UK - ATSOCAS & Controlled Airspace
 

Hi All,

I have a question regarding the new ATSOCAS and controlled airspace).

If I were to transit a Class D zone, I would normally contact the ATC and request a Zone transition and I used to also request flight information.

What do I request now as I believe ATSOCAS is for uncontrolled (F&G) classes only.

For class D zone transit, Do I request Zone transit and Basic service or just zone transit and assume I will be receiving some other service or do I still request Flight Information?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

Paul

Read this

And this

Cap 493
 

I think I found the answer

CAP 493 – Air Traffic Services gave me the answer. Section 3 Chapter 2.

Approach control will provide the services below depending upon the airspace within which the aircraft is operating:

Within Controlled Airspace – Radar Control Service
Outside controlled airspace – Procedural, Deconfliction, Traffic or Basic.

Whilst outside of the zone, you will receive either a Procedural, Deconfliction, Traffic or Basic service.
[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']On entering the zone – you are then under RADAR control and as such will receive all of the services defined whilst under Approach Control. These are: Approach Control service, Basic service and an alerting service. It also includes traffic information for aerodromes operating in classes C, D and E [/FONT]

For a zone transit you request a zone transit. Simples.

I managed not to scream.

Spot the difference:

Air
Traffic
Services
Outside
Controlled
Airspace

CONTROL Zone = CONTROLLED Airspace

Request 'Zone Transit'.
Full Stop.

During your CTR Transit you will be provided with AN Air Traffic Control Service, probably 'Radar Control' or 'Approach Control'
........and NONE of the ATSOCAS from the CAP774 portfolio of Flight Information Services.

I suspect some of the confusion lies in how we tend to ask for ATSOCAS and a CTR/CTA transit in the same transmission. I often hear "Request Basic Service and zone transit" with the reply being "clear to transit the .... CTR not above.... Basic Service'. In reality, this means a BS outside CAS and a clearance to enter CAS. Of course, CAP413 is really helpful here. :ugh:

Part of the problem lies with ATSD requiring ATCOs to pedantically specify the Type Of Service before and after crossing CAS boundaries whether the ATSU is an ATSOCA Provider or not. Non-LARS Providers (eg Heathrow) are required to specify the Type Of Service on initial response so that the User will be in no doubt, eg.
"Clearance is....Basic Service outside CTR"
"Entering CTR, Radar Control Service"
"Leaving CTR, Service Terminates...."
consequently some Users perceive a need to request an ATSOCA from a CAS ATCU.