Virtual Royal Air Force

Transcription

1 1 Virtual Royal Air Force Letter of Agreement between VATSIM United Kingdom (VATUK) and virtual Royal Air Force to establish operating policies and procedures

2 2 Purpose This Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlines standard operating policies and procedures to be utilized by the virtual Royal Air Force (vraf) and VATSIM - United Kingdom (VATUK). Establishes Provision for performance of Operational Air Traffic and General Air Traffic flying within VATSIM-UK, including establishment of Special Use Airspace via NOTAM within the United Kingdom FIRs. In addition it establishes procedures for the undertaking of specialist operational support functions, including Forward Air Control and Fighter Control. Introduction vraf has been granted VATSIM vsoa status within the network. To enhance operational training vraf will be conducting day to day training within the UKFIR. This LOA has been developed to establish procedures for this training Cancellation This LOA will remain in effect until replaced by a revision that has been mutually agreed upon by both parties, or until it is cancelled by either party, with a minimum of thirty (30) days notice provided. Distribution Policies vraf Staff vraf Pilots VATSIM UK VP VSOA For Reference Neither party can dictate or strike to change either parties policies and guidelines set forth within their charters. Additions, modifications and deletions to this LOA shall be done per mutual agreement by both VATSIM UK and the vraf.

3 3 LOA Detail General Operations - GAT All GAT operations will be performed within the Rules of the Air as per the Air Navigation Order, with appropriate reference to the VATUK Military Flying Order Order Book (MFOB) /*REM - Or Mil AIP when renamed*/ General Operations - OAT All OAT operations will be performed within the military flying regulations as dictated by the VATUK MFOB. General Operations - All During the operation of any military flying within VATSIM-UK, aircraft are to squawk appropriately. This will be either a squawk from their home base's squawk range or a low flying, range or other suitable conspicuity squawk. All aircraft will contact Air Traffic Control agencies as appropriate. Airfield Usage vraf is granted unrestricted access to all current military airfields within the UK. The only exception to this is RAF Fairford. Any aircraft wishing to utilise RAF Fairford must NOTAM the airfield open a minimum of 24 hours prior to the usage. Utilising of Special Use Airspace The term Special Use Airspace refers to all airspace which is reserved for military activity within the UK FIRs. This includes Danger Areas, Air to Air Refueling Areas and any other appropriate airspace. vraf pilots may utilise any SUA within the UK providing that sufficient notice is provided by NOTAM on the VATSIM-UK forum. Whilst no set time limit has been established, it is suggested that a minimum of 30 minutes notice ahead of the airspace becoming populated is provided. Fighter Control Currently, the provision of Fighter Control is not permitted. However, the vraf does operate E-3 Sentry aircraft which may provide informative information to aircraft about the

4 4 locations of friendly, hostile and neutral aircraft. AWACS aircraft do not have authority to issue instructions or provide any form of ATC service to aircraft. Any aircraft receiving information from AWACS aircraft must prioritise communications with ATC and respond to all reasonable ATC requests/instructions. Forward Air Control FAC will be a vraf only activity within the UK unless being used during exercises where both vraf and Vatsim-UK agree other orgs can provide this service. FAC can only be provided within designated airspace NOTAMed (and approved if required) prior to any activities taking place. The overall control of aircraft & airspace falls under the responsibility of Vatsim-UK & its controllers. This includes the Stoppage of all activities within the Active airspace when necessary. If ATC is online (Military & Civil) it is the responsibility of FAC to make the controllers aware of their presence & set up communication. It is advised you provide Military controllers with the Area in use, Block of airspace activated, Expected Assets, voice channel for controller monitoring purposes & FAC Callsign. FAC Can only be performed by Approved vraf Members, A list will be maintained by VATUK8 on the Vatsim-UK Website & Forum of approved members. It is the responsibility of vraf to keep VATUK8 updated with a list of approved members. The callsign it is advised you use when logging on to the network for all FAC activities is VRAF_FAC. If this is taken for any reason you may use any of the following as a substitute: VRAF_OBS VRAF_JTAC FAC_OBS JTAC_OBS Airborne FAC can be provided by any vraf assets as they see fit, this airborne Asset is to stay within the Active airspace during FAC operations unless otherwise instructed by Vatsim- UK Controllers. Ground Based FAC can be provided by any vraf asset as they see fit. The asset is to be a stationary aircraft within the Active Airspace. Use of Radar Corridors

5 5 In the event that an OAT aircraft wishes to transit an area of high density controlled airspace, a series of Radar Corridors has been established within the UK. These are detailed in the UK Military AIP and reproduced in the vraf Pilot Handbook. Where possible, Radar Corridors are to be utilised for airway transit. Due to the nature of airspace that is being transited, prior co-ordination with ATC is imperative. In the event of a military area controller being online, the controller will provide coordination and corridor radar services. If military area control is not online, then the appropriate civil controller must be contacted with at least 5 minutes to the corridor entry point for clearance and radar service. Major Exercises All Major Exercises within the UK that are planned by the vraf are to be notified to VATUK with a minimum of thirty (30) days notice. Notification will take place in the form of an Airspace Co-ordination Notice (ACN) and will include full operational details, including dates and times of projected sorties. Contacts The primary contacts relating to this LOA are: vraf Deputy Commander In Chief (Operations) [Operational Contact] dcinc_ops@vraf.org vraf Air Officer Commanding [Document Signatory] aoc@vraf.org London, 08 September 2010 Alec Walker Air Commanding Officer Virtual Royal Air Force aoc@vraf.org Glasgow, 08 September 2010 Craig Workman VATUK8 Vatsim-UK Military Operations Manager military@vatsim-uk.co.uk