IFR pickup standard phraseology

[kaposznyak]

Hi guys.

My question is Europe-related.

So flying VFR, in uncontrolled airspace (Class F) with a Z-type flight plan (first VFR, later at a given point IFR) what is the standard phraseology for changing to IFR?

"Request IFR pickup?"

And most importantly what would be the answer from the flight information officer? Clearly not a clearence...

Cannot find any official source for this situation. And I am a flight information officer

Thanks in advance!

[chevvron]

It would vary from country to country; in the UK we don't have Class F airspace any more and Flight Information Officers (FISO in the UK; Flight Information Service Officer) only operate in Class G airspace.
I would guess the pilot should ask something like 'Request IFR clearance and climb to flight level XXX'.
Hopefully the flight plan was already activated with a DEP message.
What happens at some places (but not all) in the UK is the radio operator/FISO/ATC at the departure airfield will notify the ATCC that the flight is about to depart and get a transponder code and frequency to pass to the pilot before departure so he can do his own request or if the airfield is unmanned, there is usually a phone number available for the pilot to phone the ATCC just before takeoff.

[kaposznyak]

Thanks for your answer.
It is a bit more complicated, because the flight will not enter controlled airspace at all. TA is 10,000ft, so they can climb fairly high (if want to) in class F airspace.

The question arised, because a pilot-who happen to be a B747 captain while working- was not saisfied with my answer to "Request IFR pickup." I have checked everywhere, but couldn't find anything official regarding the matter.

[custardpsc]

In class F the clearance is advisory only. Assuming I had filed a Z flight plan I guess I'd simply call ahead of the transition point and say something like xxxx 3 miles to {whatever point you'd filed} request IFR clearance. But you could just still fly your flight plan without a clearance... The alternative from the pilots viewpoint is to get the clearance on the ground if the transition is right after departure. Then you can take off with a squawk and a frequency and a controller ready to talk to you

[Tinstaafl]

If the flight is entirely within Class F airspace, why do you need a clearance and from whom? It's uncontrolled airspace, and doesn't even have to have FIS. However, presuming an IFR flight plan is in the system and some form of FIS/ATC is available, then I would start with a variant of a position report to the relevant FIS/ATC plus either a notification that I was now IFR & request whatever FIS is available, or a request for an IFR clearance if the airspace category will change to one that requires a clearance ie:
'Name of FIS/ATC station'
Callsign
Position (+ ATA if non radar)
Altitude
+
IFR (destination, + via xyz if thought necessary), request Radar Advisory Service (or whatever); or
Request IFR clearance (destination).

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by kaposznyak

So flying VFR, in uncontrolled airspace (Class F) with a Z-type flight plan (first VFR, later at a given point IFR) what is the standard phraseology for changing to IFR?!

In uncontrolled airspace in the UK, none. In the UK there is no requirement to communicate with anybody whilst flying within unregulated uncontrolled airspace. Simply change from VFR to IFR as and when required.

If you require a Surveillance Service freecall a Lower Airspace Radar Service unit and request Traffic Service or Deconfliction Service.