NATCA Bookshelf

National Office Week in Review: August 15, 2017

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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2. Use an ODP – obstacle clearance is the responsibility of the pilot and must be complied with to ensure obstacle compliance 3. Use of a DVA - obstacle clearance is ensured procedurally though ATC assigned headings within the DVA. 4. ATC may invoke JO 7110.65 section 5 - 6 - 3 Vectors below Minimum Vectoring Altitude when prom inent obstacles are displayed on the video map. Obstacle clearance is the responsibility of the air traffic controller. ATC has responsibility for obstacle clearance unless a DVA is published. If a facility issues a heading off the runway (that is not p art of a procedure), there are no readily available resources for the pilot to know if that heading was issued under 5 - 6 - 3, a DVA, or with an intention that the pilot could fly the ODP and then the heading. However, under current guidance the pilot can fly an ODP without informing ATC (with the exception of a Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA) ODP whi ch requires ATC notification). This can create a contradiction in pilot/controller expectations for airports with complex ODPs that require a routing and hol ding pattern in busy airspace. Additionally, it is legal for ATC to issue a Graphic ODP (example SID name (obstacle)), however current ATC policy is to issue a "Climb and Maintain" clearance rather than "climb via", creating confusion as to whether the altitud e constraints are cancelled (ATC cannot cancel restrictions on an ODP nor can they vector a pilot off an ODP once they are on the procedure.). Therefore, the PCPSI workgroup makes the following recommendations: Control Towers and TRACONs can only issue a heading off the runway when prominent obstacles are displayed on the radar video map in accordance with 7 110.65 5 - 6 - 3 Vectors below MVA. Th is should be clear in 7110.65. Pilots would be expected to know if a DVA exists and comply, or the gradient is stand ard (200 ft./nm) and ATC is responsible for terrain and obstacle clearance. Explicitly inform all pilots of their responsibility, per §91.103, to check for ODPs and DVAs as part of preflight planning as last - minute clearances involving headings can be giv en. Explicitly inform all pilots of their responsibility, per §91.123, to inform ATC if an ODP is to be flown instead of the clearance involving a SID or radar vectors. Suggest a policy change for ATC assigned graphic ODPs for obstacle clearance to use a "Climb Via" clearance. Guidance in 7110.65 and AIM to be up dated to explain these changes. This should result in the expectation that ATC will provide obstacle clearance using vectors in accordance with 7110.6 5 section 5 - 6 - 3 or using a DVA. If the pilot determines that the DVA climb gradient is unacceptable, he/she should inform ATC prior to departure of the intention to fly an ODP with a lower gradient. PARC PCPSI FEEDBACK REPORT JEPPESEN'S NEW "TO - SCALE" SID / STAR FORMAT by Ted Thompson, Jeppesen Corp orate Technical Standards COMPLEX CONSTRAINTS & INFORMATION BOXES Some Complex Procedures involve Complex or Conditional Constraints Complex or Conditional Constraints still require Combined Constraint Boxes

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