This AIC describes special procedures for communication failure in the Atlântico FIR.
The procedures prescribed by this AIC shall be applied to units and airspace users responsible for ATS service and flight operations inside the Atlântico FIR.
The Convention on Civil International Aviation signed on December 7, 1944, in Chicago city, was ratified by means of the Decree-Law no. 21.713, so making official the application of that Convention (and their Annexes) in Brazil.
The Article 38 of the Convention on Civil International Aviation prescribes that, if a Contracting State considers necessary to adopt regulations that differ in any peculiar aspect from the established international rules, it shall present such difference.
With the purpose of improving the provision of ATS for the international air navigation, the airspace of responsibility of Brazil has been extended over the international sea, by means of Regional Agreement, which was signed during the Caribbean and South America 1st Regional Conference on Air Navigation.
Considering that the Article 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (CCIA) states that the Rules of the Air, disposed in the Annex 2 to the CCIA, shall be fulfilled, without exception, over the international sea, this publication aims at outlining the relative rules to the mentioned international document that shall be applied in Atlântico FIR.
The Article 38 of the Convention on Civil International Aviation prescribes that, if a Contracting State considers necessary to adopt regulations that differ in any peculiar aspect from the established international rules, it shall present such difference.
With the purpose of improving the provision of ATS for the international air navigation, the airspace of responsibility of Brazil has been extended over the international sea, by means of Regional Agreement, which was signed during the Caribbean and South America 1st Regional Conference on Air Navigation.
Considering that the Article 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (CCIA) states that the Rules of the Air, disposed in the Annex 2 to the CCIA, shall be fulfilled, without exception, over the international sea, this publication aims at outlining the relative rules to the mentioned international document that shall be applied in Atlântico FIR.
The provision of air traffic control service to flights operating in Atlântico FIR airspace will be based on the premise that an aircraft experiencing communication failure will comply with the procedures in this AIC for that situation. Such procedures are described in the following item and comply with the determination in the Annex 2, “Rules of the Air”, to the Convention of International Civil Aviation.
2.2.1. Every aircraft operating as controlled flight will keep constant air-ground voice communication, through an appropriate channel of the corresponding air traffic control unit, and, when necessary, it will establish two-way communication with that unit.
2.2.2. If a communication failure precludes compliance with 2.2.1, the aircraft shall comply with the following procedures as are appropriate.
2.2.2.1. The aircraft shall attempt to establish communications with the appropriate air traffic control unit using all other available means.
2.2.2.2. If in visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft shall:
a) continue to fly in visual meteorological conditions; land at the nearest suitable aerodrome; and report its arrival by the most expeditious means to the appropriate air traffic services unit; or
b) if considered advisable, complete an IFR flight in accordance with 2.2.2.3.
a) continue to fly in visual meteorological conditions; land at the nearest suitable aerodrome; and report its arrival by the most expeditious means to the appropriate air traffic services unit; or
b) if considered advisable, complete an IFR flight in accordance with 2.2.2.3.
2.2.2.3. If in instrument meteorological conditions or when the pilot of an IFR flight considers it inadvisable to complete the flight in accordance with
2.2.2.2 a)
, the aircraft shall:
a) in airspace where radar is not used in the provision of air traffic control, maintain the last assigned speed and level, or minimum flight altitude if higher, for a period of 20 minutes following the aircraft’s failure to report its position over a compulsory reporting point and thereafter adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan;
b) in airspace where radar is used in the provision of air traffic control, maintain the last assigned speed and level, or minimum flight altitude if higher, for a period of 7 minutes, considering whichever is later among the options described below, and thereafter adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan:
- the time the last assigned level or minimum flight altitude is reached; or
- the time the transponder is set to Code 7600; or
- the aircraft’s failure to report its position over a compulsory reporting point;;
c) when being radar vectored or having been directed by ATC to proceed offset using area navigation (RNAV) without a specified limit, rejoin the current flight plan route no later than the next significant point, taking into consideration the applicable minimum flight altitude;
d) proceed according to the current flight plan route to the destination aerodrome and, when required to ensure compliance with e) below, hold over this aid or fix until commencement of descent;
e) commence descent from the navigation aid or fix specified in d) at, or as close as possible to, the expected approach time last received and acknowledged; or, if no expected approach time has been received and acknowledged, at, or as close as possible to, the estimated time of arrival resulting from the current flight plan;
f) complete a normal instrument approach procedure as specified for the designated navigation aid or fix; and
g) land, if possible, within 30 minutes after the estimated time of arrival specified in e) or the last acknowledged expected approach time, whichever is later.
a) in airspace where radar is not used in the provision of air traffic control, maintain the last assigned speed and level, or minimum flight altitude if higher, for a period of 20 minutes following the aircraft’s failure to report its position over a compulsory reporting point and thereafter adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan;
b) in airspace where radar is used in the provision of air traffic control, maintain the last assigned speed and level, or minimum flight altitude if higher, for a period of 7 minutes, considering whichever is later among the options described below, and thereafter adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan:
- the time the last assigned level or minimum flight altitude is reached; or
- the time the transponder is set to Code 7600; or
- the aircraft’s failure to report its position over a compulsory reporting point;;
c) when being radar vectored or having been directed by ATC to proceed offset using area navigation (RNAV) without a specified limit, rejoin the current flight plan route no later than the next significant point, taking into consideration the applicable minimum flight altitude;
d) proceed according to the current flight plan route to the destination aerodrome and, when required to ensure compliance with e) below, hold over this aid or fix until commencement of descent;
e) commence descent from the navigation aid or fix specified in d) at, or as close as possible to, the expected approach time last received and acknowledged; or, if no expected approach time has been received and acknowledged, at, or as close as possible to, the estimated time of arrival resulting from the current flight plan;
f) complete a normal instrument approach procedure as specified for the designated navigation aid or fix; and
g) land, if possible, within 30 minutes after the estimated time of arrival specified in e) or the last acknowledged expected approach time, whichever is later.
3.1. Additional procedures not due to this AIC related to air-ground communication in Atlântico FIR shall comply with Annex 2, “Rules of the Air”, to the Annex 10, “Aeronautical Telecommunications”, and to Doc 4444, “Air Traffic Management”.
Note: The additional procedures mentioned in this item are described in the publications of the Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo and shall be applicable to other Brazilian FIR.
3.2. This AIC was approved by DECEA Internal Bulletin nr. 234, dated December 03, 2008, and will be effective on January 15, 2009.
3.3. This AIC republishes the AIC A05/09.