HANKE-Aviation GmbH - Flight Crew Training

CHAPTER 4 - Flight Planning

 

ATC Flight Plans

Correct completion and addressing of the flight plan is extremely important as errors can lead to delays in data processing and to the subsequent issuing of clearances to the flights concerned.

Flight plans for flights departing from points in other Regions and entering the NAT Region without intermediate stops should be submitted as far in advance of departure as possible.

In order to signify that a flight is approved to operate in NAT MNPS Airspace, the letter ‘X’ shall be inserted, in addition to the letter ‘S’, within Item 10 of the flight plan. If the flight is approved to operate at RVSM levels a ‘W’ must also be included in Item 10.

For turbojet aircraft the Mach Number planned to be used for each portion of the flight in the NAT Region should be specified in Item 15 of the flight plan.

Item 15 of the flight plan should reflect the proposed speeds in the following sequence:


FLIGHT PLANNING REQUIREMENTS ON SPECIFIC ROUTES

Flights Planning on Random Route Segments at/or South of 70°N

The requested Mach Number and flight level should be specified at either the last domestic reporting point prior to oceanic airspace entry or the OCA boundary.

The route of flight should be specified in terms of the following significant points, with estimates included in Item 18 of the flight plan:

(1) the last domestic reporting point prior to the oceanic entry point;

(2) the OCA boundary entry point (only required by the Shanwick, New York and Santa Maria OACs);

(3) significant points formed by the intersection of half or whole degrees of latitude, with meridians spaced at intervals of ten degrees of longitude from the Zero degree E/W (Greenwich) Meridian to longitude 70oW;

(4) the OCA boundary exit point (only required by the Shanwick, New York and Santa Maria OACs); and

(5) the first domestic reporting point after ocean exit.

Each point at which a change of Mach Number or flight level is requested must be specified and followed in each case by the next significant point.

Flights Planning to Operate Without HF Communications

The carriage of HF communications is mandatory for flight in the Shanwick OCA. Aircraft with only functioning VHF communications equipment should plan their route outside the Shanwick OCA and ensure that they remain within VHF coverage of appropriate ground stations throughout the flight. Theoretical VHF coverage charts are included in ICAO NAT Doc 001, T13.5N. Details of communication requirements are published in State AIPs.

(C) HANKE-Aviation GmbH 2014