VATSIM STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY NOTICE: This publication is available at www.virtualcarrierwing3.com Virtual Carrier Wing Three is not associated with the US Navy. All material is copyright protected and may not be duplicated without the consent of Hollywood and Rollingrock or the Virtual Carrier Wing Three. Commanding Officer (Capt J RollingRock Pharis) Air Wing commander (Capt. Mark Wood Killen) Deputy Air Wing Commander (CDR Kevin "Texasthunder" Bryan) Created 11th March 2016 Modified 16 th March 2016 Distribution A Distribution B This document is part of the Standard Operating Procedures for Virtual Carrier Wing 3 (SOA) Military Operations on Vatsim and shall be followed at all times. This handbook is the primary F/A 18 fighter fundamentals Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS).
Contents LOA-... 3 Use of Military Facilities... 4 Operational Procedures and Responsibilities... 5 Special Use Airspace... 6 Air Refueling... 10 SOP-052 ZOA Preferred Routes... 13 PURPOSE.... 13 2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES... 13 3. DISTRIBUTION.... 13 4. BACKGROUND.... 13 5. PROCEDURES.... 13 Military Preferred Routes and Stereo Flight Plans... 14
LOA- This LOA was signed by Ryan Parry Air Traffic Manager, ZOA ARTCC, and Mark Killen, Air Wing Commander (CAG) Virtual Carrier Wing 3 (CVW3), on March 16 th, 2016. Purpose This Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlines standard operating policies and procedures to be utilized by the Virtual Carrier Wing Three (CVW3) and Oakland ARTCC (ZOA). Cancellation This LOA supersedes any and all previous LOA s between CVW3 and ZOA. Distribution This LOA is intended for use by ZOA and CVW3 personnel staffing ZOA military positions and joint-civil military positions, and for ZOA controllers operating positions adjacent to ZOA military and joint civilmilitary positions. Background This LOA has been developed and shall be maintained to establish standard operating procedures, policy items, and flight management procedures for VCW3 operations, so that ZOA ATC staff and VCW3 pilots can expect consistent ATC support within ZOA. The procedures set forth in this LOA shall be disseminated to CVW3 leaders, pilots, and the ZOA Staff and controller roster. Definitions ATCAA Air Traffic Controlled Assigned Airspace is airspace defined by vertical/lateral limits, assigned by ATC, for the purpose of providing air traffic segregation between the specified activities being conducted within the assigned airspace and other IFR air traffic. Facilities Two types: joint civil/military and military-only. ZOA controllers and CVW3 military controllers, who are certified as ZOA controllers shall be authorized to man joint facilities. ZOA controllers shall not be authorized to man military-only facilities. MARSA Military Authority Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft. A condition whereby the military services involved assume responsibility for separation between participating military aircraft in the ATC system. MOA (Military Operation Area) Airspace established outside of Class A airspace area to separate or segregate certain non-hazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted. Restricted Area Airspace designated under 14 CFR Part 73, within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Most restricted areas are designated joint use and IFR/VFR operations in the area may be authorized by the controlling ATC facility when it
is not being utilized by the using agency. Restricted areas are depicted on en route charts. Where joint use is authorized, the name of the ATC controlling facility is also shown. Warning Area A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions extending from 3 nautical miles outward from the coast of the United States, that contains activity that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn non-participating pilots of the potential danger. A warning area may be located over domestic or international waters or both. Policies 1. Neither party can dictate or strike to change either parties policies or guidelines set forth within their own charters. 2. CVW3 controllers are not required to request visitor status from the Oakland ARTCC, but are required to follow all of the CVW3 policies regarding Joint-Use and Military-Only facilities and Oakland ARTCC visitor policies. 3. Personnel are restricted to controlling airports that are within their respective organization s control. At no time, shall either party, unless affiliated, qualified or certified with both, control each other s airspaces. 1. Oakland ARTCC controllers shall not, at any time, control at any Military-Only facilities or conduct any CATCC operations. These aircraft shall be treated as VFR aircraft until they enter a civilian sector or Joint-Use airspace. 2. CVW3 controllers shall not control any airspaces or facilities other than those designated within this document. All CVW3 controllers must hold a S-3 grade or higher to work a Tower shore-based military position and must hold a C-1 grade or higher to work a Radar (APP) position and shall be subject to proficiency checks at the request of the Oakland ARTCC training staff if controlling a joint use facility. 3. All controllers may only control at the facilities in the airspace. (Example: A CVW3 controller working Fallon Approach may not control aircraft outside of the Fallon RAPCON even if certified to do so. That means the controller may not conduct operations in another TRACON or CATCC operations.) If controller is a visiting member of vzoa then requirements for tower and app may hold an S-2 and S-3. 4. Controllers affiliated with the Oakland ARTCC and CVW3 may only control at the facilities that belong to one party at a time. They may not control civilian and Military- Only facilities at the same time. (Example: An Oakland ARTCC controller working Oakland Center may not, even if certified by the CVW3, conduct CATCC operations.) Use of Military Facilities Until properly certified by CVW3 ATC instructors ZOA controllers shall not man KNTU or KNFL during military operations.
Joint Use Facilities May be used by ZOA or CVW3 controllers if properly certified. Lemoore Naval Air Station (KNLC) o Navy Lemoore Ground (NLC_GND 121.65) o Navy Lemoore Tower (NLC_TWR 128.30) o Navy Lemoore Approach (NLC_APP 118.15) Fallon Naval Air Station o Navy Fallon Tower (NLC_TWR 119.25) o Navy Fallon Approach (NLC_APP 118.30) Military Only Use Facilities May only by used by properly certified VCW3 controllers. Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) o CVN xx TWR provides VFR advisories and sequencing to aircraft during simulated daylight hours only o CVN xx APP provides radar vectors and separation to aircraft during all hours xx denotes the ship hull number Both of these positions operate on 128.400 and only one shall be active at any given time Military Operational Area (MOA). o Fallon North and Fallon South MOA. Pilots operating within these areas must monitor 126.200 at all times. Operational Procedures and Responsibilities Unless otherwise coordinated, the following procedures shall apply: General 1. Military operations in excess of 250 knots below 10,000 should be conducted in Special Use Airspace to the maximum extent possible. The only exception is operating on an APPROVED military training route, authorized by Oakland Center. 2. ATC is not required to provide advisory/monitoring/separation services within the MOA, the pilot is responsible for remaining within the area and exercising see and avoid during visual conditions. 3. The primary users of the airspace contained within this document shall be flight squadrons of the CVW3. Typical operations within offshore Warning Areas are combat training, carrier operations proficiency training, aerial refueling, and AEW/EW training. Inland areas include air combat manoeuvring, practice bombing, low-level flights, instrument navigation training.
Oakland ARTCC Responsibilities Oakland ARTCC controllers shall 1. Be responsible for separation of air traffic within their airspace. 2. Issue advisories to civil aircraft when SUA s have been reported as active. Civil pilots may enter active MOAs at their own risk. Controllers are not responsible for protecting these areas. 3. Keep all civil aircraft clear of warning areas 283/285 and 260/513 if carrier operations are present. 4. Provide CVW3 flight leaders using SUAs with traffic advisories if civil aircraft penetrate an active SUA. The term whiskey alert shall be used to indicate that a spill in/out situation (unauthorized penetration of the SUA) is imminent. 5. Coordinate scheduling of SUAs between military flights. If more than one flight will be operating in an SUA complex, Oakland ARTCC controllers must be informed that multiple coordinated missions are operating together in the SUA complex. Virtual Carrier Wing Three Responsibilities CVW3 shall 1. Allow properly certified CVW3 military controllers to operate Carrier Air Traffic Control Centers (CATCC) for offshore CV operations and shore facilities specified within this document. A listing of these controllers shall be given to the ARTCC staff via the CVW3 Commander. 2. Assume the responsibilities in W283/285 or W260/513 for the associated offshore Warning Area Complex in which the carrier is operating. Only one of these areas is active at any one time. 3. When the Oakland Center position is not manned, the senior CVW3 member shall be responsible for the proper conduct of all CVW3 pilots operating within the confines of the SUA utilized. 4. CVW3 aircraft shall assume separation responsibility (MARSA) within Special Use Airspace when operating in airspace that has been scheduled for use. 5. CVW3 chain of command is responsible for coordinating mission plans when multiple flights will use the same SUA complex. Flight leaders must inform Oakland ARTCC controllers when multiple flights will be operating within the SUA. 6. During CV operations, when no Carrier Air Traffic Control Center is operating, the senior ranking aircraft commander within the associated Warning Area shall coordinate carrier approaches and departures. 7. CVW3 Commanders will provide the following information when aircraft carrier scenery is being issued to CVW3 pilots: 1. Carrier hull number and Name (eg: CVN69, Nimitz) 2. Latitude/Longitude, or, bearing/range from major VORTAC 3. TACAN Frequency Special Use Airspace The following Special Use Airspace is designated as joint civil/military use airspace:
All altitudes are MSL unless noted otherwise Complex Name Floor Ceiling Warning Area 283/285 From SFC To no include FL600 Warning Area 260/513 From SFC To no include FL600 Foothills MOA From 2000 MSL To no include FL180 Hunter MOA From 200 AGL To not include 11,000 MSL Gabbs/Austin MOA From SFC To not include FL600 Maxwell MOA From 200 AGL To not include FL180 1. Flight Level (FL) is equivalent to altitude above mean seal level in thousands of feet (e.g. FL205 = 20,500 feet MSL). 2. Airspace diagrams are attached to the end of this document. (Webmater note: graphics missing) 3. CVW3 shall schedule the use of a SUA complex with Oakland ARTCC Military Liaison or Events Director prior to use. ZOA ARTCC should be notified by letter of any major operations the VUSN plans to put on in any SUA, MOA, or warning areas. If the use of a SUA complex will be a last minute decision, the CVW3 shall post a message on the Oakland ARTCC forum and/or notify the appropriate Oakland ARTCC controller if online. 4. At the time of SUA utilization, if Oakland Center is offline, aircraft are permitted to conduct operations as scheduled without any further coordination. If Oakland Center opens while aircraft are using the SUA, the flight leader shall inform the controller that the area is hot, as soon as practical. 5. MARSA if not previously granted, shall take effect once aircraft cross the entry fix. If Oakland Center cannot grant MARSA due to civil aircraft still in the SUA, ATC shall: (1) Issue a clearance that will insure separation with any civil aircraft still in the SUA, or (2) Issue a traffic advisory to the flight lead and instruct the flight to maintain VFR and issue a frequency change. 6. Aircraft requiring IFR flight for return-to-base (RTB), shall contact ATC for an in-flight IFR clearance no later than 5 minutes prior to exit from the SUA. The IFR route shall start from the exit fix. Aircraft shall proceed to and hold at the exit fix in a holding pattern that will keep them primarily within the SUA. Aircraft shall be radar identified at the exit fix and ATC shall assume separation responsibility. 7. Communications: When operating in flights or elements, the flight leader shall be responsible for obtaining the ATC clearance and squawk codes for his/her flight. Wingman shall be instructed to squawk standby. Flight shall not use ATC frequency for flight air-to-air communication.
ATC PROCEDURES TO/FROM SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE AREAS Transition Corridors shall be used as entry and exit routes from the FALLON SOUTH/FALLON NORTH MOA complex. Fallon Range information to be used fro CVW3. Information is taken from knfl-nasfallon-range-users-manual. VFR Departures RWY 13 Departure: Entry into G/A MOA off the 13 runways requires flying the runway heading of 129 for 15DME from the Fallon VORTAC NFL, thereafter direct to the cleared corridor. RWY 31 Departure: 31 runways at KNFL requires the pilot to fly the runway heading of 309 to 8000 BPOC direct to cleared Corridor. Runways 7 and 25 will not be utilized. Pilots shall not exceed 10,000 feet prior to entry into the MOA. CORRIDORS There are four corridors: Stillwater, primarily for transit to and from the northern area; Middlegate and Shoshone, for transit to the southern area; Middlegate, for transit back to Fallon from the southern working area; and O Toole Corridor makes it feasible for NAS Lemoore squadrons to enter and exit the working areas via a direct Hornet stereo route from Lemoore to the Fallon ranges. When transiting in these corridors, VFR hemispheric rules (odd or even thousand plus 500 ft) all the way up to the altitude cap, shall be followed. As a general rule, Stillwater Corridor shall be used for transit to and from Dixie North, Edwards North, and Cortez. It can also be used for Lone Rock. The corridors are approximately 2.5 nm either side of the centerline. Coordinates defining the lateral limits, as well as the centerline of each of the four corridors, are listed as indicated below.
STILLWATER CORRIDOR Center Line STILLWATER CORRIDOR Center Line 39 30.0000 N -118 19.0000 W 39.5000000-118.3166667 40 01.0000 N -117 55.0000 W 40.0166667-117 55.00000 40 11.0000 N -117 24.0000 W 40.1833333-117.4000000 MIDDLEGATE CORRIDOR Center Line 39 20.0000 N -118 19.8000 W 39.3333333-118.3388889 39 12.0000 N -117 20.0000 W 39.2000000-117.3333333 SHOSHONE CORRIDOR Center Line 39 06.0000 N -118 11.2500 W 39.1000000-118.3388889 39 07.5000 N -117 23.0000 W 39.1305556-117.3833333 O TOOLE CORRIDOR Center Line
38 57.0000 N -117 20.0000 W 38.9500000-117.3333333 39 12.0000 N -117 20.0000 W 39.2000000-117.3333333 EXIT PROCEDURES Exit from the FALLON SOUTH/FALLON NORTH MOA complex to the 13 runways for landing at Fallon requires the pilot to intercept the HZN025035 and track this radial inbound to HZN until turning for final on the 13s. Exit from the G/A MOA complex to the 31 runways for landing at Fallon requires the pilot to intercept the NFL115030 and track this radial inbound to NFL for final on the 31s. Pilots shall intercept the NFL115030 at an altitude of 10,000 feet. IFR DEPARTURES IFR departures into FALLON NORTH/FALLON SOUTH MOA Shall follow YERIN SID departure AWACS This is a special class of air traffic controller for military operations only. There shall be two levels: Advisory and Radar Vectoring. These controllers shall utilize ASRC and military AWACS terminology and procedures to provide advisories or to vector aircraft in special use airspace. This shall be in conjunction with CVW3 operations and in coordination with ZOA staff and controllers. AWACS controllers shall only control aircraft inside special use airspace. The CVW3 ATC Department shall insure that all AWACS controllers hold appropriate VATSIM ratings and are members in good standing of an approved VATSIM ARTCC/FIR. AWACS controllers shall be required to complete a special CVW3 AWACS training program in addition to required VATSIM training for their rating. An AWACS advisory only controller must be an S-3 or above. An AWACS radar controller must be a C-1 or above. The CVW3 shall provide ZOA ARTCC with an approved list of AWACS controllers. Call signs for AWACS will be Navyhawk Tower and Navyhawk Approach abbreviated NHWK_TWR and NHWK_APP. Squawk Codes The CVW3 shall use the 4000 range of squawk codes. Air Refueling NAS Fallon In-flight Refueling Tracks Tanker Communications/Entry Contact Fallon Approach on 118.30 or Oakland Center on 132.20 to operate in MOAs appropriate to AR North or South.
Restrictions AR North and South altitude blocks are FL190 to FL210 or FL220 to FL240. Assigned block will be dependent upon which air refueling (AR) route is in use. AR Track Points Fallon AR North A 39 45 N 118 28 W NFL012/23 B 39 37 N 118 21 W NFL037/21 C 39 55 N 117 45 W NFL039/53 D 40 03 N 117 53 W NFL026/54 Fallon AR South A 39 04 N 118 23 W NFL130/27 B 38 54 N 118 23 W NFL140/35 C 38 55 N 117 40 W NFL105/57 D 39 05 N 117 40 W NFL095/52 Fallon AR Northeast A 39 43 N 116 50 W NFL 063/88 B 40 12 N 116 46 W NFL 046/100 C 40 11 N 116 38 W NFL 048/106 D 39 42 N 116 42 W NFL 063/94 Fallon AR Southeast A 39 15 N 117 02 W NFL 080/78 B 39 42 N 116 49 W NFL 063/89 C 39 39 N 116 41 W NFL 065/94 D 39 13 N 116 54 W NFL 080/85 Fallon AR West A 39 44 N 118 31 W NFL 006/20 B 38 59 N 118 04 W NFL 116/39 C 39 03 N 117 51 W NFL 103/46
D 39 49 N 118 20 W NFL 018/30
SOP-052 ZOA Preferred Routes PURPOSE. This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the preferred routing for departures and arrivals in ZOA ARTCC. 2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for this SOP is the ZOA Facility Advisory Board. This SOP shall be maintained, revised, updated or cancelled by the ZOA Facility Advisory Board. Any suggestions for modification / amendment to this SOP should be sent to the FAB for review. 3. DISTRIBUTION. This SOP is intended for use by all controllers staffing positions within ZOA. 4. BACKGROUND. By using consistent routes for arrival and transitions controllers can minimize the number of decisions needed to be determined in handling traffic. This decreases the controllers workload and therefore increases the capacity of traffic that can be handled. These procedures outline preferred routes that place traffic on consistent streams. 5. PROCEDURES. Letters of Agreement The ZOA Facility Advisory Board will be responsible to insure that all Letters of Agreement with adjacent ARTCCs and facilities are consistent with the routings listed in this SOP. Routing Help A flight planner is available to aid with route planning for pilots and controllers. This flight planner provides acceptable routes which comply with the rest of this document. Pilots / controllers may use routes other than those set forth below so long as they include any required fixes given for the destination and use a DP when appropriate. J110 Aircraft destined for LAS, PHX, and other airports southeast of ZOA, will commonly file along J110 (an airway between CZQ and LAS). This route transits military airspace inside ZLA. Any use of J110 requires coordination with the ZLA controller.
Routing of Departures Military Preferred Routes and Stereo Flight Plans The following routes will be issued to military and civil aircraft. IAMPSO member aircraft (VCW3, VUSN, VUSAF, VUSCG, VUS Army, VUSMC) may file the appropriate stereo route ID in the flight plan. Dep. Arr. Route Stereo Route V/NAV Planning KNFL KNLC WATER5 FMG J7 FRA VIS DIRECT FAL1 cross VIS 16000 KNFL CV64 WATER5 FMG J32 SAC SAU DIRECT FAL2 cross SAU 4000 CV64 KNFL hdg 270, c/m 3000. SAU SAC J32 FMG HZN DIRECT FAL2R cross FMG FL190 KNFL W260/513 WATER5 FMG J32 SAC PYE PYE270R21DME FAL3 cross PYE FL180 W260/513 KNFL PYE270R21DME PYE SAU SAC J32 FMG HZN DIRECT FAL3R cross FMG FL190 KNFL CVN68 or W283/285 WATER5 FMG J7 FRA NLC CORSE FAL4 cross CORSE 16000 CVN68 or W283/285 KNFL CORSE ROM FRA FMG HZN DIRECT FAL4R cross FMG FL190 KNFL KNFL Edwards RangeComplex Edwards RangeComplex YERIN5 YERIN J92 OAL BTY DIRECT FAL5 cross BTY FL220 YERIN5 YERIN J92 OAL BTY DIRECT FAL5 cross BTY FL220 Edwards Complex KNFL BTY OAL MVA DIRECT FAL5R cross MVA FL180 KNLC KNFL NLC8 CZQ FRA J7 FMG HZN DIRECT LEM1 cross FMG FL190
Dep. Arr. Route Stereo Route V/NAV Planning KNLC CV64 NLC8 PXN SNS SHOEY V27 EUGEN STINS LEM2 cross STINS 3000 CV64 KNLC hdg 180, c/m 3000. HADLY V27 EUGEN SHOEY SNS ROM DIRECT LEM2R cross ROM 17000 KNLC W260/513 NLC8 PXN SNS J88 PYE PYE270R21DME LEM3 cross PYE FL180 W260/513 KNLC PYE270R21DME PYE V27 EUGEN SHOEY SNS ROM DIRECT LEM3R cross ROM 17000 KNLC CVN68 or W283/285 RAG9 CORSE LEM4 14000 CVN68 or W283/285 KNLC CORSE ROM DIRECT LEM4R cross ROM 17000 KNLC Edwards RangeComplex RAG9 KIOTE LEM5 cross KIOTE FL230 Edwards Complex KNLC SWOOP NLC LEM5R cross SWOOP FL240 KNLC Foothills MOA RAG9 CETTA STRK1 Foothills MOA KNLC OMEGA NLC STRK1R cross CETTA 17000 cross OMEGA 16000