¶ Introduction
The purpose of the coordination is the direct communication between two different air traffic controllers with sending and receiving flight data or air traffic controller information.
The coordination is used to:
- Inform adjacent air traffic controllers about the activation or deactivation of your area of responsibility.
- Negotiate the transfer of any traffic which is under your zone of responsibility to another zone.
- Negotiate a clearance or control instruction for any traffic in your area of responsibility when the instruction needs approval by adjacent air traffic controller.
- Realize adequate regulation inside your area of responsibility without generating any problem for adjacent air traffic controllers.
- Integrate incoming traffic in your area of responsibility without generating any loss of separation.
The coordination can be:
- A direct communication between air traffic controllers
- An indirect communication using IvAc software functions
¶ Specific IVAO rules
The use of guard frequency 121.500 MHz is forbidden for coordination tasks between air traffic controllers. This frequency is reserved only for managing emergencies in some specific cases.The use of Unicom frequency 122.800 MHz shall not be used for coordination tasks between air traffic controllers. This frequency is reserved only to all pilots to ensure self-information in non-controlled areas.
¶ Direct communication using the IvAc chat window
The chat window is the best choice for coordination between air traffic controllers. The direct communication is necessary when all other solutions described below are not suitable for traffic handling.
You can open it using:
- The command ".chat CONT_POS" in the scratch pad in the COMMBox window (CONT_POS is the controller position that you want to chat with).
- The right click of the mouse on the air traffic controller call sing chosen in the ATCBox window.
After the opening of a new tab in the COMMBox window, you can chat directly with the chosen air traffic position by selecting the chat tab wanted.
You can add/remove other participants in this channel using the following commands:
- Command: .A SGBE_TWR (A=add, SGBE_TWR is the call sign wanted).
- Command: .R KIKK_TWR (R=remove, KIKK_TWR is the call sign wanted).
Chat communication is the only direct communication media allowed during ATC exams.
¶ Direct communication using Intercom
The IVAO Intercom is a web-based application and it uses Skype communication software. It makes coordination easier with your neighbour controller as you can call and communicate by voice with your neighbouring air traffic controllers.
You should have a valid Skype-Account and be registered with Intercom. This can be used only between two registered controllers using Skype and their IVAO profile updated with the Skype account. This service is free and every controller can participate.
Intercom is the alternative of the direct communication using the IvAc chat window. The text based communication is replaced by vocal communication using Skype.
¶ Global communication using the ATC tab channel
The ATC tab channel is the best choice for broadcasting general information to all controllers and observers using IvAc. This channel is a global channel for all ATC, and you must use English as chat language.
This channel is not suitable for coordination between two air traffic positions handling their own traffic. All other controllers connected are not concerned with specific coordination tasks between two air traffic controllers far from their position.
¶ Transparent communication using labels
Labels are used to minimize the transmission of the clearance parameters by chat message between air traffic controllers.
Assuming a target will enable the controller to amend the label inputs. These labels can be read by all other air traffic controllers or observers in the network if the target is located inside their display range. Each aircraft is one unique target on screen.
The following variables can be manipulated in the label using the IvAc software:
- Cleared flight level label
- Cleared waypoint label
- Cleared speed label
- Type of ATC station controlling the aircraft
- Text or voice mode used
¶ Predefined agreements using letters of agreement (LoAs)
The letters of agreement named LoA in IVAO are documents which define agreed procedures between two or several controlled positions in order to facilitate traffic handling and exchange.
They are created to simplify coordination procedures in some predefined conditions in order to minimize the coordination chats. They are created when needed (example between two divisions for traffic exchange or two large control areas with multiple routes).
¶ Coordination between controllers when opening the position
When you open a position, you must communicate that to adjacent air traffic controllers. These tasks are applicable:
- Give information about your position opening and when you are ready to operate.
- Ask for the transfer of traffic that should be under your responsibility.
- Speak about the status of each aircraft with giving details in order to help traffic management.
Do not force act with IvAc the traffic assumed by another controller. Ask the controller to transfer this aircraft, this is coordination!
¶ Coordination between controllers when closing the position
When you close a position, you must communicate that to adjacent air traffic controllers. These tasks are applicable:
- Give information about your position closing time.
- Transfer all your traffic under your responsibility to the next suitable air traffic controller.
- If there is no suitable air traffic controller who can take this traffic, release this traffic to UNICOM.
- Brief the adyacent controllers about the traffic flow you have been managing.
Before closing a position, all traffic under your control shall be transferred to the next suitable air traffic controller or shall be released to UNICOM 122.800 frequency.
¶ Coordination between controllers during event
The goal is to communicate the events in your area of responsibility that affects the neighbour air traffic controllers.
Situations which require communication can be any of the following:
- Switching air traffic controller operator
- Your sector split in sub-sectors
- Your sector combination with another sector
- Overloaded sector that neighbour sector shall take over
- Emergency handling
- Information about any airfield (active runways, arrival procedures, weather forecast, ATC workload at the airfield...)
- Information about any air traffic controllers activity under your area of responsibility on request
- Information about IVAO network activity and events
¶ Coordination for traffic handling
The goal is to coordinate a clearance with another air traffic controller before transmission to an aircraft, if and when it becomes effective within another unit's area of responsibility.
The receiving controller shall, if necessary, inform the transferring controller of:
- the pertinent details to be included in the combined clearance; and
- the time period during which the clearance may be issued.
The flight data sent in a coordination message can include parameters like:
- Aircraft identification.
- Type of aircraft.
- Speed (filed true airspeed in knots, Mach-number, actual ground speed, cleared speed).
- SSR code assignment.
- Point of departure
- Remaining portion of the route of flight as specified in the original or amended clearance
- Destination.
- Estimated time and altitude over the last fix within the control area or other point agreed to by the units involved.
- Altitude of entry into the adjacent unit's area if different from the altitude over the last fix.
- Estimated time of arrival as specified in the flight plan if requested.
- Clearance information, such as clearance limit if other than the destination airport or special instructions if issued.
- The fact that an aircraft is a diversion, if this is the case.
- Altitude requested if different from the assigned altitude.
- Other information if appropriate; example: minimum fuel or an emergency
Using IvAc, some flight data are easy to find, and air traffic controllers cannot give evident information when traffic is identified by all concerned controllers.
¶ Coordination using IvAc labels
IvAc offers the option to amend many different variables which can be entered into a label of each specific target:
- Cleared flight level
- Cleared waypoint
- Cleared speed
- Control assuming position
- Text or voice mode used
The variables in the label provide information about clearances for each specific target to other controllers without direct communication.
¶ Flight level, speed and waypoint label
The variables are only presented in the label for each target when they are filled out:
All variables can be manipulated by every controller position (IvAc does not limit your ability to manipulate label inputs). However the following are most common for each position:
- A delivery controller can add IFR clearance given to the pilot
- A ground controller can add IFR clearance given to the pilot
- A tower controller can add IFR clearance, VFR exit point and cleared altitude or speed
- An approach or departure controller can add IFR cleared fix and altitude, cleared speed or approach type selection
- An area controller can add IFR cleared fix and cleared altitude, cleared speed or approach type selection
¶ Assuming ATC position
This label is a letter code located on each target when an air traffic controller fills them:
This label is showing the air traffic controller who assumes this aircraft. With this label, you do not need to communicate that you assume the aircraft. The positions as defined as follows:
- C = CTR
- A = APP
- D = DEP
- T = TWR
- G = GND
- L = DEL
- U =Unicom
It is important to assume any traffic under your control using IvAc in order to notify to neighbour controllers that you take this traffic under your active control. Do not force-act traffic which is assumed by an active controller
¶ Traffic hand-off
When a change of frequency is required, instruct the aircraft to contact or monitor:
- a specified air traffic controller
- on a specified frequency
- at a specified time, over a specified fix
Transfer radio communications immediately prior to an aircraft entering the receiving controller's area of responsibility unless otherwise coordinated. If an aircraft is unable to maintain a listening watch on the controller frequency while remaining on the ATC frequency, resolve all conflicts with the aircraft.
Coordination procedures for radio communication transfer may be outlined in unit directives or agreements.
- ICAO Documentation 4444 - Air Traffic Management - 16th Edition 2016 - Chapter 10
- VID 150259 - Creation
- VID 435695 - Wiki integration
- VID 496402 - Wiki.js integration