Comprehensive ATC and Flight Plans Notes from FTEJerez ATS Slides

Aerodrome Layout

• Aerodrome layout is influenced by a range of factors, including:
  • Geography
  • Topography
  • Human settlement
  • Communications
  • Aerodrome evolution
  • Aerodrome users

Runway: Definition

• Runway = a defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off run of aircraft (ICAO definition).

Runway Surfaces and Examples

• Surface examples mentioned in slides include:
  • Sand
  • Grass
  • Water
• Additional runway surface example cues: MIL (military)
• Context: runways may exist with diverse surface types and adjacent or auxiliary runways.

Runway Orientation and Configuration

• Runway orientation/alignment is described by degrees (magnetic, denoted with M).
• Example configurations shown:
  • $075^\circ M$ and $084^\circ M$
  • $255^\circ M$ and $264^\circ M$
• Additional example headings observed:
  • $173^\circ M$
  • $353^\circ M$
  • $083^\circ M$
  • $08/26$ (runway pair 08 and 26)
  • $263^\circ M$
• Runway Configuration is the arrangement of usable runways and their magnetic headings.

Runway Configuration Risk

• Students are invited to consider which runway alignment presents the greatest risk and why.
• Notable historical confusion mentioned: 20/02 and 31/13 have contributed to serious incidents due to misinterpretation or misalignment signals.

Runway In Use: Definition

• Runway in Use = the runway or runways deemed most suitable at a given time by the aerodrome control tower for the aircraft types expected to land or take off.
• Source: ICAO definition.

Factors Affecting Selection of Runway in Use

• Surface conditions
• Wind
• 2000 ft wind component (wind at 2000 feet height)
• Traffic pattern
• Length of runway
• Approach aids
• Type of operation
• Adjacent airfields
• Taxiway system
• Noise-sensitive areas
• Runway/approach lighting
• Width/strength of the runway
• Work in progress (temporary constraints or ongoing works)

Surface Wind and Runway Selection

• The runway in use is normally the one most closely aligned with the surface wind direction.
• When surface wind is light and variable, the 2000 ft wind should be taken into account for runway selection.

Traffic Circuit and Visual/Aerial Layout

• Left-hand circuit is typical; procedure elements include:
  • Crosswind
  • Downwind
  • Base
  • Final approach
• Terms used:
  • LIVE SIDE vs. DEAD SIDE (reference to the traffic circuit layout)
  • The Traffic Circuit is the standard flight path pattern around the airfield for approaches and departures.

Recognise Civil & Military ATS Facilities

• Air Traffic Service (ATS) is a broad term covering:
  • Flight information service
  • Alerting service
  • Air traffic advisory service
  • Air traffic control service (area control, approach control, or aerodrome control)
• Civil and military ATS facilities differ by user needs, though overlaps exist.

Civil & Military ATS Facilities (Detailed List)

• Civil & Military ATS facilities include:
  • Air/Ground Radio
  • Flight Information Service
  • Aerodrome Visual & Instrument
  • Approach Procedural and Surveillance
  • Area Procedural and Surveillance
  • Air Defence Unit (e.g., UK ASACS – Air Surveillance and Control Systems)
  • Distress & Diversion
  • Rescue Coordination Centre
  • Range Control
  • Special Tasks

Recognise Airports Facilities

• Airports have a wide variety of facilities to support airfield operations.
• Consider which facilities exist airside and the organisations required to provide them.
• Consider which organisations use airports (e.g., fire and emergency services, airline operations office).

Recognise Airports Facilities (Expanded List)

• ATS
• Rescue & Fire Fighting Service
• Operations (including Bird Control Unit)
• Meteorological
• Revenue & Customs
• Police
• Engineering (aircraft and ground facilities involvement)
• Ground Handling (Marshalling, Towing, Refuelling, Catering, “Honey wagon”)
• Airline Operations
• Flying Schools & Clubs

Recognise Equipment in Generic ATS Working Positions

• Generic ATS Equipment (not exhaustive):
  • Flight Progress Board (including electronic FDD)
  • Radio
  • Telephone
  • Other communication equipment
  • Maps and charts
  • FPS printer
  • Clock (UTC)
  • CCIS monitors
  • Surveillance displays
  • Teleprinter
• Note: After lesson, use college simulators to identify each piece and observe differences between ops rooms.

Recognise Supplementary Equipment used in a Tower

• Tower Equipment (not exhaustive):
  • Wind indicator (average, instant, cross-wind)
  • Runway-in-use indicator
  • DFTI/ATM
  • SMR/ASMGCS
  • Crash alarm
  • MAP Alarm
  • Lighting control panel
  • IRVR (Integrated Runway Visual Range)
  • Altimeter setting indicators
  • CCTV
  • Signalling lamp
  • Binoculars
  • Pyrotechnics (e.g., Verey pistol)

Recognise Supplementary Equipment used in Approach

• Approach Equipment (not exhaustive):
  • Wind indicator (average, instant, cross-wind)
  • Runway-in-use indicator
  • MAP Alarm
  • IRVR
  • Altimeter setting indicators
  • CCTV
  • Sequencing system
  • Mode S stack displays
  • PAR (Precision Approach Radar)

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

• ATCO provides elevation and azimuth guidance to the pilot relative to the aircraft’s position to centerline and glidepath.
• Predominantly a military aid; Civil Category I (CAT I) minima applicable.

Recognise Supplementary Equipment used in Area

• Area equipment (not exhaustive):
  • Other communication equipment (e.g., BURT – Back-up RT)
  • SID monitors
  • Mosaic/Composite Surveillance displays
  • Traffic Monitors/Predictors
  • Data Entry Equipment (EFD, iFACTS, keyboard – note non-standard layouts)
  • 4D trajectory prediction tools (e.g., iFACTS, SESAR)

Aviation Law: Course Context (FTEJerez)

• Course materials referenced: Civil and Military Airspace Usage (EB17)
• Version: V1.0; Effective date: 06.08.2025; Lesson Coordinator: Salvador García

Navigation (NAVAIDs) and Airspace Structure (FTEJerez Notes)

• NAV page highlights various navigation and airspace concepts; emphasis on Prohibited & Restricted Areas as separate from other airspace types.

Prohibited & Restricted Areas: Definitions

• Prohibited Area: An airspace of defined dimensions, above land or territorial waters, where flight is prohibited. (ICAO Annex 2: Rules of the Air)
• Restricted Area: An airspace of defined dimensions where flight is restricted under specified conditions. (ICAO Annex 2: Rules of the Air)

Prohibited & Restricted Areas: Practical Context

• These areas tend to enclose zones involving national security concerns (e.g., prisons, Nuclear Power Stations, certain Military Establishments).

Danger Area: Definition and Characteristics

• Danger Area: An airspace of defined dimensions within which activities dangerous to flight may exist at specified times.
• Most danger areas are military in nature.
• Dimensions published in national AIPs; hours of operation published as well.
• Activities may include live firing, parachute dropping, violent/unpredictable aircraft maneuvers, or use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
• Aircraft may be instructed to tow targets (cable lengths up to four miles) and military aircraft may hold outside the danger area.

Danger Area Coordination and Management

• Coordination for potentially hazardous activities with civil ATS authorities is required early enough to permit timely promulgation under Annex 15.
• If the organization planning activities is outside the state where the ATS authority is located, coordination should be with the ATS authority responsible for the airspace over the state where the organization is located.
• Objectives of coordination:
  • Avoid closure or realignment of established ATS routes
  • Avoid blocking the most economical flight levels
  • Avoid delays to scheduled operations unless no other options exist
• Additional recommendations:
  • Keep the airspace size as small as possible
  • Ensure direct communication channels between the appropriate ATS authority and the organizing unit for potential discontinuation of activities in case of civil emergencies

Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA)

• Rationale: Many danger/restricted areas are inactive most of the time, prompting the FUA concept to optimize airspace use in Europe.
• Goals: Maximum shared civil/military airspace use; segregation is temporary and based on real use for a defined time period.
• Core principle: Airspace should be treated as a continuum, not strictly civil vs. military; accommodate all user requirements where possible.
• Key structures/procedures under FUA:
  • Conditional Routes (CDRs)
  • Temporary Reserved Areas (TRAs)
  • Temporary Segregated Areas (TSAs)
  • Cross-Border Areas (CBAs)
  • Reduced Coordination Airspace (RCA)
  • Prior Coordination Airspace (PCA)

Conditional Routes (CDR)

• CDR 1: Permanently plannable routes; available for flight planning during published times in national AIPs; updated per EAUP/EUUP conditions.
• CDR 2: Non-permanently plannable routes; may be available for flight planning; use conditions published daily in EAUP/EUUPs.
• CDR 3: Not plannable; may still be issued for tactical ATC clearances on route segments.

Cross Border Area (CBA)

• Definition: An airspace restriction or reservation established over international borders for specific operational requirements.
• May take the form of a Temporary Segregated Area (TSA) or Temporary Reserved Area (TRA).

TRA vs TSA: Key Differences

• TRA: A defined airspace volume usually under one authority; temporarily reserved for use by another authority with potential transits allowed under ATC clearance.
• TSA: A defined airspace volume normally under one authority; temporarily segregated for exclusive use by another authority; other traffic is not allowed to transit.

RCA & PCA Procedures

• Reduced Coordination Airspace (RCA): Allows GAT to fly off-route without civil controllers initiating coordination with the military; used for large areas (entire FIR/UIR) or critical sectors where military activity changes capacity.
• Prior Coordination Airspace (PCA): Another method of booking airspace; involves a block of controlled airspace where military activities can occur on an ad-hoc basis with individual GAT transits allowed under LoAs between civil and military units.

Free Route Operations Airspace (FRA)

• Concept: Aircraft can fly routes not constrained by ground-based navigation aids; core component of NextGen (USA) and SESAR (EU).
• FRA definition: Specified airspace where users may freely plan routes between defined entry/exit points, possibly via published or unpublished significant points, without referring to the ATS route network, subject to airspace availability.
• Flights remain under ATC supervision while operating within FRA.
• FRA Implementation notes (EU context): Co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility; End of 2022 implementation milestones illustrated across multiple FIRs (various European airspaces).
• Examples of FRA areas and interconnections are shown on maps with regional references (e.g., EDYY, EDMM, EISN, EGPX, etc.).

Flexible Route Airspace Map Context (Illustrative)

• Regions and routes illustrated to show cross-border FRA areas, including cross-border FRA operations and FRA availability (e.g., FRA H24 vs FRA Night).
• FRA adoption supports regional interconnectivity and interoperability of the European route network within the ICAO EUR Region (ERND objective).

Responsibility and Coordination for Military Traffic

• Temporary airspace reservations for large military formations or operations require coordination between the user and the appropriate ATS authority.
• Coordination should comply with Annex 11 and be completed early to allow timely information promulgation per Annex 15.

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Overview

• Definition: UAS emphasizes the importance of the non-aircraft elements (UA, control system such as GCS, control link, and support equipment).
• Typical components:
  • Unmanned aircraft (UA)
  • Ground control station (GCS)
  • Control link (datalink)
  • Other support equipment

UAS: Example Uses

• Commercial aerial surveillance
• Law enforcement
• Search and rescue
• Reconnaissance
• Armed attacks (note: highlights potential risk areas for policy and safety evaluation)

Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR)

• Definition: Transfer of fuel from one aircraft to another in flight.
• Significance: Increases range, endurance, payload, and flexibility of the receiving aircraft.
• Typical delivery: From multi-engined widebody aircraft to smaller combat jets; other combinations are possible (including helicopters and various jet configurations).
• AAR requires dedicated airspace (statutory routine area or temporary airspace block) to enable inflight refuelling.

Unmanned Free Balloon (UFB)

• Definition: A non-power-driven, unmanned, lighter-than-air aircraft in free flight.
• Classification: Heavy, medium, or light.
• Pre-flight information and notifications: ATC units advise concerned parties about intended flights including identifiers, classification, SSR/NDB details, launch site, times, directions, cruising levels (pressure altitude), and estimated trajectory until termination or cross-border considerations.
• Post-launch notice and ongoing monitoring obligations: Pre-launch and launch NOTAMs when international borders might be crossed; ATC should maintain radar/ADS-B surveillance for medium/heavy balloons where possible and provide separation if identified or position is known.

Flight Plans and ICAO Model Form

• Flight plans are essential for ATC clearance and separation; several categories exist:
  • Full individual flight plan
  • Repetitive flight plan (RPL)
  • Abbreviated flight plan
• Initial submission: A flight plan must be submitted before departure to an ATS reporting office or, during flight, transmitted to the appropriate ATS unit or air-ground radio station (unless it is a repetitive flight plan).
• Submittal timing:
  • For international cross-border or ATC/ advisory service flights: at least 60 minutes before departure
  • If submitted during flight: ensure receipt by the appropriate ATS unit at least 10 minutes before reaching the intended point of entry/ crossing/ airway segment

When to File a Flight Plan (General Guidelines)

• Before operation of any flight or portion to be provided with ATC service
• Before IFR flight in advisory airspace
• Before operations in or into areas or routes designated to facilitate flight information, alerting, and search-and-rescue services
• Before operations to coordinate with military units or adjacent states to avoid interception requirements
• Before crossing international boundaries
• Before night operations when leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome

The Pilot May File a Flight Plan

• A pilot may file a flight plan for any flight.

Flight Plan Submission Timing (Practical Rules)

• For flights crossing international borders or requiring ATC/advisory service, submit at least 60 minutes before departure.
• If filed en route, ensure the filing reaches the appropriate ATS unit at least 10 minutes before the aircraft is expected to reach the intended entry point, airway crossing, or advisory route.

Repetitive Flight Plans (RPL)

• Definition: A flight plan related to a series of frequently recurring, regularly operated individual flights with identical basic features, retained by an operator for repetitive use by ATS units.
• Also referred to as Stored Flight Plans.
• Limitations: Not suitable for Trans-Atlantic flights due to day-to-day route tracking requirements.

Addressing of Flight Plans

• Recipients typically include:
  • Destination aerodrome
  • All en route Area Control Centres
  • Airline company or handling agent (less common)
  • IFPS (Integrated Initial Flight Plan Processing System) discussions and processing
• IFPS centralizes collection, processing, and distribution of FPL data within the EUR region (IFPS Zone, IFPZ).

Integrated Initial Flight Plan Processing System (IFPS)

• IFPS is the central processing hub for FPL data and supports ATFM (Air Traffic Flow Management) under Eurocontrol NMOC governance.
• IFPS provides FPL data to NMOC ATFM elements to oversee capacity and efficiency.
• Structure of IFPS: two units (IFPU) located within Eurocontrol facilities at Brussels and Paris.
• IFPS Zone: The geographical region served for processing and dissemination of flight plan data.

Summary of Flight Plans Concepts

• Functions of a flight plan
• Format and contents of a flight plan
• Types of flight plans
• Timing and necessity of flight plans
• Processing of flight plan data
• ICAO model flight plan form structure and fields
• Relationship to ATC clearances, SAR, and Interagency coordination

ICAO Model Flight Plan Form (Highlights)

• The form is structured into three main parts:
  • Addressing (ATC)
  • Flight details (Pilot)
  • Supplementary information (for SAR)
• Key data blocks include: Aircraft Identification, Flight Rules, Type of Aircraft, Departure Aerodrome, Destination Aerodrome, Route, Cruising Speed, Level, Time, Equipment, Endurance, Alternate Aerodromes, Number of Persons On board, and other supplementary information.
• Sample labeling and bilingual sections (e.g., French in the model form) illustrate the international nature of the form.

Model Flight Plan Sections (Three-Part Division)

• 1) Addressing (ATC)
• 2) Flight details (Pilot)
• 3) Supplementary Information (for SAR)

ICAO Flight Plan Field Overview (Representative List)

• 7 Aircraft Identification
• 8 Flight Rules
• Type of Aircraft
• 9 Number
• 10 Equipment
• 13 Departure Aerodrome
• 15 Cruising Speed
• Time
• Level
• Route
• 16 Destination Aerodrome
• 18 Other Information
• 19 Endurance
• 2nd Altitude / Altitude and Route Information
• 2nd Altitude (if applicable)

Flight Plan Data Encoding (ICAO Examples)

• Addresses, route, and other fields are encoded in a standardized way (illustrated by example flight plan blocks such as ABRpt numbers, route strings, and destination indicators) in practice across ANSPs and IFPS.

Flight Plans: Categories Recap

• Full flight plan: detailed planning for a complete journey
• Repetitive flight plan (RPL): repetitive use for frequently flown patterns (stored data)
• Abbreviated flight plan: limited information for partial operations (e.g., control zones, crossing an airway, AFIL)

Abbreviated Flight Plan - Key Purpose

• Used to obtain clearance for portions of a flight when full detail is not required

Flight Plans and International Coordination

• The IFPS/NMOC ecosystem supports cross-border coordination and ensures data consistency across states and ANSPs.

Final Takeaways

• Understanding aerodrome layout and runway configuration is foundational for safe operations.
• Accurate runway in use and wind assessment are critical for safe takeoff and landing.
• Knowledge of ATS facilities, equipment, and the division between civil and military services enables effective coordination.
• Familiarity with PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED, and DANGER areas, plus FUA concepts (CDRs, TRAs, TSAs, CBAs, RCA, PCA) is essential for modern airspace management.
• UAS, AAR, and UFB represent expanding domains requiring coordination with ATC and the use of dedicated airspace or time blocks.
• Flight planning (types, submission timing, FPL structure, and IFPS processing) is central to ATC clearance and airspace efficiency.
• The ICAO model flight plan form and the three-part structure (Addressing, Flight Details, Supplementary Information) are core to international aviation operations.
• The exam content integrates aerodrome design, airspace organization, and flight planning in a single, practical framework for safe and efficient modern aviation.