PILOT PROCEDURES GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO OCEANIC OPERATIONS (i.e., ABOVE, BELOW AND WITHIN RVSM AIRSPACE)

a. Update: Special Procedures for In-flight Contingencies In Oceanic Airspace. This paragraph contains procedures for in-flight contingencies in oceanic airspace that are now published in Section 15.2.2 of ICAO Document 4444 (Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Air Traffic Management). Effective February 16, 2006, operators are expected to follow the procedures printed below. The effective date for the guidance has been coordinated with the Air Traffic Services providers in the Atlantic and Pacific. The guidance will, therefore, be applicable in all Pacific and Atlantic oceanic FIRs including Oakland, Anchorage, New York and San Juan Oceanic.

NOTE 1: The only significant procedural change from in-flight contingency procedures previously published in ICAO Regional Supplementary Procedures (Doc 7030) is to the track offset. The track offset has been changed to 15nm for contingencies requiring the aircraft to depart cleared altitude and/or track prior to obtaining a revised clearance. In the "General Procedures" section below, see paragraphs 3b and 4.

NOTE 2: Prior to this harmonization, the track offset for in-flight contingencies was 30nm in the North Atlantic (NAT) and 25nm in Pacific airspace.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR IN-FLIGHT CONTINGENCIES
IN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: INTRODUCTION

1. Although all possible contingencies cannot be covered, these procedures provide for the more frequent cases such as:

(a) Inability to maintain assigned flight level due to meteorological conditions, aircraft performance or pressurization failure;

(b) En route diversion across the prevailing traffic flow; and

(c) Loss of, or significant reduction in, the required navigation capability when operating in an airspace where the navigation performance accuracy is a prerequisite to the safe conduct of flight operations.

2. These procedures are applicable primarily when rapid descent and/or turn-back or diversion is required. The pilot's judgement shall determine the sequence of actions to be taken, having regard to the prevailing circumstances. Air traffic control shall render all possible assistance.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR IN-FLIGHT CONTINGENCIES
IN OCEANIC AIRSPACE: GENERAL PROCEDURES

1. If an aircraft is unable to continue the flight in accordance with its ATC clearance, and/or an aircraft is unable to maintain the navigation performance accuracy specified for the airspace, a revised clearance shall be obtained, whenever possible, prior to initiating any action.

2. The radiotelephony distress signal (MAYDAY) or urgency signal (PAN PAN) preferably spoken three times shall be used as appropriate. Subsequent ATC action with respect to that aircraft shall be based on the intentions of the pilot and the overall air traffic situation.

3. If prior clearance cannot be obtained, an ATC clearance shall be obtained at the earliest possible time and, until a revised clearance is received, the pilot shall:

(a) Leave the assigned route or track by initially turning *90 degrees to the right or to the left. When possible, the direction of the turn should be determined by the position of the aircraft relative to any organized route or track system. Other factors which may affect the direction of the turn are:

(1) The direction to an alternate airport, terrain clearance;

(2) Any lateral offset being flown, and the flight levels allocated on adjacent routes or tracks.

*FAA EXPLANATORY NOTE: a turn of less than or greater than 90 degrees may be required, depending on the type of contingency and whether the pilot intends to continue in the same direction or reverse course.

(b) Following the turn, the pilot should:

(1) If unable to maintain the assigned flight level, initially minimize the rate of descent to the extent that is operationally feasible;

(2) Take account of other aircraft being laterally offset from its track;

(3) Acquire and maintain in either direction a track laterally separated by 28 km (15 NM) from the assigned route; and

(4) Once established on the offset track, climb or descend to select a flight level which differs from those normally used by 150 m (500 ft);

(c) Establish communications with and alert nearby aircraft by broadcasting, at suitable intervals: aircraft identification, flight level, position (including the ATS route designator or the track code, as appropriate) and intentions on the frequency in use and on 121.5 MHz (or, as a back-up, on the inter-pilot air-to-air frequency 123.45 MHz);

(d) Maintain a watch for conflicting traffic both visually and by reference to ACAS (TCAS) (if equipped);

(e) Turn on all aircraft exterior lights (commensurate with appropriate operating limitations);

(f) Keep the SSR transponder on at all times; and

(g) Take action as necessary to ensure the safety of the aircraft.

4. When leaving the assigned track to acquire and maintain the track laterally separated by 28 km (15 NM), the flight crew, should, where practicable, avoid overshooting the track to be acquired, particularly in airspace where a 55.5 km (30 NM) lateral separation minimum is applied.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR IN-FLIGHT CONTINGENCIES IN OCEANIC
AIRSPACE: ETOPS AIRCRAFT
(Extended Range Operations By Aircraft With Two-Turbine Power-Units)

If the contingency procedures are employed by a twin-engine aircraft as a result of an engine shutdown or failure of an ETOPS critical system, the pilot should advise ATC as soon as practicable of the situation, reminding ATC of the type of aircraft involved, and request expeditious handling.

Contingency, Diversion and SLOP procedures

Contingency procedures for aircraft descending through MNPS airspace

(These procedures are in addition to those found in the PANS-ATM, 15.2)

An aircraft that is not MNPS/RVSM approved and is unable to maintain a flight level above

MNPS/RVSM airspace should descend to a flight level below MNPS/RVSM airspace in

accordance with PANS ATM 15.2.2.

An aircraft compelled to make a descent through MNPS airspace, whether continuing to

destination or turning back, should, if its descent will conflict with an organized track:

a) plan to descend to a level below FL 280;

b) prior to passing FL 410, proceed to a point midway between a convenient pair of organized

tracks prior to entering that track system from above;

c) while descending between FL 410 and FL 280, maintain a track that is midway between and

parallel with the organized tracks; and

d) contact ATC as soon as practicable and request a revised ATC clearance.

En -route diversion across the prevailing NAT air traffic flow

Before diverting across the flow of adjacent traffic, the aircraft should climb above FL 410 or

descend below FL 280 using the procedures specified in PANS-ATM 15.2.2 . However, if the pilot

is unable or unwilling to do so, the aircraft should be flown at a level which differs from those

normally used by 150 m (500 ft) until a revised ATC clearance is obtained.

Procedures for strategic lateral offsets within NAT airspace

(These procedures have been developed in accordance with the PANS-ATM, 15.2.4)

Note: The following incorporates lateral offset procedures for both the mitigation of the increasing

lateral overlap probability and wake turbulence encounters.

It has been determined that allowing aircraft conducting oceanic flight to fly lateral offsets, not to

exceed 2 NM right of centre line, will provide an additional safety margin and mitigate the risk of

conflict when non-normal events such as aircraft navigation errors, altitude deviation errors and

turbulence-induced altitude-keeping errors occur.

This procedure provides for offsets within the following guidelines. Along a route or track there will

be three positions that an aircraft may fly: centre line or one or two miles right. Offsets will not

exceed 2 NM right of centre line. The intent of this procedure is to reduce risk (add safety margin)

by distributing aircraft laterally across the three available positions.

a) Aircraft without automatic offset programming capability must fly the centre line.

b) Operators capable of programming automatic offsets may fly the centre line or offset one or

two nautical miles right of centre line to obtain lateral spacing from nearby aircraft. (Offsets

will not exceed 2 NM right of centre line.) An aircraft overtaking another aircraft should offset

within the confines of this procedure, if capable, so as to create the least amount of wake

turbulence for the aircraft being overtaken.

c) Pilots should use whatever means is available to determine the best flight path to fly.

d) Pilots should also fly one of the three positions shown above to avoid wake turbulence.

Aircraft should not offset to the left of centre line nor offset more than 2 NM right of centre line. Pilots may contact other aircraft on frequency 123.45, as necessary, to coordinate the

best wake turbulence offset option.

Note: It is recognized that pilots will use their judgement to determine the action most

appropriate to any given situation and have the final authority and responsibility for the safe

operations of the aeroplane.

e) Pilots may apply an offset outbound at the oceanic entry point and must return to centre line

at the oceanic exit point.

f) Aircraft transiting oceanic radar areas may remain on their established offset positions.

g) There is no ATC clearance required for this procedure and it is not necessary that ATC be

advised.