Safety Brief 21st March 2017 Operations in Somali Airspace Background IATA is aware of safety reports detailing various high risk events related to operations within the Mogadishu (Somalia) FIR (HCSM). The purpose of this brief is to raise airspace users awareness of concerns regarding the situation. Specifically, various event report trends indicate that flight crews and service providers may not be sufficiently familiar with the special considerations applicable to operations in uncontrolled airspace, such as Somalia s Class G Airspace. The resulting confusion, coupled with other challenges, such as communication system failures, is increasing the risk of a mid-air collision occurring in that area. It is critical that operators operating within or through Somalia review and reassess the hazards and risks of those operations through established Safety Management Systems and their associated Risk Management processes. Furthermore, operators should consider the recommendations below and may elect, at their discretion, to adopt those practices required to ensure that operational risk is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). To address current safety concerns, an ICAO meeting of key stakeholders, held in Mumbai, India, in January 2017, endorsed a proposal for the use of certain existing routes and flight level allocations. However, implementation is pending approval and promulgation by the Somali DGCA. Any changes will be promulgated via the appropriate methods. Operations Today Operators are reminded that: Somalia s airspace, designated as the Mogadishu FIR, is classified as Class G Airspace. Class G is also commonly known as uncontrolled airspace. ICAO defines Class G airspace as Class G. IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive flight information service if requested. 1 1 ICAO Annex 11 paragraph 2.6.1
Flight information service. A service provided for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. Aircraft operating within Class G airspace: o Do not receive Air Traffic Control Service. Effectively, ATC clearances do not apply within Class G airspace. o Are not separated from each other. The Pilots in Command (PICs) are solely responsible for conflict detection and collision prevention. o Are not required to communicate with the unit providing Flight Information Service. Considering this point, PICs should be aware that some aircraft in their vicinity may not be in communication with Mogadishu Radio 2 o May deviate from routes and altitudes at their discretion and the PICs are solely responsible for conflict detection and collision avoidance. Recommendations IATA recommends that airlines operating within the Mogadishu FIR airspace, at minimum: 1. Perform a robust risk assessment of operations in or through Somali airspace to ensure an acceptable level of risk. Including a contingency in the event of TCAS failure en-route. 2. Reinforce crew awareness of the characteristics and procedures related to operating in Class G airspace, with specific focus on Flight Crews responsibility in Class G Airspace. In particular, crews should understand that other aircraft may be operating at any altitude, on or off airways, in their vicinity. These aircraft may or may not have operating transponders and TCAS. 3. Pilots should understand that only a Flight Information Service will be provided within the HCSM FIR and clearances should not be requested. Review the aircraft Minimum Equipment List dispatch limitations to ensure that an operational TCAS Resolution Advisory mode is serviceable, available and can be selected on, for operations in Somali airspace. 4. Instruct their pilots to: a. Carry out the IATA In-flight Broadcast Procedure (IFBP). b. Instruct their pilots to attempt to contact Mogadishu Flight Information Centre through all available means. c. Instruct their pilots to plan in-flight rest to ensure both pilots are alert, at the controls, and maintaining vigilance and situational awareness, whilst transiting this airspace. d. Ensure that TCAS Resolution Advisory mode is functional and selected ON. 2 Mogadishu radio is the call sign and designator for the Mogadishu Flight Information Service provider
IATA In-flight Broadcast Procedure (IFBP) AFI Region 1. Listening Watch A listening watch should be maintained on the designated frequency (126.9MHz in AFI), 10 minutes before entering the designated airspace until leaving this airspace. For an aircraft taking off from an aerodrome located within the lateral limits of the designated airspace, listening watch should start as soon as appropriate and be maintained until leaving the airspace. 2. Time of Broadcast A broadcast should be clearly pronounced in English: 3. Broadcast procedure a) 10 minutes before entering or crossing an FIR within IFBP region; b) For a pilot taking off from an aerodrome located within the IFBP region as soon as appropriate; c) 10 minutes prior to crossing or joining an ATS route, report crossing airway or waypoint. In the interest of reducing congestion on the IFBP frequency, pilots may exercise discretion to omit closely spaced repetitive IFBP reports; d) at not less than 20 minute intervals; e) before a change in flight level; f) at any other time considered necessary by the pilot. A broadcast message should be structured as follows:
ALL STATIONS THIS IS AZ (flight number) in the XXX (name FIR) FIR FL... North-eastbound on XXnnn (airway) Estimate XXXXX (or crossing airway if no waypoint)... at... UTC AZ... FL... in the xxx FIR 4. Operating Procedures 4.1. Changes of Cruising Level 4.1.1. Changes of Cruising Level are considered necessary by pilots to avoid traffic conflicts, for weather avoidance, or for other valid operational reasons; 4.1.2. When cruising level changes are unavoidable, all available aircraft lighting, which would improve the visual detection of the aircraft, should be displayed while changing levels. 4.2. Collision Avoidance If, on receipt of a traffic information broadcast from another aircraft, a pilot decides that immediate action is necessary to avoid an imminent collision risk to his aircraft, and this cannot be achieved in accordance with the right-of-way provisions of Annex 2, he should: a) unless an alternative maneuver appears more appropriate climb or descent 500ft; b) display all available aircraft lighting which would improve the visual detection of the aircraft; c) as soon as possible reply to the broadcast advising action being taken; d) notify the action taken on the appropriate ATS frequency; and e) as soon as situation has been rectified, resume normal flight level, notifying the action on the appropriate ATS frequency.
4.3. Normal Position Reporting Procedures Normal position reporting procedures should be continued at all times, regardless of any action taken to initiate or acknowledge a traffic information broadcast. 4.4. Operation of Transponders Pilots shall ensure that transponder procedures as contained in ICAO PANS OPS Doc 8168 are complied with and in the absence of other directions from ATC, operate the transponder on Mode A and C Code 2000 3. Use of TCAS In accordance with ICAO Regional Supplementary Procedures (Doc 7030), ACAS II shall be carried and operated in the AFI Region by all civil fixed-wing turbine-engine aircraft having a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg or maximum approved passenger seating configuration of more than 19. IATA therefore promotes the use of a working TCAS for aircraft when operating within the AFI Region; and pilots shall select TA/RA mode at maximum range. 4.5. Use of SLOP SLOP is promoted in AFI region. 5. The IFBP in AFI In many FIRs in the AFI Region communications both fixed and mobile have either not been implemented or operate well below the required reliability. This has an impact on the proper provision of Air Traffic Services, especially flight information service. Consequently, the AFI Regional Technical Conference has decided that the IATA In-Flight Broadcast Procedure (IFBP) should be used within designated FIRs in the Region as an interim measure until such time as communications facilities affecting the FIRs in question have been improved. 3 Pilots shall ensure operation of transponders even when outside radar coverage in order to enable TCAS equipped aircraft to identify conflicting traffic.
6. Designated frequency in AFI In the AFI Region the designated frequency for the IFBP is 126.9 MHZ. 7. Area of Application 7.1. In the AFI Region the IFBP should be applied in the following FIRs and airspaces: a) Asmara b) Brazzaville * c) Kano d) Khartoum e) Kinshasa f) Luanda g) Mogadishu h) Niamey * i) N Djamena * j) Tripoli ** Even though some FIRs are removed from area of applicability, some FIRs will continue applying IFBP in case of contingency (Dakar Terrestrial, Dakar Oceanic...). * Brazzaville, Niamey and N djamena FIR provide CPDLC service, however these FIRs are maintained in IFBP area of applicability to accommodate users requirement for linear boundaries to the extent feasible. ** Tripoli FIR mandated IFBP within their entire FIR, hence IFBP region extended from North of latitude 300 N to cover entire Tripoli FIR 8. Enforcement 8.1. All airlines operating in the AFI region are requested to: a) ensure that their air crews are fully briefed on the procedure and area of application described. b) ensure that their charts and flight documentation are fully amended to reflect the foregoing; 8.2. Any operator reported to IATA as not applying the procedure shall be contacted immediately, informed of the procedure, and requested to apply it.
8.3. Attention is drawn to the fact that during the Haj Pilgrimage period the number of east-west flights in the North-Central part of the AFI Region increases dramatically and with it the risk of ATS incidents and the importance of the In-Flight Broadcast Procedure. 9. Review The procedure and its area of applicability shall be reviewed by the IATA AFI Regional Coordination Group from time to time and the list of FIRs in which the procedure is to be applied may be included or excluded as necessary. 10. Distribution To assist in ensuring its widest possible applicability the procedure is distributed to all known operators in the AFI Region, as well as to the following agencies/organizations: ICAO Offices NBO, DKR, CAI, YMQ, ATLAS; Jeppesen; Lido; FAA; IAOPA; IACA; WFP.
11. Map Source: IATA SO&I AFI 9 January 2014 BROADCAST PROCEDURE EXAMPLE 1: ALL STATIONS 2: THIS IS AZ... in the XXX FIR 3: FL... 4: North-eastbound on XXnnn (airway) 5: Estimate XXXXX (or crossing airway if no waypoint)... at... UTC 7: AZ... 8: FL... 9: in the xxx FIR