Philip McNiel 1282687 Posted January 5, 2017 at 08:54 PM Posted January 5, 2017 at 08:54 PM Last night and then again today, I see someone manning the approach at NCRG (Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands), and I thought about doing an island-hopping flight to that airport from NCAI, the nontowered Aitutaki Airport to the north. I wanted to fly IFR, and the Auckland Oceanic FIR above was online (I [Mod - Happy Thoughts]ume this is a reporting zone rather than a radar-controlled zone?). How would one conduct this flight or one like it? Would I simply call up the oceanic center for clearance delivery, switch over to Unicom for takeoff, and then after taking off start giving position reports? If so, where would I give them? (Note: If I am incorrect and that section of Auckland Oceanic FIR is indeed radar-controlled, please let me know the correct procedure for a Pacific island situation that actually does require reporting points.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Ogden Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:25 PM Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:25 PM Hello Phillip. I am an Oceanic Controller rated for the pacific. The Auckland Radio FIR (NZZO_FSS) is indeed a procedural zone in which you need to perform position reports. However, you are only required to contact Auckland Radio (or any other FIR in the pacific) at FL250 meaning we do not do top down services. As for the position reports themselves, there is a handy tool on our website, and I will link it here: http://www.vatnz.net/pilots/oceanic-report-tool/. Just call up and say (Callsign), g'day we are with you on 128.90, and it will go from there. EDIT: Forgot to say, position reports are required at all of your reporting waypoints along your track. Regards, Andrew Ogden Gander Oceanic OCA Chief Vancouver FIR Senior Instructor Visit us: https://ganderoceanic.ca Contact: [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip McNiel 1282687 Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:34 PM Author Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:34 PM Thanks! Who provides separation for aircraft at, say, 15,000 ft in IMC? Is that a unicom function? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Ogden Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:41 PM Posted January 5, 2017 at 09:41 PM Unless you are within approach range, there are no CTR positions so you would have to contact UNICOM. Andrew Ogden Gander Oceanic OCA Chief Vancouver FIR Senior Instructor Visit us: https://ganderoceanic.ca Contact: [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Zhong Posted January 5, 2017 at 10:12 PM Posted January 5, 2017 at 10:12 PM 1. Oceanic Clearances are a unique procedure of the North Atlantic. As far as I know, this is not used anywhere else (certainly not in the Pacific). 2. At least in the Australian FIRs, a Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] G service is provided below FL245. IFR aircraft should maintain two-way radio communication to receive this service. David Zhong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Ogden Posted January 6, 2017 at 02:56 AM Posted January 6, 2017 at 02:56 AM 1. Oceanic Clearances are a unique procedure of the North Atlantic. Not quite. They are used by KZAK_E coming out of Honolulu Airspace i think. Andrew Ogden Gander Oceanic OCA Chief Vancouver FIR Senior Instructor Visit us: https://ganderoceanic.ca Contact: [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Zhong Posted January 6, 2017 at 03:20 AM Posted January 6, 2017 at 03:20 AM I can't fathom why they would. We are now in the 21st century with electronically linked ATC systems, telephones and RNP separation. With the North Atlantic trialing CPDLC and ADS-C and the use of RNP separation, I can't imagine that they would retain this procedure for much longer either. David Zhong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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