GEN Chapter 3 - Roles and Responsibilites Flashcards
What are the joint responsibilities of the Tactical and Planner? (x6)
- Provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within their area of jurisdiction.
- Provide an Air Traffic Control Service, and may provide a Basic, Traffic, Deconfliction or
Procedural Service, to aircraft flying within the appropriate areas of jurisdiction. - Verify the accuracy of flight data relating to the aircraft that are being provided with the above
air traffic service(s). - Notify unserviceabilities of equipment as necessary.
- Ensure that sector tasks are carried out in accordance with the specified procedure.
- Prior to permitting an aircraft to penetrate the lateral and/or vertical volume of a displayed
Danger Area, or Military Restricted Area, the Tactical/Planner shall cross check the available
level and activity status on the SIS.
What are the responsibilities and tasks associated with using iFACTS? (x4)
- To be used in conjunction with the radar display for the detection of conflictions and assessment prior to issuing clearances
- Principal of “Enter as you speak, read as you listen” should be used to ensure accuracy of data entry and pilot read back
- Monitoring of team clearance history to verify accuracy and validity of clearance sent by CPDLC
- Check for system conditions and error messages as part of routine scan
What are the responsibilities of the tactical controller? (x10)
- Maintain a listening watch and conduct standard RTF communications with aircraft
- Conduct Controller Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) with suitably equipped aircraft.
- Acknowledge any magenta boxes as appropriate.
- Issue instructions to ensure that when aircraft exit the sector airspace it is in accordance with
the terms of a Standing Agreement, coordination or release. When aircraft cannot comply with
defined procedures for transfer of control to adjacent sectors or units ensure that coordination
is effected. - Maintain an up to date set of TDLs
- Respond to, and clear if necessary, and CPDLC timeout/unable/standby/fail/reject
indictations. - When workload permits monitor the actions of the Planner and assist as required.
- Agree coordination when requested by the Planner.
- If necessary and in consultation with the Planner vary or suspend Standing Agreements for a
limited period. - Alert the GS when there is a requirement to vary or suspend a Standing Agreement for an
extended period or to reduce tactically the number of aircraft entering the designated airspace.
What are the listed tactical tasks? (x5)
- The Tactical may make late coordination changes without reference to the Planner. Such
revisions shall be recorded in the system, and notified to the Planner as soon as practicable. - The Incomm and Outcomm function must be used to indicate communication status of a flight.
On first call, the Tactical shall verify that any clearances applying to the flight are consistent
with data displayed in the iFACTS HMI. Any inconsistent data shall be rectified. - The Tactical must wait until the flight has been accepted by the next sector before transferring
the aircraft. Before transferring communications, the Tactical must check that the coordination
conditions will be met, even if the XFL is green. - If a flight is showing as not accepted out (orange target) then it should not be assumed that
the next sector has flight details. - The Tactical must use ‘Flight Level’ as stated in procedures when referring to Flight Levels so
as to avoid confusion with sector names, for example ‘FL190’ instead of ‘nineteen’.
What are the responsibilities of the planner? (x13)
- Coordinate the passage of aircraft which are not operating under the terms of a Standing
Agreement into and out of the sector. - Ensure that separation exists at the time of acceptance between the NFL/XFL of aircraft entering/leaving
the sector and:
– The NFLs or SFLs, if these have been input, of all previously accepted aircraft; and
– The allocated XFLs of all previously accepted aircraft.
(Note: It can be assumed that separation will exist between aircraft from the same
adjacent AC sector, including previously coordinated traffic.
Where less than PRS exists, except between aircraft entering from the same AC sector,
agree coordination with the Tactical. - Ensure that any coordination conditions applying to an aircraft, or to be applied to an aircraft,
are notified to the Tactical. - Maintain an accurate electronic display of NFL and XFL data known to the Planner on all sector
traffic unless the offering sector Tactical determines this to be unnecessary. - Issue joining clearances and crossing clearances in consultation with the Tactical.
- Ensure that crossing clearances, joining clearances, releases and any changes to coordinations
are reflected in the coordination tools as necessary and that any such changes to coordination
are notified to the Tactical. - Ensure that estimates and revisions are passed to the appropriate unit.
- Monitor the RTF when primary duties permit in order to facilitate efficient
operation of the sector. - Monitor CPDLC dialogues for any alerts that require specific action to be
taken, as well as any requests received from aircraft. - If necessary and in consultation with the Tactical vary or suspend Standing Agreements for a
limited period. - Ensure that the ATSA has carried out appropriate FDE amendments.
- When necessary alert the GS when there is a requirement to vary or suspend a Standing
Agreement for an extended period or to reduce tactically the number of aircraft entering the
designated airspace. - When agreeing a coordination for the transit of an aircraft through your sector’s airspace,
which is not under the control of your sector, ensure any relevant Danger Area or Military
Restricted Area activity that may affect the aircraft is briefed to the requesting sector as part
of the coordination.
What are the listed Planner tasks? (x8)
- The Planner uses Planner bays and Tactical bays to maintain awareness of flights that are
offered or auto-accepted. - The Planner is alerted to a new offer by the appearance of a strip in the Offered bay and the
arrival of a pending TDL.
Note: Departure bay EFSs must be accepted in order to generate a TDL and cause the
flight to become recognised. - When assessing coordination the Planner is to use a combination of radar, ‘Looksee’ and iFACTS
tools including the interaction vector. - All accepted coordinations shall have an electronic presence within the iFACTS tools
- If the Planner is alerted to an accept-overdue flight in the Offered bay it is recommended that
they give this flight appropriate priority. - The Planner is to set/check/blank the XFL as soon as possible after accept so that the XFL does
not default to an inappropriate level. - When planning XFLs the Planner is to use a combination of radar, ‘What-If’ and iFACTS tools.
- The Planner shall support the Tactical by:
– Routinely scanning the radar and separation monitor for potential conflicts.
– Considering the Tactical workload.
– Only sending CPDLC messages when requested.
When a sector is staffed by two Tacticals as a temporary measure to cover an unpredicted short term increase in workload, what are the responsibilities of the support controller? (x4)
– Monitor the RTF frequency, CPDLC, radar displays and the general tactical situation of
the sector and offer assistance to the Primary Tactical or the Planner.
– Liaise with the Planner or GS at the request of the Primary Tactical.
– Assist in ensuring that Tactical data is accurately updated by the Primary Tactical and
read back correctly.
– Assist the Primary Tactical in prioritising outstanding tasks, for example, transfer of
communications, late climb and descent clearances.
When a sector is staffed by two Planners as a temporary measure to cover an unpredicted short term increase in workload, what are the responsibilities of the support planner? (x5)
- Assist the Primary planner in prioritising outstanding tasks and ensure that all Planner
tasks are carried out
– Monitor the electronic inputs to ensure accurate updating of the database.
– Liaising with the GS where necessary.
– Responding to Tactical requests where the Primary Planner cannot.
– Carry out telephone coordination with other sectors or agencies when requested by the
Tactical or Primary Planner.
(Note: the Support Planner shall not interact with the primary Planners electronic displays without
agreement.)
What should a controller identify themselves as when working CT&P?
(Sector) combined
eg. LMS combined or Central combined
What is a relief controller and what are their responsibilities? (x5)
Designated to be available at short notice to assist in transitioning out of CT&P ops.
Relief controlled shall:
- Not use the Swanwick enhanced rest facility
- Carry a pager appropriate to the Sector
- Ensure that, during night duties, the CT&P controller prefills the pager quick dial number into
the main display telephone control window.
- Check to ensure the relief pager is turned on and silent mode is not selected and that
the screen lock is enabled. Good practice would be to complete a test call before leaving the ops room.
- Enter the pager information onto the Night Shift ATCO Sleeping Arrangements Security Form
before leaving the ops room for a break/rest period.
Who is able to provide ATC services in exceptional situations (eg. sudden incapacitation)?
An ATCO may provide ATC services for that sector/operational position where they are not valid in order to
mitigate risk to safety of life
Who may not attempt to control aircraft in any circumstances?
Non-licensed ATCOs including trainees or support staff
Are mobile devices allowed in the ops room?
Yes but must be disabled or in flight mode
