AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION

Transcription

1 STATE OF FLORIDA D I V I S I O N O F E M E R G E N C Y M A N A G E M E N T RICK SCOTT Governor BRYAN W. KOON Director Approved: SERT Air Operations Branch Document: IRMA Airspace Plan 1.0 Effective: September 9, 2017 AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION 1.1 AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT The role of the Air Operations Branch (AOB) in airspace management is to implement and maintain a system of positive coordination and communication throughout the aviation response operation, taking into account the vast differences in mission capabilities and roles of various aviation organizations. The AOB works closely with the FAA and other partners to ensure effective controls are established to enhance the safety of flight and provide efficient airspace management. Pilots shall operate in accordance FAA regulations and published Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS), which may include Temporary Flight Restrictions and Airspace Coordination Areas. The AOB has established a plan for airspace control deconfliction to be used during an initial response. The AOB will provide an information packet, or pilot kneeboard card. The kneeboard will identify points of contact for Air Mission Requests, flight following, emergency procedures, TFR s, and communications requirements for each operational area. The information packet will also provide for the coordination of appropriate transponder codes and communications frequencies for aircraft operating in the designated areas. An example of a Pilot Kneeboard can be found in Appendix B: Kneeboard Template. It is imperative that all pilots and aviation support personnel are briefed on airspace and frequency information. This information should be disseminated to all aircraft operators via county EOCs, local EMS and law enforcement, local Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), airports and FBOs. Current FAA NOTAMs as well as current and forecast weather briefing information for the disaster area will be made available to aircraft operators supporting Sate Emergency Response Team (SERT) missions.

2 2.1 AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES IRMA Airspace Plan All charted airspace remains in effect unless otherwise stated in a NOTAM. Pilots are reminded to comply with all Code of Federal Regulations and comply with all airspace requirements. However, this airspace de-confliction plan provides an altitude separation scheme to be utilized by aircraft conducting disaster response relief efforts. ATC services may not be available due to various reasons related to the disaster or due to the high volume of aircraft operations conducting disaster relief operations. The following section provides a look at the airspace management chart and go into further descriptions for each section. 2.2 AIRBORNE COMMAND AND CONTROL (C2) All airborne command and control platforms such as P3/E3/E2/CRCs are not authorized and SHALL not perform any type of Air Traffic Control Services or functions. The only authorized agency permitted to perform Air Traffic Control services are facilities certified by the FAA. Hurricane Irma 2.3 AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT CHART 250 AGL

3 2.3.1 ROTARY-WING SEARCH AND RESCUE/MEDEVAC/SLING LOAD OPERATIONS Search and Rescue/Sling Load Operations will be conducted under VFR. Airspace for this mission is blocked from the Surface to 500 AGL. Only active RW Search and Rescue, Medevac, and Sling Load Operations should be operated within this block of airspace SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) UAS conduct operations in accordance FAA regulations. Pilots should expect small UAS operations 250 agl and below, operating on an emergency Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (e-coa) as issued by the FAA. A list of e-coas issued by the FAA is available ROTARY-WING MEDEVAC/RESCUE PERSONNEL MOVEMENT RW SAR Transition and Rescue Persons Movement are conducted under VFR unless otherwise coordinated by ATC. Airspace for this mission is blocked from AGL. East altitude of 600 and West altitude of 800. Once reaching the assigned search area pilots will descend to the appropriate SAR operational attitude SMALL FIXED-WING SAR OPERATIONS Small FW SAR missions will be conducted under VFR conditions. Airspace for this mission is blocked from AGL ON-SAR ROTARY-WING Non SAR RW will be conducted under VFR conditions, unless otherwise under the direction of ATC. Airspace for this mission is blocked from AGL. East altitude of and West from BUFFER ZONE The Buffer Zone offers separation between low flying and slower moving aircraft and faster FW traffic not involved in SAR missions. Altitudes for this airspace is AGL NON-SAR FIXED-WING/VIP/MEDIA These missions will be flown under VFR conditions. Airspace for this mission will be blocked from AGL. 3.0 Aircraft Operations 3.1. TRAFFIC ADVISORIES: Due to the high volume of rotary wing aircraft operations,

4 air traffic advisories are on a workload permitting basis by ATC. Pilots must remain vigilant and utilize See and Avoid at all times. All aircraft will use the local altimeter setting as directed by the appropriate Air Traffic Control facility FLIGHT TRACKING PROGRAM: All agencies conducting aircraft operations on an air mission request form from the Florida Air Operations Branch should provide call sign, aircraft type (fixed/rotary), aircraft model, departure location and associated data (SAR/hoist capable for planned aircraft operations for the next 24 hours for a preassigned discrete beacon code to the Florida Air Operations Branch. This information will be used by the Crisis Response Center and the airborne C2 to provide mission assignments. the information to airops@em.myflorida.com not later than 3:00 p.m. daily DISCRETE BEACON CODE: All VFR aircraft will be on a discrete beacon code as assigned by the Air and Marine Operations Center, Crisis Response Center for mission assignments. Aircraft operations not on the flight tracking program must contact the Crisis Response Cell at (951) /3353/3352/3333/3332 or AMOC.CRC@CBP.DHS.GOV. Beacon codes EXPIRE at MIDNIGHT AIR MISSION REQUEST ASSIGNMENTS: Air mission request will be made available to the Crisis Response Center once entered into EM Constellation and assigned to the FL Air Operations Branch. Upon completion, pilots should contact the airborne on the air-to-air sector to close out missions. Dynamic SAR missions should provide information to the appropriate airborne command node on the VHF air-to-air frequency for the appropriate air sector. When the assigned air mission request is complete; pilots advise the airborne command of their availability for the next mission assignment in addition to providing the mission summary to close the completed Air Mission Request. Example: Coast Guard helicopter departs from base and checks-in with airborne C2 node on air-to-air frequency: Omaha 20, this is CG6014, HH-60, checking in. CG6014, Omaha 20, mission assignment 234, squawk Mode (and passes mission information). CG6014 repeats confirmation back to airborne command node and proceeds on with mission. Once mission completed; Omaha 20, CG6014 checking-out mission number 234, 3 rescued and dropped at Miami Hospital, awaiting next mission or RTB for fuel.

5 Air-to-Air Check-in / MSN Assignments Keywest 2430N 08210W 2530N 08120W 2530N 08005W 2430N 08040W Miami 2530N 08005W 2700N 08000W 2700N 08100W 2530N 08120W Tampa 2700N 08100W 2845N 08200W 2845N 08300W 2745N 08300W 2700N 08245W 2500N 08120W Primary VHF Secondary VHF UHF C2 Node

6 Orlando 2700N 08000W 2840N 08020W 2930N 08100W 2845N 08200W SAR Primary Secondary VHF Aeronautical SAR EXAMPLE PILOT COMMS TO ATC (FOR KNEEBOARD): Request to enter ATC controlled airspace (A, B, C, D, TFR, etc.): MIA approach, G12345, UH-60, mission code XXXX, requests to enter the Class (X) from the (direction), destination (hospital, downtown building, landing zone, etc.). Upon completion of initial mission and departing for a subsequent assignment or leaving the airspace: MIA approach, G12345, UH-60 at the (hospital, downtown building, landing zone, etc.) on mission code XXXX requesting to depart the Class (X) to the northwest or proceed to (next location: hospital, downtown building, landing zone, etc.) NOTE: If the controller attempt to change your beacon code, advise the controller you must remain on your assigned discrete mission code.

7 Appendix A IRMA Airspace Plan