Lobby,
Here are the appropriate parts of the AIP and the Manual of ATC............both CAA documents which detail what pilots and ATC must do.
AIP ENR 1.10
1.2.2 Flight plans fall into three categories:
(a) Full flight plans: the information filed on Form CA48/RAF 2919;
(b) Repetitive Flight Plans (see paragraph 5);
(c) Abbreviated Flight Plans: the limited information required to obtain a clearance for a portion of flight (eg: flying in a Control
Zone, crossing an Airway) filed either by telephone prior to take-off or by RTF when airborne. The destination aerodrome
will be advised of the flight only if the flight plan information covers the whole route of the flight.
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1.4.2 A flight plan must be filed for the following:
(a) for all flights within Class A Airspace;
(b) for all flights within any Controlled Airspace in IMC or at night, except for those operating under SVFR;
(c) for all flights within any Controlled Airspace in VMC if the flight is to be conducted in accordance with IFR;
(d) for all flights within Class B - D Controlled Airspace irrespective of weather conditions;
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1.6 Submission Time Parameters
1.6.1 Normally, flight plans should be filed on the ground at least 60 minutes before clearance to start up or taxi is requested;.....................Exceptionally, in cases where it is impossible to meet this requirement, operators should give as much notice as
possible and never less than thirty minutes. Otherwise, if this is not possible, a flight plan can be filed when airborne with any ATSU,
but normally with the FIR Controller responsible for the area in which the aircraft is flying. If the airborne flight plan contains an intention
to enter Controlled Airspace or certain Control Zones/Control Areas, at least 10 minutes prior warning of entry must be given.
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ICAO Annex 2 describes when a pilot must tell ATS of changes to a flight plan.
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MATS 1
Section 5, Chapter 1;
3 Recognising an Emergency Situation
3.1 A controller may suspect that an aircraft is in an emergency situation when:
a) radio contact is not established at the time it is expected to be established;
b) radio contact is lost;...............
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Section 5, Chapter 3;
Overdue Aircraft;
[I]1 Introduction
.............
Type of Aircraft
Strict adherence to the flight plan cannot always be
expected of a
non-radio light aircraft.......
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2 Aerodrome Procedure
2.3 Radio Equipped Aircraft – Preliminary Action
If an aircraft fails to make a position report when expected, the following preliminary
action shall be commenced not later than the estimated time for the reporting point
plus 30 minutes:
• Advise the ACC supervisor that the aircraft is overdue;
• Confirm ATD from departure aerodrome by quickest possible means;
• Ensure that an RQS message is sent.
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The above clearly show what the requirements are in black and white.
I particuluarly like the one about flight plans being filed 1 hour prior to flight or exceptionally 30 minutes before or if that is not possible (how often would that be in the UK would that be in today's mobile phone world?) filed in the air!
While Vintage ATCO may describe the traditional method used by some units, it is not in compliance with ICAO or UK CAA procedures and requirements.
What seems to have happened is that ATS units have stopped fulfilling the alerting requirements because they fel that they can't trust pilots to keep to the filed flight plan or change the plan as required..........would it not be better to properly educate the pilots of their errors and retain the integrity of the system for those operators who comply with the requirements?
Would it not be better for an App unit to have some advance warning of how many VFR flights are going to call in the next hour for transit.........bit of planning perhaps so that a second position can be opened where necessary and available etc........providing the service to the customer?
Finally if one reads the AIP one will see that flights to/from Fairoaks and Blackbushe are required to address te plan to Farnborough........good idea because the first unit we will call will be Farnborough and often we will have a squalk from them prior to departure..........using Vintage ATCOs rules, farnborough should bin the plan and we should pass full details on departure!
Regards,
DFC