Is SLOP permitted on North Atlantic Random Routes?
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Is SLOP permitted on North Atlantic Random Routes?
Hello,
Is SLOP permitted on north Atlantic random routes in the Santa Maria, New York, Gander, and Shanwick FIRs? The side panel of the Atlantic orientation jeppesen chart seems not to forbid it, yet there is prevailing belief amongst the captains that I fly with that it is not allowed, therefore we don't do it. Could someone clear this up for me? I usually suggest 1 or 2 R SLOP but always get chastised for not knowing that it's forbidden on random routes.
Is SLOP permitted on north Atlantic random routes in the Santa Maria, New York, Gander, and Shanwick FIRs? The side panel of the Atlantic orientation jeppesen chart seems not to forbid it, yet there is prevailing belief amongst the captains that I fly with that it is not allowed, therefore we don't do it. Could someone clear this up for me? I usually suggest 1 or 2 R SLOP but always get chastised for not knowing that it's forbidden on random routes.
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Performing a SLOP in MNPS airspace is a recommendation, so yes you can do it.
I personally don't use it in the Shanwick/Santa Maria going southbound but I do it when going North.
You are permitted to do it on airways also, remember an airway is 8- 10nm in width (depending on which authority your flying under)
1 miles = 1 day swim
I personally don't use it in the Shanwick/Santa Maria going southbound but I do it when going North.
You are permitted to do it on airways also, remember an airway is 8- 10nm in width (depending on which authority your flying under)
1 miles = 1 day swim
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For some reason a LOT of the captains where I work think it is only allowed on NAT's or Airway routes, not random routes 
To me, flying directly over a whole number lat long intersection on a random route like 30N040W carries just as much danger as doing something similar on a NAT or airway route. If I'm wrong I will bite my tongue.
To me, flying directly over a whole number lat long intersection on a random route like 30N040W carries just as much danger as doing something similar on a NAT or airway route. If I'm wrong I will bite my tongue.
Pages 49 and 50 of this document (2005 edition, no doubt it's been updated, but)...http://www.gofir.com/general/north_a...MNPSA_2005.pdf
There's no mention that SLOP should only be used on an organised track, merely that it's allowable in Oceanic Airspace:
"... Consequently, it has been determined that allowing aircraft conducting oceanic flight to fly lateral offsets will provide an additional safety margin.....".
and, as the north Atlantic regulars will know,
:
"There is no ATC clearance required for this procedure and it is not necessary that ATC be advised."
There's no mention that SLOP should only be used on an organised track, merely that it's allowable in Oceanic Airspace:
"... Consequently, it has been determined that allowing aircraft conducting oceanic flight to fly lateral offsets will provide an additional safety margin.....".
and, as the north Atlantic regulars will know,
:"There is no ATC clearance required for this procedure and it is not necessary that ATC be advised."
Boeing man Yes you can slop on random route North Atlantic we do it all the time 1 and 2 mile slop depending on date it's an sop for us
Uplinker
My company specifies on the flight paperwork whether we should SLOP or not. Of course on the day, eg following traffic etc, we can change that but it stops me forgetting to! I seem to recall that NAVCANADA in particular wanted to see a greater number of aircraft on offsets and the system works fine.
Also, we offset on random routes which sometimes follow part of a NAT track say to 30W before peeling off to sunnier climes.
PS we also Offset in the WATRS (Eastern seaboard) airpspace which is RVSM but not MNPS airspace. Must get out more....
My company specifies on the flight paperwork whether we should SLOP or not. Of course on the day, eg following traffic etc, we can change that but it stops me forgetting to! I seem to recall that NAVCANADA in particular wanted to see a greater number of aircraft on offsets and the system works fine.
Also, we offset on random routes which sometimes follow part of a NAT track say to 30W before peeling off to sunnier climes.
PS we also Offset in the WATRS (Eastern seaboard) airpspace which is RVSM but not MNPS airspace. Must get out more....
Blimey, that's clever. How does your planning department know whether SLOP will be needed, and where all the other aircarft are going to be, or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?
I just look at the traffic around me on TCAS and SLOP into the 'lane' with least traffic, or to get out of someone's wake.
SLOP of course was brought in because with modern navigation systems, all aircraft in an airway are nowadays EXACTLY above/below each other, whereas in the past, errors in old Nav kit meant that there was always a spread of positions within the airway, which tended to distribute the aircraft around.
I just look at the traffic around me on TCAS and SLOP into the 'lane' with least traffic, or to get out of someone's wake.
SLOP of course was brought in because with modern navigation systems, all aircraft in an airway are nowadays EXACTLY above/below each other, whereas in the past, errors in old Nav kit meant that there was always a spread of positions within the airway, which tended to distribute the aircraft around.
Our SOP is R1 on odd dates and R2 on even. Once there, feel free to swap based on other traffic. As above, no need to request from or inform ATC, just don't do it until in NAT airspace and cancel before leaving.
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It is monitored for " compliance " statistically by the various OCA's so obviously allowed and encouraged. Some operators never do it , some operators regularly do it , some just haven't a clue.
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Doing a SLOP is recommended a practise in MNPS regardless of whether it's a NAT-track or a random route, but it's main purpose is the track system though (so many aircrafts on the same route). Slop can be 0-1-2nm to the RIGHT only, and ATC does not have to be notified about it.
Link to the latest version of the MNPS manual 2013
http://www.icao.int/EURNAT/EUR%20and...0%20bkmrks.pdf
Link to the latest version of the MNPS manual 2013
http://www.icao.int/EURNAT/EUR%20and...0%20bkmrks.pdf
Straight out of Jepp ATC
11.22 STRATEGIC LATERAL OFFSET PROCEDURES (SLOP) IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC The Strategic Lateral Offset Procedure (SLOP) is now a standard operating procedure throughout the North Atlantic (NAT) Region. This procedure mitigates collision risk and wake turbulence encounters. Pilots conducting oceanic flights within the NAT Region with automatic offset pro- gramming capability are recommended to fly lateral offsets of either 1 or 2 NM right of center line. The introduction of very accurate aircraft navigation systems, along with sophisticated flight man- agement systems, has drastically reduced the number of risk bearing lateral navigation errors reported in NAT airspace. Paradoxically, the capability of aircraft to navigate to such a high level of accuracy has led to a situation where aircraft on the same track but at different levels, are increasingly likely to be in lateral overlap. This results in an increased risk of collision if an aircraft departs from its cleared level for any reason. SLOP reduces risk by distributing aircraft laterally. It is applicable within the New York Oceanic, Gander Oceanic, Shanwick Oceanic, Santa Maria Oceanic, Søndrestrøm and Reykjavik flight information regions, and within the Bodø Oceanic flight information region when flights are oper- ated more than 185km (100 NM) seaward from the shoreline.
Answer yes, and on a random route why would you? Random routes are not "organised" they are random!
Answer yes, and on a random route why would you? Random routes are not "organised" they are random!
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c100driver
Random routes are any route that does not pass through 30 West along the full length of the track during the hours of operation.
Day-time OTS 1130 UTC to 1900 UTC at 30°W
Night-time OTS 0100 UTC to 0800 UTC at 30°W
So any aircraft flying full length of the track but passing through 30W outside of these times is outside of the organised track system and is therefore random routing.
Also T16 and T9 are random routes.
Another possibility is an aircraft leaving or joining the organised system before or after the end of the track. Say a flight down to Florida which may start on the track but turn south before the end.
Day-time OTS 1130 UTC to 1900 UTC at 30°W
Night-time OTS 0100 UTC to 0800 UTC at 30°W
So any aircraft flying full length of the track but passing through 30W outside of these times is outside of the organised track system and is therefore random routing.
Also T16 and T9 are random routes.
Another possibility is an aircraft leaving or joining the organised system before or after the end of the track. Say a flight down to Florida which may start on the track but turn south before the end.
Last edited by Check Mags On; 25th Mar 2015 at 15:04. Reason: Typo
