Polar navigation regs
 

Anybody know if ICAO has any regs concerning polar / high latitude operations?

None that I'm aware of and I work in the Antarctic. What makes you ask the question?

There are limitations on how high a latitude you can fly without full polar emergency gear loaded for all occupants. It used to be inconvenient operating from SYD to EZE (Buenos Aires). As I recall it, we were limited to 75* S. A long way from everywhere down there!

Mustafa gander, that policy would be driven by CAO82.0 Appendix 9 (I think). Not an ICAO thing.

For the OP- you also need to look at the aircraft manufacturer limitations for navigation as well as regulator's fuel freeze strategy requirement.

Yes, that's correct. CASA hung it's hat on an ICAO SARP we were told. Nav wasn't an issue but we did need to keep an eye on the fuel temp. The fuel temp prediction sheet was a dog's breakfast but watching the EICAS worked. The loneliest position I ever saw on that route was when our nearest diversion ports, Christchurch and Punta Arenas, were both 3hr55 away. OTOH the ice was spectacular.

Yep, it's a beautiful place to fly, especially in winter.

Out of curiosity do you guys calculate the freezing temp of the actual fuel loaded, or just watch the temps and descend/go faster as required to keep above standard temps?

We ensure that the tanks, B744, with greatest exposure to low temp - #1M, #4M, #2R and #3R as well as #2M and #3M - are purged of Jet A by using a pumping procedure on the ground or flying a certain number of sectors using JetA1. Always a look in the tech log when we boarded for these polar trips to ensure we were OK.

Didn't know you used Jet A, but makes sense as that type also heads to where it's supplied. For the polar region flights, do you add FSII to the Jet A1?

And more curiosity-what's the B744's minimum environmental OAT limit?

We get Jet A in the USA. As far as I know nothing extra is added to the fuel for polar ops.
I'm retired now so I don't have access to the manuals to answer this question. Sorry.

Thanks, was just curious to see what others do. Enjoy retirement!

Retired also , but memory says ..
Full polar survival pack [ 3 rows of 4 seats ] if more than 700nm from an Adequate airfield
[ does not have to be Suitable ,...... -40C , 200m blo snow ! ].
Japan - UK , North of Novaya Zemlya , 550nm from NPOLE , 698 from Adequate ... no polar pack .

Re fuel temps . Siberian High would sometimes mean you needed to go up to find warmer air .
Fuel ex USA , sometimes had freeze point -41C . Europe elsewhere freeze point -47C .
Memory suggests don't let the fuel get closer than 3 or 4 degrees from freeze point .
Fly faster was always welcome . To warm the fuel , of course .