OCEANIC Training made simple

Information taken from Oceanic Endorsement Syllabus Ver 1.0.0 (VATPAC)

Welcome. Oceanic Procedures are different but not difficult. Please have a read through this page before asking questions, although I am more than happy to assist afterwards.

The Oceanic Environment is not serviced by Radar, therefore the only way ATC can provide you with separation, is by every aircraft telling them where they are. To facilitate this, Flight levels and Reporting procedures are put in place.

Coverage

Oceanic Services are provided mainly over the Ocean. If you are departing an Airfield, don’t contact Oceanic Flight Services until you are in the air and approaching the boundary of the Airspace. Generally this is 150Nm on the DME from BN and SY, or 300Nm out of AA and WN. Pacific Islands you can call on departure.

Chosen Flight Level

When you log onto the network you tell the system the capabilities of your aircraft, this has significant bearing on Oceanic travel. Depending on the capabilities of your aircraft you should be at one of these levels unless otherwise instructed by ATC;

FL300

FL320

FL340

FL360

FL380

FL400

FL420

FL440

FL310

FL330

FL350

FL370

FL390

FL410

FL430

FL450

	VFR	IFR
EAST 000 to 180	EVEN Thousands + 500ft (eg 20500ft)	FL310
		FL330
		FL350
		FL370
		FL390
		FL410
		FL450
		FL490
WEST 180 to 360	ODD Thousands + 500ft (eg 21500ft)	FL300
		FL320
		FL340
		FL360
		FL380
		FL400
		FL430
		FL470

Reporting

Remember the ATCO cannot see where you are on a radar-scope, he is relying on you to tell him where you are. This is the principle of Oceanic reporting. The majority of routes have a waypoint whenever they cross another route.

Initial Contact:

To make initial contact use;

“Brisbane Radio, Brisbane Radio, United 873 on 128.6”

The controller will answer;

“United 873, good afternoon, Brisbane accepts primary guard this frequency, secondary 122.1, standby for SELCAL check”

Wait until you get a text message saying ‘SELCAL’ or if you have SELCAL enabled you get the sound signal. Then say;

“SELCAL check OK, secondary 122.1, United 873”

The controller should then answer;

“United 873, request your estimate VIROG”

You should then provide your estimate for your next Waypoint, whatever it is. From this point onwards, the controller will use SELCAL to call you, and if you want to call him use the first line above.

*You should call at every waypoint by calling;

“Brisbane Radio, Brisbane Radio, United 873, position report on 128.6”

Position Reports:

The correct format for these reports is;

“United 873 position LHI time 1853, Flight Level 360, estimate PANDA at 1953, SANDO next.”

Only include your Mach Number if it was assigned by ATC; “…… Maintaining Mach .82”

Routes

The selection of an appropriate trans-Oceanic route helps with providing collision avoidance. Published Routes are easily accessible, and should you have any difficulty just ask for help. Try these sites for Route Selection;

Free Route Finder; http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ (remember to select the FL boundaries)

VATPAC Routes; http://www.vatpac.org/ (on the left ‘Airspace>Flight Plans>International’)

FAQs

1. Can I use time compression?

ANS: There are several rules for using time compression within a controlled area throughout the Oceanic region:

a. RVSM equipped (2x @ FL380 and 4x @ FL400 for Westbound, 2x @ FL390 and 4x @ FL410 for Eastbound),

b. If the controller gives you permission,

c. You enter the rate into your Flight Plan comments,

d. NOT within 20min of entering or departing Oceanic airspace,

e. No position reports are to be sent unless asked for,

f. On resuming 1x your clock is set to the real time.

Variations to these rules may be obtained from the controller if negotiated before hand.

2. Can I alter my speed?

ANS: No, not without approval from the controller.

3. Can I change Altitude?

ANS: No, not unless approved by the controller.

4. Where can I learn more?

ANS: Try this web site www.vatpac.org and look under Airspace>Airspace Information>Oceanic

5. The controller says I’m on the wrong flight level?

ANS: When you log onto the network, you chose the aircraft capabilities. Some of these are listed below. If you chose a type non-RVSM then you are limited to using the IFR assigned levels. The controller knows what the aircraft is capable of because the system tells them after you tell it at login.

Type	Transponder	Auto-added Suffix
No DME	With Mode C	/U
No DME	Without Mode C	/T
No DME	Nil fitted	/X
DME	With Mode C	/A
DME	Without Mode C	/B
DME	Nil fitted	/D
TACAN only	With Mode C	/P
TACAN only	Without Mode C	/N
TACAN only	Nil fitted	/M
RNAV	With Mode C	/I
RNAV	Without Mode C	/C
RNAV	Nil fitted	/Y
RNAV with Dual FMS		/E
RNAV with Single FMS		/F
RNAV with GPS or GNSS		/G
RNAV with RNP capability		/R
RNAV with RVSM capability		/W
RNAV with RNP and RVSM		/Q