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ATC tutorial: Difference between revisions
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What are Flight Levels? Flight Levels are used to shorten heights -- you should recognize them from the plane's blip -- you simply remove the two last digits from the height, for example 32,000ft --> FL320. Also, when you talk about Flight Levels, the pilot uses a standard altimeter setting (instead of the local altimeter setting found after the Q in the METAR weather report in the bottom right of your screen); while at low altitudes the plane will use the local barometric pressure. This means that all planes cruising will think 32,000 ft is at the same place, and not vary slightly depending on the local pressure. | |||
Your aim is to get the planes in the right direction at a height ready for hand-off to an ARTCC (_CTR) and away from the airport. Once you've done it pass your plane onto the centre controller. It is a good idea to use the .chat <callsign of controller> function to ensure that you and your center agree on what places and heights you'll hand off at. | |||
Now the planes with Centre. The same hand-off procedure as above applies... wait for the first contact. When you've got it, identify the plane, and report 'radar contact'. If a plane is in your airspace and won't contact you try asking on your frequency, then try a quick switch to 121.50 to send a 'Contact EGTT_CTR on 132.600' to get the plane's attention. Using 121.50 (the Guard Frequency) is used when you can't contact a plane -- all planes within a few hundred miles will hear your broadcast, irrespective of who it was intended for! Remember to switch back to your frequency -- you don't want everyone to hear your broadcasts for the rest of eternity (or perhaps you do; I certainly don't). | |||
Centers job is pretty easy until its busy. Read the planes intended route and just get the plane to fly it. If there are other planes, make sure they don't collide. Since opposite traveling planes will have a 1,000 ft separation (using the table above) you shouldn't need to worry that much. Other than that, listen to the pilot's requests and help him where you can. When you get to your ARTCC boundary hand-off to the next centre, or - if there isn't one - give the order: | |||
'''You: B-ELIO, no control available in France, resume own navigation to Belgium, radar service terminated''' | |||
This statement removes all your requirements to control the plane, as it now knows that your not watching on radar, and you're not going to help him navigate. When you are navigating as centre - if the flight plan doesn't include a route - find the start and end points, and plan a quick route (either direct - give one heading - or by 'hopping' from VOR to VOR). | |||
These terms are used often while controlling to confirm or deny requests and answer any questions: | |||
{| class="prettytable" | |||
! align="center" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | | |||
! align="center" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | | |||
|- | |||
|Affirmative (sometimes affirm or aff) | |||
|Yes or correct | |||
|- | |||
|Negative (sometimes neg) | |||
|No or incorrect | |||
|- | |||
|Confirm... | |||
|Is it correct that... | |||
|- | |||
|Unable... | |||
|Sorry, I cannot accept your request for... | |||
|- | |||
|Roger (almost always rgr) | |||
|I've heard and understood your last transmission | |||
|- | |||
|Wilco | |||
|I will comply with your orders (implies Roger) | |||
|- | |||
|Standby (sometimes stby) | |||
|Please wait, I will call you back when I am free. | |||
|} | |||
'''Some examples of these:''' | |||
* '''You:''' Confirm current altitude is FL310. | |||
**'''B-ELIO:''' Negative, FL290 | |||
* '''B-ELIO:''' Request descent to FL290 | |||
**'''You:''' Unable FL290 (there is already traffic at FL290?) | |||
When the plane is nearing its final destination, make sure it has descended to between 18,000 and 22,000 ft. This means that the approach controller can take the plane and descend it quickly -- it's no good trying to descend a plane 35,000 ft in 20 NM and still get it to land. Notice that the plane should remain above 18,000 ft (in your airspace) until you've handed off. Approach might decide not to take the plane and have you make it fly circles in the sky for 20 minutes until he has some room; otherwise arrivals and departures might crash while they're being handed over! | |||
So: | |||
'''You:''' B-ELIO, d/m (descend and maintain) 18,000 on QNH 1221, right to 270 and expect hand-off to approach in five minutes | |||
'''B-ELIO:''' down to 18,000 on 1221, will expect approach in five, B-ELIO. | |||
What is the QNH? This is an altimeter setting. As the plane will shortly be moving back to local pressure, and not the flight level standard pressure, the pilot must know the local pressure. This ensures that his diagrams which give him the height of the airfield above sea level are correct -- if everyone used a standard altimeter setting at low altitudes the airport's height would seem to fluctuate over a period of hours by a few hundred feet! And finally: | |||
'''You:''' B-ELIO, contact EGLL_APP on 192.72 | |||
I'm not sure how we ended up at Heathrow, but that's another story! | |||