VFR Departures / Arrivals
Name the 9 items in an initial clearance (arrivals).
1. Aircraft id
2. Unit id
3. Runway id
4. Wind information
5. Altimeter information
6. Clearance details
7. Identification
8. Position report request
9. Other information
Issue the wind direction and speed as calm if the wind speed is:
- 02 knots or less on an analog dial indicator instrument
- 00 knot on a digital reading instrument, EXCDS, METAR, SPECI or automated observation
You may assist a controller responsible for a position, provided one of the following conditions is met:
- The responsible controller asks for assistance and specifies the assistance required.
- You inform the responsible controller of the assistance you will be providing and receive approval.
Functional Goal #1
In the provision of air traffic control and flight information service, all Air Traffic Services units must provide:
- Uniform application of approved standards and procedures
- Professional communications
- Full-time attentive flight monitoring and flight information services.
The part of an aerodrome, other than an apron, that is intended to be used for the takeoff and landing of aircraft and for the movement of aircraft associated with takeoff and landing.
For successive departures on the same runway, you may authorize the second departing aircraft to take off provided one of the following applies before the second aircraft begins its takeoff roll:
- The first aircraft has departed and turned to clear the departure path.
- The first aircraft has departed and reached a point on the departure path where it will not conflict with the second aircraft.
In the event of a discrepancy in AWOS information, the report must be based on the following priority of observations:
1. RVR for the runway of intended use, if applicable
2. Accredited observations
3. Tower-observed visibility
4. The ceiling, runway visibility, or flight visibility as provided by a PIREP.
Do not vacate an assigned operating position unless both of the following occur:
- You are relieved by a person qualified to assume responsibility for that position.
- You follow unit directives for the transfer of position responsibility.
You may assign a non-discrete code to either of the following:
- An aircraft that has closed or cancelled its IFR flight plan and is not requesting further ATS surveillance service
- A VFR aircraft for which surveillance service is being terminated.
Aerodrome
AERODROME
Any area of land, water (including the frozen surface thereof) or other supporting surface used, designed, prepared, equipped, or set apart for use, either in whole or in part, for the arrival, departure, movement, or servicing of aircraft. This includes any buildings, installations, and equipment situated thereon or associated therewith.
For an arrival before a departure, you must ensure these two things occur before the departing aircraft begins its takeoff roll.
- The arriving aircraft has landed
- The arriving aircraft has taxied off the runway or it will vacate the runway
Issue the altimeter setting as follows:
- If the setting is 28.99 or lower, or 31.00 or higher, state the setting twice
- If the setting is higher than 31.00, issue the actual altimeter setting and confirm that the pilot has set the aircraft altimeter to 31.00
- If the setting is obtained from a weather report that is one hour old or more, include the time of the report.
- If the setting changes by +/- 0.02 inches or more, issue a revised altimeter setting.
- If the pilot asks what type of setting is provided, identify the setting as QNH (height above sea level).
When being relieved from your operating position:
- Provide a verbal briefing to the relieving controller using the position transfer checklist.
- If the communication system permits, record the verbal briefing.
- Remain with the relieving controller for monitoring purposes. During this time, reinforce the position relief briefing and help the relieving controller become familiar with the position.
- When combining a position, perform the post-relief overlap procedures at the position where the operation was combined.
Traffic information may be based on:
- Visual observation
- Observation of identified or unidentified targets
- Reports from pilots or other ATS facilities
SMGCS (Decode and define)
Surface Movement Guidance and Control System
A single-sensor surface surveillance system used for the detection and display of aircraft, aircraft under tow, or vehicles on or near the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome. This system relies on the non-cooperative radar surveillance of an aerodrome by a surface movement radar (SMR). Formerly known as ASDE.
You may permit an arrival behind a departure provided, before the arriving aircraft crosses the landing threshold, the departing aircraft is airborne and meets one of the following conditions:
- It is at a sufficient distance from the threshold that the arriving aircraft will not overtake it during the landing roll, or conflict with it in the event of a missed approach.
- It has turned to avoid any conflict with the arriving aircraft in the event of a missed approach.
Record a new message if any of the following occurs: (8 items)
- A new METAR or SPECI is received
- A new LAWO observation is conducted
- An applicable SIGMET, AIRMET or PIREP is received, updated or cancelled.
- The altimeter setting changes by +/-0.04 inches or more from the last recorded altimeter data
- The type of IFR approach is changed
- A runway is changed
- An applicable NOTAM is received, updated or cancelled
- A change in runway conditions is reported.
Before assuming responsibility for any operating position:
- Be able to produce your valid Aviation Document Booklet (ADB) or equivalent.
- Ensure that licensing and proficiency requirements are met.
- Sign in as required in unit procedures.
- Read and acknowledge all mandatory information, as determined by the unit manager.
- Review appropriate operational information, for example, NOTAMs, aerodrome conditions, equipment status, and weather information.
- An ATC unit
- An FSS or FIC
- A community aerodrome radio station (CARS)
- An automated weather observation system used by the Department of Transport, the Department of National Defence, or the Atmospheric Environment Service for the purpose of making aviation weather observations
- A radio station that is ground-based and operated by an air operator.
CAVOK
A term (pronounced KAV-OH-KAY), derived from the words "ceiling and visibility okay", that may be used in air-ground communication when meteorological information is transmitted to aircraft. CAVOK refers to the simultaneous occurrence at an airport of all of the following meteorological conditions:
- No cloud below 5000 feet, or below the highest minimum sector altitude (MSA), whichever is higher, and no cumulonimbus
- A visibility of 6 SM or more
- No precipitation, thunderstorm, shallow fog, or drifting snow
For successive arrivals on the same runway, you may authorize the second aircraft to land provided that one of the following applies before the second aircraft crosses the landing threshold:
- The first aircraft has landed and taxied off the runway
- The first aircraft has landed or is above the landing runway, and the following conditions apply:
- The first aircraft is at a sufficient distance from the threshold to allow the second aircraft to safely complete its landing roll
- The first aircraft will taxi off the runway without stopping or backtracking
- The pilot of the second aircraft has been advised of the aircraft's position and intentions.
Name the 9 elements of an ATIS message.
1. Aerodrome name
2. Message code letter
3. Weather information, including:
- Time of weather report (METAR, SPECI) or sequence
- Surface wind, including gusts
- Visibility, weather and obstructions to vision and sky condition (specify the ceiling, if applicable). You may replace this information with the term CAVOK. LAWO sites are only to include visibility and ceiling information.
- Temperature
- Dew Point
- Altimeter setting
- Pertinent SIGMETs, AIRMETs and PIREPs that include severe weather conditions in the vicinity of the airport, which may be itemized or referred to alphanumerically in the ATIS messages.
- Other pertinent weather conditions
4. Type of instrument approach in use, including information on simultaneous or converging runway operations.
5. Landing runway, both IFR and VFR, including information on hold short operations and the stopping distance available.
6. Departing runway, both IFR and VFR
7. Aerodrome conditions that may affect the arrival or departure of aircraft.
8. Restriction or suspension of landings or takeoffs
9. Instruction that aircraft are to acknowledge receipt of the ATIS broadcast on initial contact with the ATS unit.
When relieving another controller from an operating position:
1. If the position is equipped with an electronic log-on system that records time preparing to accept responsibility for the control position, and time on duty, log on according to unit procedures. A trainee is expected to log on with their OJI and log off when leaving the position.
2. Observe operational situations and equipment
3. Listen to communications
4. Observe current and pending traffic
5. Verify the position relief checklists
6. Correlate information
7. Inform the controller being relieved that the position has been reviewed, and request a verbal briefing
8. Exchange all pertinent data and ask questions, as appropriate, to ensure understanding.
9. After the verbal briefing, state or otherwise clearly indicate to the controller being relieved that position responsibility has been transferred.
When the pilot on an IFR FP/FI requests to change to a VFR FP/FI, but a composite FP/FI has not been filed:
- If VFR flight is not permitted because of the airspace classification, inform the pilot and ask intentions.
- If VFR flight is not permitted because of current weather conditions, pass the most recent weather sequence to the pilot and ask intentions
- Obtain the aircraft destination, ETA and SAR time.
- Forward the flight information to the ATOS unit for processing.
Visual Separation
A means used by controllers to separate aircraft operating in visual meteorological conditions.
- VFR: The controller, having determined that a potential conflict exists, issues clearances, instructions and/or information as necessary to aid aircraft in establishing visual contact with each other or to assist aircraft in avoiding other aircraft.
- IFR or CVFR: Following a pilot's report that the traffic is in sight, the controller issues the clearance and instructs the pilot to provide his or her own separation by manoeuvring the aircraft as necessary to avoid or follow the traffic.