Aircraft Carrier ATCO and EASA
 

Do any of you chaps/chappesses have any awareness of new EU legislation that mandates a licensed air traffic controller must control - as per a land based field - all traffic in the local pattern of a UK carrier? They already do in an 'area' function but up until now we have not required an ATCO in 'local' control.

If not, do any of you know which document ATC EU legislation is laid down in that talks of military waivers for ATC services?

Regards,

FB11

Not too sure that we have ANY carriers left (in the traditional fixed wing launch platform sense)

I think we have an arrangement with the french:bored: and they pay no attention to EU rules!!:E

FB11,

Not heard about that legislation, where did you get the info from? Also I hope that you're not inferring that Naval Fighter Controllers aren't real controllers?!

Regards,

ADIS

There is a grade called 'Aircraft Controller' in the RN; it can be done by a senior rating and they can provide radar services equivalent to those on land, with no special 'certificate of competence' but with rigorous training /competency checking.
I once examined one of these guys for his civil Air/Ground C of C; we did the practical in a simulator of the control room of a Type 23 Frigate!!

Briefly, air traffic services at sea are provided by two different kinds of people:

1) 'Aircraft Controller' ratings of Leading Airman (= corporal) level on Frigates/Destroyers or Petty Officers (= Sgts) on bigger ships (amphib/carrier). They fufill largely a tactical role but also cover basic ATSOCAS roles and varients of PARs.

2) ATCO Officers, either Lt or LtCdrs on carriers giving services to multiple ac in either an APP/DIR role or PAR role. Also in Flyco monitoring deck ops in a 'tower' role.

(Chief) Petty Officers and commissioned officers both work together at Yeovil/Culdrose giving all the services out of there.

None of the above to be confused with the 'fighter controller' sub-branch. They are warfare (ship driving) officers with an adqual. Generally known for their limited abilities at providing ATC services. Not specialist air traffickers, and do not complete JATCC or anything close to it.

The European legislation regarding ATC principally covers the provision of services to GAT within airspace that is the responsibility of a Member State. In broad terms, the European Commission does not have legal competence over military matters and so in most cases the rules do not directly apply to military services - however, the Member States are supposed to seek the same standards from their military in certain specific situations.

If the aircraft receiving the service from the carrier are OAT you probably don't need to worry about EU legislation (some may choose to interpret a few bits of the legislation it a way that includes your ops but the European Commission has bigger things to worry about!). OTH, if the aircraft are GAT (or the movements are predominately GAT) and the carrier is within 'European' airspace then the rules probably do apply where an ATC service is being provided.