Read before flight: UK ATC survival kit

Flying Safety,  March, 2002  by Christian H. Dollwet

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The following items apply under VFR in the UK:

* Collision Avoidance Pilots are to maintain safe separation from other traffic.

* Flight Conditions. The aircraft is to remain in weather conditions that satisfy the VMC minima specified. Aircraft flying more than 250 knots indicated airspeed in Class G airspace are required to maintain the following clearances from clouds and flight visibility: (1) Between 3000 feet MSL and FL 100-1500 meters horizontally and 1000 feet vertically with 8 kilometers visibility. (2) At or below 3000 feet MSL-1500 meters horizontally and 1000 feet vertically with 5 kilometers visibility (In the UK Low Fly System, at or below 2000 feet AGL, the vertical distance from cloud is 500 feet.)

The following items apply Under IFR in the UK:

* Outside CAS above 3000 feet MSL, pilots must select cruising levels according to the quadrantal or semi-circular rule as applicable, based on the standard altimeter setting 29.92 inches, unless they are flying in conformity with instructions from ATC. Throughout any period of level flight above the transition altitude, other than at a Flight Level, the aircraft must be in receipt of a radar service, or carrying out a holding procedure established in relation to an airfield.

Radar Services

ATC services are to be provided to the maximum extent practicable subject only to workload, communications or equipment capability, and applied in accordance with the status of the airspace within which the participating aircraft are flying. UK controllers provide the following types of radar services:

* Radar Control in Class A, B, D or E airspace.

* Radar Advisory Service (RAS) in Class F or G.

* Radar Information Service (RIS) in Class F or G.

Radar Control. An air traffic radar service provided in controlled airspace in which pilots are given mandatory instructions to enable the prescribed separation minima between aircraft to be maintained. Such instruction will generally be associated with essential details of the conflicting traffic. No changes to heading or levels are to be made without prior approval of the radar controller.

Radar Advisory Service (RAS). An air traffic radar service provided in uncontrolled airspace in which the controller will provide the advice necessary to maintain prescribed separation between aircraft participating in the advisory service, and in which the controller will pass to the pilot the bearing, distance and, if known, level of conflicting, non-participating traffic, together with advice on action necessary to resolve the confliction. Where time does not permit this procedure to be adopted, the controller will pass advice on avoiding action, followed by information on the conflicting traffic.

Under RAS, the following conditions apply:

* The service will only be provided to flights under IFR, irrespective of meteorological conditions.

* Controllers will expect the pilot to accept vectors or level allocations that may require flight in IMC. Pilots not qualified to fly in IMC should accept RAS only where compliance with ATC advice permits the flight to be continued in VMC.