Gander Oceanic implemented Oceanic Clearance Removal (OCR) on December 4th, 2024. Since then (as of December 17th, 2024), there have been higher-than-normal levels of errors and questions. Gander OCA and NAT CMA have provided the following information. The reported events include:

  • 2 large height deviations whereby flights climbed or descended without an ATC clearance
  • 15 ATC Prevention of Gross Navigational Errors

RCL Explained: RCL is no longer defined as “Request for Clearance" ...

  • Submitting an RCL will not result in a clearance; it is a method for crews to advise ATC of your requested ETA, level, and speed for the OEP. 
  • RCLs must be sent 60-90 minutes prior to Oceanic Entry Point (OEP) and should contain your MAX flight level at the entry point. 
  • You will receive one of 3 responses.
    • RCL RECEIVED BY CZQX
    • RCL REJECTED. RCL TOO EARLY. REQUEST AGAIN SIXTY TO NINETY MINUTES PRIOR TO THE OCEANIC ENTRY POINT
    • RCL REJECTED. RCL TOO LATE. REVERT TO VOICE FOR RCL SUBMISSION.
  • If the Oceanic Flight Level will be more than 2000 feet lower than the MAX level contained in the RCL, pilots will be given advance notice by the Domestic controllers. Otherwise, Gander Domestic will advise pilots of the Oceanic Level, if it varies from the RCL level, just prior to entering Oceanic Airspace and will issue a clearance to the new level. 
  • AN ATC CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL LEVEL CHANGES.
  • If the Oceanic profile for an aircraft requires a reroute, a CPDLC clearance will be issued via UM79. These clearances have caused some confusion for pilots. UM79 message has the following format: CLEARED TO [WAYPOINT] VIA [ROUTE CLEARANCE].  For example: CLEARED TO KESIX VIA TUDEP 52N050W 55N040W 56N030W 57N020W SUNOT. There has been an increase of pilots interpreting this UM79 clearance as CLEARED DIRECT KESIX or failing to update the FMS with this new routing clearance.
  • ATC has been inundated with questions from pilots. These questions range from “requesting oceanic clearance,” “just confirming there is no oceanic clearance,” “waiting for clearance,” “can you confirm my routing,” and so on.  These questions have been creating an immensely high workload for Domestic controllers.

 Please take time to review the following documents: NAT Ops Bulletin 2023_001 Rev04 & NAT Doc 007 v.2024, Amd4