IFR in Uncontrolled airspace

[Cruise Zombie]

Does your airline allow IMC operations in uncontrolled airspace?

What does your manual say about maintaining separation in such areas ?

[The African Dude]

Our policy from OPS A:

"When flights are operated outside Controlled Airspace every effort must be made to ensure that the aircraft is in receipt of highest level of radar service available. In circumstances, which prevent receipt of a radar service, pilots should pay particular attention to keeping an effective lookout and using all available means to assess the traffic situation around their aircraft. The Air Traffic services available can be obtained from OM C and Jeppesen documentation."

[reynoldsno1]

Many IFR approach procedures in uncontrolled airspace in NZ - broadcast your intentions on the designated frequency and arrange your own separation. Works fine.

[+TSRA]

Geeze, I do it so often now I don't even give it a second thought.

So long as you talk with the other aircraft in the area and follow the basic rules for right of way and separation (ie if you're a 737 following an ATR, maybe slow it up a bit more, or go out to the 10 mile fix, not the 5 mile) then you're fine.

It's when you start playing games like racing each other, or cutting someone off that problems start. In my experience here in arctic Canada everyone is very cognizant of the need to be professional and work together.

[NorthSouth]

So long as you talk with the other aircraft in the area

No criticism of you +TSRA but your response is an indicator of the huge difference between your operating environment and that of the poster, who's from the UK. Over here it's still perfectly legal to fly IFR in solid IMC in uncontrolled airspace which may well be a military training area not publicised to civil pilots, and SPEAKING TO NO-ONE. Admittedly the only people doing that will be either civil GA or military, not CAT, but the history of CAT operations outside CAS in the UK is a long one. Most airlines with regular ops to/from airports outside CAS will have a requirement for a Deconfliction Service in their Ops Manual, but there are still quite a lot of places with daily scheduled pax services and no radar, so they get no info on traffic not speaking to their approach controller. Biggest threat to them is usually the military.

[bfisk]

We do it all the time, as a lot of the airports we fly to are outside controlled airspace.

Make sure to talk to the rest of the bunch around, and keep a good look outside. (Like you're always supposed to - in Norway there is cat C airspace only in the Oslo and Farris TMA, so everywhere else, at least closeish to the ground, you are responsible for your own separation from the VFR guys.)

[Piltdown Man]

Yes. But also consider if the risk is worth it (unless you have no choice) and try to get the best radar service possible.

[JammedStab]

I do 90% of my flying in uncontrolled airspace in northern Canada. There is nothing written down on required separation. It is up to the flightcrew to determine what is safe.

[Nubboy]

Used to do it a lot in the UK when flying turboprops.

Still did it a bit in jets when MME was a regular destination. Last time I went to NCL, it still wasn't joined to the airways system. It's still in our Part A ops manual, use the best service you can find, whether its a local unicom, blind broadcast or radar, either military or civil.