fly, and more recent seasonal transatlantic services by Neos and United Airlines connecting Palermo with New York and Newark respectively.
Falcone-Borsellino remains a major commercial airport and the second busiest in Sicily by passenger numbers, serving as a focus city for several low-cost and regional carriers alongside legacy network airlines. It handles a wide range of scheduled and seasonal charter services across Europe, North Africa and, seasonally, transatlantic routes to New York. Given its scale and controlled airspace, any general aviation or simulator flight to the field should anticipate full ATC handling from approach through to the gate.
