Document Information
Version 1
Created 12/28/2015 02:49
Last Updated 11/24/2020 22:21
by Finn Hutter

Special Operations and Situation Procedures

 

SOP-005

ZSE Senior Staff

Version 1

 

1. PURPOSE

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provides procedures to be used between controllers and aircraft for special situations, emergency situations and emergency training, and special operations.

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This SOP shall be maintained, revised, updated, or canceled by the ZSE Senior Staff, and shall be effective unless there is a conflict with the VATUSA/VATSIM policies in which case they shall supersede these procedures.

3. DISTRIBUTION

This SOP is to be read and applied by all ZSE controllers.

4. BACKGROUND

In accordance with ZSE ARTCC Policy Statement (APS_009), procedures shall be established to ensure consistent handling of actual emergencies, simulated emergencies, pilot emergency training, special situations, and special operations. Such procedures shall be based on VATSIM and VATUSA policies, the FAA Airman Information Manual (AIM), technical order 7110.65, as well as VATUSA training material.

5. CONTROLLER INITIATED SITUATIONS

a. Temporary Suspension of an Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP)

1. An APP or CTR controller wishing to temporarily suspend use of an IAP per APS_008 shall:

· Check the NOTAMs section of the website to ensure it has been approved to be simulated.  Otherwise, email the ATM with the request of the situation be approved and added as a NOTAM.

· Inform aircraft requesting the IAP that ATC cannot clear aircraft to execute the approach, and the simulated reason (suggested reasons are due to a temporary obstruction, such as a crane on the final approach course). 

· Inform the aircraft that if they are in VMC, they may cancel IFR and proceed VFR. 

· Offer an alternative approach if available, including visual approach, if WX permits. Example "Unable to Issue ILS 16L due to construction activity. ILS 16C available. State intentions when able." 

b. Temporary Closure of a Runway

1. A TWR, APP, or CTR controller wishing to temporarily close a runway per APS_008 shall:

· Check the NOTAMs section of the website to ensure it has been approved to be simulated.  Otherwise, email the ATM with the request of the situation be approved and added as a NOTAM.  If the controller wishes to close a runway due to weather below minimums for the IAP, permission may be obtained by the shift supervisor.

· Inform aircraft requesting use of the runway that ATC cannot clear operations on the runway, and the simulated reason (suggested reasons are due to an aircraft accident, construction, relevant WX conditions. Note - if WX conditions are used, Reported METARs should be at/below minimums for the IAP with lowest minimums). 

· Offer an alternative runway if available. 

· If aircraft wish to proceed to the closed runway, inform the aircraft that take off/landing clearance cannot be issued and to proceed with the operation "at pilots own risk". 

· Example 

ATC: "Unable landing runway 16L due to construction activity. Runway 16C available." 

Pilot: "Sir we want to use 16L." 

ATC: "Unable to issue landing clearance. Landing will be at your own risk." 

c. Temporary Closure of an Airport

1. An APP or CTR controller wishing to temporarily close an airport per APS_008 shall:

· Check the NOTAMs section of the website to ensure it has been approved to be simulated.  Otherwise, email the ATM with the request of the situation be approved and added as a NOTAM.  Airport closures are rarely approved.

· Inform aircraft requesting use of the runway that ATC cannot clear for operations on the runway, and the simulated reason.

· Offer an alternative airport that meets appropriate needs for the aircraft type. 

· If aircraft wish to proceed to the closed airport, inform the aircraft that take off/landing clearance cannot be issued and to proceed with the operation "at pilots own risk". 

· If an aircraft proceeds at its own risk, continue to provide normal approach services to the FAF. Do not clear the aircraft to land. 

· Example  

ATC: "Seattle closed to due to ground emergency. Recommend divert to Boeing Field. State intentions when able." 

Pilot: "Sir we want to land at Seattle." 

ATC: "Expect vectors for ILS runway 16C approach. Unable to issue landing clearance. Landing will be at your own risk." 

d. Intercept and Escort Tasking of Military/Government Aircraft

1. CTR controllers may request tasking of a military/government aircraft/flight to escort a distressed aircraft or intercept an intruder per APS_008 shall follow these procedures:

-Confirm capabilities and conditions:

For distress situations verify that the distressed aircraft is in VMC. 

Ask the escort aircraft/flight if it is available and capable of tasking for an escort mission and provide approximate range and bearing to the interception/escort target. 

Verify that the escort aircraft/flight leader is TCAS equipped. 

-Execute Interception: 

 The escort aircraft/flight leader shall be instructed to squawk 7777. 

 The escort aircraft/flight leader shall be vectored to visual range. If visual contact is not established within 5 miles the mission shall be terminated. 

 TCAS identification must occur during the interception and be maintained throughout the mission. 

 Once visual contact is established the escort aircraft/flight leader shall declare MARSA (military assumes responsibility for separation of aircraft). Eg: "Navy 178, flight of two, is MARSA." 

-Escort of Distressed aircraft: 

ATC shall vector the distressed aircraft to a suitable airport. 

The escort/flight leader should terminate the escort prior to the distressed aircraft entering the traffic pattern. 

-Escort/Identification of Intruder: 

The interceptor shall attempt to identify the type of aircraft. 

Once identified, the interceptor may request to terminate the mission, or ATC may instruct termination. 

-Termination. 

The escort/flight leader shall break away from the distressed aircraft/intruder. 

Upon termination, ATC shall assign a beacon code to the aircraft/flight. 

Once ATC has established proper separation, ATC shall advise MARSA is terminated and provide a diverging vector from the escorted aircraft, then arrange for clearance to return to base. Example: "Navy 178 flight, radar contact 12 miles south of SWR. MARSA Terminated. Fly heading 140." 

e.Search and Rescue (SAR) and Aeromedical Evacuation Tasking

1. CTR controllers may request tasking of a military/government aircraft/flight to conduct searches for simulated downed aircraft or aeromedical evacuation of simulated casualties or possible casualties.

2. Provide range and bearing to the incident site and ask the aircraft if it is capable of accepting the mission.

3. Provide vectors to the incident under VFR or IFR as WX conditions dictate. The SAR aircraft must be capable of maintaining VFR while conducting a SAR mission and should be released for VFR flight upon reaching the incident area.

4. If simulated casualties are to be evacuated, provide radar vectors or an IFR clearance to a suitable support airfield as WX conditions dictate.

6. PILOT-INITIATED SPECIAL SITUATIONS

a. Emergencies

1.  Pilots declaring a "distress" situation (emergency) shall be vectored to the closest airport that meets runway length and instrument approach requirements as requested by the pilot. However, if the situation permits, the aircraft shall be vectored to a military airfield or a secondary airport, so as not to disrupt primary arrival flows.

2. Aircraft declaring an "urgency" situation (potential emergency) shall be offered vectors to the closest airport that meets runway length and instrument approach requirements as requested by the pilot. If the pilot declines the vectors, he shall be expected to continue per last clearance.

3. Controllers do have the right to ask the aircraft to disconnect from the network if unable to handle pilot emergency as no priority service is allowed per VATUSA policy.

b. Lost Communications Beacon Code

1.  An aircraft squawking 7600 that does not appear to be on text or voice comms shall be contacted via private message. Controllers should check voice program and text frequency.  Per VATSIM Code of Conduct, all pilots shall have radio comms available so this situation breaks the Code of Conduct and the pilot shall be asked to disconnect from the network if they cannot fix it.

c. Utilization of Special Use Airspace (SUA)

1. Regardless of real-world published times of operation, Special Use Airspace shall not be considered "hot" unless it has been scheduled by military/government aircraft as described below in (c)(2). Except, certain SUA over national security items shall be considered permanently active.

2. Military pilots wishing to conduct free flight for tactical training should request a reservation of SUA. The reservation may be submitted in real-time, however, should be obtained prior to entry into the SUA, and when possible, during the call for departure clearance.

3. Military aircraft shall schedule use of the SUA to SEA_CTR when airborne but may submit the request through local ATC prior to departure. Local ATC (DEL/GND/TWR/APP) shall pass the request through to SEA_CTR.

4. ATC shall not deny the use of the SUA when no other operations are scheduled. Multiple flight/units, conducting joint operations may be cleared into the same SUA, so long as they have coordinated between themselves.

5. Flights shall be cleared to/from SUA.

6. ATC shall provide advisories to keep military aircraft within the SUA on a workload permitting basis.

7. ATC shall assign beacon code 4000 or discrete code 400x to aircraft or flight leaders operating within SUA. In addition, ATC may optionally tag the aircraft with the scratchpad entry "SUA" per SOP-007.

8. MARSA is assumed to be in effect when aircraft have crossed the entry point of the SUA.

9. ATC shall instruct military aircraft entering the SUA to maintain VFR, advise that frequency change is approved, and to contact SEA_CTR for IFR clearance if needed, 5 minutes prior to exiting the SUA.  Example: "Navy 25, flight of two, entering MOA. Radar service terminated. Frequency change approved. Contact SEA_CTR on 124.20 for IFR 5 minutes prior to exiting the MOA."

10. Upon exiting the SUA, ATC shall issue a discrete beacon code, shall radar identify and resume separation responsibilities, and advise the aircraft/flight that MARSA is terminated. Example: "Navy 25 and Flight, radar contact 12 miles south of MHW. State intentions."

11. Aircraft conducting tactical training within the SUA are exempt from standard speed restrictions.

12. Aircraft conducting tactical training within the SUA are exempt from IFR operation and altitudes.

13. ATC shall inform any aircraft of the "hot status" of any SUA upon request. Example: "Boardman MOA is 'hot' ."

14. ATC shall announce and use the phrase "whiskey alert", with a traffic advisory, to notify military aircraft of unauthorized penetration of the SUA.

d. In-Flight Refueling

1. ZSE ARTCC Controllers shall only clear aerial refueling operations in accordance with IAMPSO organizations. Other military aircraft shall not be cleared to conduct these operations.

7. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES.

a.  MARSA

1. MARSA may only be applied to military operations.

2. Application of MARSA is a military command prerogative, meaning it may not be invoked indiscriminately by individual units or pilots. However, all military formation flights are implied to be operating under MARSA between members in the formation.

3. ATC facilities do not invoke or deny MARSA. Their sole responsibility concerning the use of MARSA is to provide separation between military aircraft engaged in MARSA operations and other nonparticipating IFR aircraft.

b.  Aircraft Communications during Special Operations

1. Aircraft conducting operations in accordance with this SOP shall not use their assigned ATC frequency for air-to-air communications or military air-to-ground communications.

2. Aircraft capable of text and voice communications should use one system to maintain communications as required with ATC, and the other for air-to-air or military air-to-ground communications. For a flight of aircraft, only the flight leader is required to maintain contact with ATC.

c. Special Use Airspace classifications and application within ZSE

1. Restricted Airspace. Restricted airspace is defined as being "joint-use"  (between civil and military users) or "non-joint-use". All restricted airspace within ZSE is "joint-use". Therefore the following procedures apply:

a. If the restricted area is not active, SEA_CTR will allow the aircraft to operate in the restricted airspace without issuing specific clearance for it to do so.

b. If the restricted area is active (in use by virtual military/government agency), the ATC facility will issue a clearance which will ensure the aircraft avoids the restricted airspace.

2. Warning Areas. Warning Areas are offshore areas allocated for military use. 

a. Civil aircraft may enter at their own risk. ATC shall not prohibit them from entering the airspace, however, SEA_CTR shall advise any such aircraft when the Warning Area is in use. 

3. Military Operating Areas. MOAs consist of airspace of defined vertical and lateral limits established for the purpose of separating certain military training activities from IFR traffic. The following procedures apply:

a. Whenever an MOA is being used, nonparticipating IFR traffic may be cleared through an MOA if IFR separation can be provided by ATC. Otherwise, ATC will reroute or restrict nonparticipating IFR traffic.

b. Most training activities necessitate acrobatic or abrupt flight maneuvers. Military pilots conducting flight in virtual military aircraft within a designated and active MOA are exempted from the provisions of FAR 91.303(c) and (d) which prohibit acrobatic flight within Federal airways and Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E surface areas.

c. Pilots operating under VFR should exercise extreme caution while flying within an MOA when military activity is being conducted, however, ATC shall not prohibit this activity. Prior to entering an active MOA, civil pilots should contact the controlling agency for traffic advisories