IVAO United Kingdom > NOTAMs

NOTAM WILL BE EFFECTIVE AS OF 0000Z WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2008 - ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS NOTAM SUPERCEDES NOTAM INDIA DATED 2ND OCTOBER 2008

We have taken on board all comments received from members since the publication of NOTAM INDIA and have made some changes to the FRA's that will be active within the division. We believe the changes that we have made are a fair and thought out compromise from the original FRA's we would have liked to have remained.

18 months ago we embarked on a massive new training scheme within the division. At that moment in time, training was not structured, wishy-washy, contained lots of cross instruction and was becoming a huge task to try and accomplish. An idea whereby we would create structured courses to train people was dreamt up and after nearly 12 months of hard work and effort from the training staff, the new courses were born.

Before the training courses, we used to get lots of complaints about the quality of ATC being provided, so it was our intention to improve the overall quality - One way of doing this is through the use of FRA's. We decided that after a number of months of training on the new courses, FRA's would be gradually increased to match the new standard of controllers.

As training in our ATC courses progresses and more people pass exams, we need to reflect this higher standard of controlling online on the network. As we now have more controllers than ever, the time has come to increase the FRA's to what was first discussed between the staff before we embarked on our new training system.

These changes effect Airport FRA's only - Area sector FRA's will follow in a few months.

The following FRA's will remain as per NOTAM INDIA:

The following FRA's have been changed from NOTAM INDIA based on comments received from the membership:

At the following airports, a TWR position must be manned before the GND position can be opened:
- EGHH
- EGGD
- EGGP
- EGNT

Note - Before FRA2 is introduced for the first set of airfields, a check will be made to ensure that training availability is enough to get members up to the required ratings.

Sandbox Airfields

The following list of airfields are designated as "Sandbox airfields" and are for members who do not wish to follow our training program and progress through the rating system. No FRA's will exist at these airports. They are:
- EGPD
- EGAA
- EGAC
- EGNH
- EGCN
- EGNV
- EGTE
- EGPE
- EGNM
- EGMH
- EGPK
- EGMC

The sandbox airfields are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

We hope this increase in the FRA system will help to improve the quality and standard of controlling within the division.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

22 OCT 00:00Z 2008 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson

NOTAM WILL BE EFFECTIVE AS OF 0000Z TUESDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2008

As training in our ATC courses progresses and more people pass exams, we need to reflect this higher standard of controlling online on the network. As we now have more controllers than ever, the time has come to increase the FRA's to what was first discussed between the staff before we embarked on our new training system.

The following effect Airport FRA's only - Area sector FRA's will follow in a few months.

Note - Before FRA2 is introduced, a check will be made to ensure that training availability is enough to get members up to the required ratings.

Sandbox Airfields

The following list of airfields are designated as "Sandbox airfields" and are for members who do not wish to follow our training program and progress through the rating system. No FRA's will exist at these airports. They are:
- EGPD
- EGAA
- EGAC
- EGNH
- EGCN
- EGNV
- EGTE
- EGPE
- EGNM
- EGMH
- EGPK
- EGMC

The sandbox airfields are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

We hope this increase in the FRA system will help to improve the quality and standard of controlling within the division.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

02 OCT 00:00Z 2008 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson

As an essential part of the longer term plans for the restructuring of controller training within the division, we will be increasing the FRA's on a number of Approach radar positions at major airfields. Since attaining the higher level control ratings is far easier with the new structured courses (and the introduction of the Approach Radar (C2) course is imminent), we want to ensure that we have able, qualified controllers providing radar services at major aerodromes in the division.

On Tuesday 20th May 2008 at 0000Z, a C1 FRA will be introduced to the following positions:

EGGW_APP - Luton Radar
EGKB_APP - Biggin Hill Approach
EGLF_APP - Farnborough Radar
EGCC_APP - Manchester Radar
EGBB_APP - Birmigham Radar
EGBE_APP - Coventry Radar
EGPH_APP - Edinburgh Radar
EGPF_APP - Glasgow Radar
EGGP_APP - Liverpool Radar
EGHI_APP - Southampton Radar
EGHH_APP - Bournemouth Radar
EGFF_APP - Cardiff Radar
EGGD_APP - Bristol Radar
EGNS_APP - Ronaldsway Approach

For members who do not wish to progress through our training courses to gain advanced controller ratings, a number of main airfields have been designated as "Sandbox" airfields. No FRA's will exist at these airports. They are:

EGTE - Exeter
EGNM - Leeds Bradford
EGNX - East Midlands
EGPD - Aberdeen
EGAA - Belfast Aldergrove

We have many places available on our C1 course, so if the increase of FRA affects you being able to control in the position you would like to control, you are more than welcome to sign up.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

20 MAY 00:00Z 2008 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson

The FRAs on Heathrow Tower (EGLL_N/S_TWR) and Heathrow Ground (EGLL_N/S_GND) have been increased to a C1 FRA between the hours of 16Z (1700 local) and 23Z (0000 local). Outside of these hours, they will remain an S3 FRA.

If you would like to join the ever growing number of high standard controllers within the division, there are many places available on our C1 training courses.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

09 SEP 00:00Z 2008 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson

Shanwick Oceanic Policy

Only approved members may open a Shanwick (EGGX) Oceanic position. Approved members are those who have had training and have been cleared by Andras Nyeste or those with approval from United Kingdom HQ. This NOTAM applies to UK based controllers as well as controllers from other divisions.

It has been decided to keep the FRA to a C1 so that those C1 + members who have approval are still able to log onto the position and control at any time. Any member controlling who does not have approval may continue to provide a service but should request a training session as soon as possible so that they can become familiar with the correct procedures.. To request training and get an oceanic clearance, visit the United Kingdom Training Website and request Oceanic controller training.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator

22 OCT 20:00Z 2007 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM originator - Gareth Richardson

Changes to UK Instrument Landing System (ILS) Phraseology

In the UK, the standard ICAO phraseology "Cleared for ILS Approach" has never been used. This is due to the procedure design, UK Airspace complexity and lessons learned from flight safety related incidents involving traffic conflicts caused by aircraft descending below their cleared level.

Problems have arisen with the current ILS clearance system, where, on occasions, pilots have not received clearance to descend in sufficient time to follow the ILS glideslope and this has led to unstable and rushed approaches. To reduce the likelihood of pilots not receiving descend clearance in sufficient time, new phraseology is to be introduced. This new phraseology provides, in a single transmission, clearance to descend on the ILS once established on the localiser.

With effect from 15th November 2007, the following revised ILS phraseology will be used for radar vectored ILS approaches in the UK:

a) ATC Instruction:

(Callsign and vectoring instructions as at present)

followed by

"when established on localiser, descend on ILS (QNH)"

b) Pilot Response:

(Read back vectoring instructions as at present)

followed by

"when established on localiser, descend on ILS (QNH), (callsign)"

Example:

"BAW123, turn right heading 245, when established on the localiser (Runway XX), descend on the ILS"
"Turn right heading 245, when established on the localiser (runway xx), descend on the ILS, BAW123"

- QNH can be omitted if it has already been passed once during the approach
- Runway number should be added in the transmission at airports with more than one runway

Pilots will maintain the last assigned level until established on the ILS glideslope. It is not necessary for pilots to report when descending on the ILS.

When a controller deems it necessary, for traffic separation purposes, to ensure that an aircraft joining the ILS does not commence descent until specifically cleared by the controller, the following alternative should be used:

a. ATC Instruction:

(Callsign and vectoring instructions as at present)

followed by

"report established on localiser, maintain (level )"

b. Pilot Response:

(Readback vectoring instruction as at present)

followed by

"report established on localiser, maintaining (level ) (callsign)"

followed by

"Localiser established (Callsign)"

c. Subsequent ATC Instruction:

"(Callsign) descend on ILS (QNH)"

d. Subsequent pilot response:

"(QNH) - descend on ILS (callsign)"

Example:

"BAW123, turn right heading 245, report established on localiser (runway XX), maintain 3000ft"
"Turn right heading 245, report established on localiser (runway XX), maintaining 3000ft, BAW123"
---
"localiser established, BAW123"
"BAW123, descend on ILS"
"Descend on ILS, BAW123"

- QNH can be omitted if it has already been passed once during the approach
- Runway number should be added in the transmission at airports with more than one runway

Pilots must maintain the last assigned level until either a clearance to descend to a lower level or an aircraft has been told to descend following the ILS.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

15 NOV 00:01Z 2007 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson

The following NOTAM supercedes NOTAM BRAVO issued on 11th September 2007.

London Heathrow (EGLL):

Frequency 118.7MHZ is now associated with the Northern Runway (09L/27R)
Frequency 118.5MHZ is now associated with the Southern Runway (09R/27L)

To facilitate this change, the IvAc callsigns for the tower positions have changed.

From 2300Z on Friday 28th September 2007, EGLL_A_TWR and EGLL_D_TWR positions will no longer exist. These have been replaced by:

EGLL_N_TWR (Tower responsible for the Northern Runway (09L/27R)) - AIR NTH
EGLL_S_TWR (Tower responsible for the Southern Runway (09R/27L)) - AIR STH

Before logging onto the network as a Heathrow Tower Controller, you must now check the runway in use for LANDING using the Preferential Runway Procedures and weather information. This is to ensure that you log on with the correct callsign and frequency.

If the landing runway is 09L/27R, log on as AIR NTH.
If the landing runway is 09R/27L, log on as AIR STH.

The UK Division website has been edited to show these changes. We recommend you read the following web pages to fully understand them:

London FIR > LTCC > London Heathrow > General
London FIR > LTCC > London Heathrow > Policy
London FIR > LTCC > London Heathrow > ADC Procedures
London FIR > LTCC > London Heathrow > Advanced Controlling Techniques

All changes on these pages appear in red.

Address any questions to the NOTAM originator.

28 SEP 23:00Z 2007 Until PERMANENT

NOTAM Originator - Gareth Richardson