Submit flight plans as far in advance of departure as possible, for flights departing from points in other regions and entering the NAT Region without intermediate stops.
APPROVED FLIGHTS
In order to signify that a flight is approved to operate in NAT MNPS Airspace the letter ‘X’ shall be inserted, in addition to the letter ‘S’, within item 10 of the flight plan. If the flight is approved to operate at RVSM levels, include a ‘W’ in item 10.
MACH NUMBER AND SPEED
For turbojet aircraft the Mach number should be specified in item 15 of the flight plan. Item 15 of the flight plan should reflect the proposed speeds in the following sequence:
1. Cruising True Airspeed (TAS)
2. Oceanic entry point and cruising Mach number 3. Oceanic landfall and cruising TAS
FLIGHTS PLANNING ON THE ORGANISED TRACK SYSTEM
If planning the flight to operate along the entire length of one of the organised tracks, the intended track is used in item 15 of the flight plan using the abbreviation 'NAT' followed by the code letter assigned to the track. If it is planned to use part of, or leave, an organised track at some intermediate point, consider this a random route aircraft. Specify full route details in the flight plan and the track letter must not be used to abbreviate any portion of the route in these circumstances.
The planned Mach number and flight level for the organised track should be specified at the last domestic reporting point prior to oceanic airspace entry or the organised track commencement point. Geographical co-ordinates in latitude and longitude or as a named waypoint must specify
Flight Planning for NAT Routes Chapter 13
Operational Procedures 13-3
FLIGHTS PLANNING ON RANDOM ROUTE SEGMENTS AT/OR SOUTH OF 70°N
The requested Mach number and flight level should be specified at either the last domestic reporting point prior to oceanic airspace entry or the OCA boundary. The route of flight should be specified in terms of the following significant points, with estimates included in item 18 of the flight plan:
¾ The last domestic reporting point prior to the oceanic entry point;
¾ The OCA boundary entry point (only required by the Shanwick, New York and Santa Maria OACs);
¾ Significant points formed by the intersection of half or whole degrees of latitude, with meridians spaced at intervals of ten degrees of longitude from the Zero degree E/W (Greenwich) Meridian to longitude 70°W;
¾ The OCA boundary exit point (only required by the Shanwick, New York and Santa Maria OACs); and
¾ The first domestic reporting point after ocean exit.
Each point at which a change of Mach number or flight level is requested must be specified and followed in each case by the next significant point.
FLIGHTS PLANNING ON A GENERALLY EASTBOUND OR WESTBOUND DIRECTION ON RANDOM ROUTE SEGMENTS NORTH OF 70°N
Flight planning requirements are identical to those listed for flights on random route segments at/or south of 70°N except that the route should be specified at 20° longitude intervals at whole degrees of latitude to 60°W.
FLIGHTS PLANNING ON RANDOM ROUTES IN A GENERALLY NORTHBOUND OR SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION
Flight planning requirements for flights are identical to those listed for flights operating on random route segments at/or south of 70°N except that the route should be specified in terms of whole degrees of longitude with specified parallels of latitude which are spaced at 5° intervals from 20°N to 90°N.
FLIGHTS PLANNING ON THE POLAR TRACK STRUCTURE (PTS)
If the flight is planned to operate along the whole length of one of the Polar tracks, the intended track should be defined in item 15 of the flight plan using the abbreviation 'PTS' followed by the track code. Flights wishing to join or leave a polar track at some intermediate point are considered as following a random route and full track details must be specified in the flight plan. The track code must not be used to abbreviate any portion of the route in these circumstances. Estimated times over significant points must be specified in item 18 of the flight plan. The requested Mach number and flight level should be specified at the commencement point of the PTS or at the NAT Oceanic boundary. Each point at which a Mach number or flight level change is planned must be specified as geographical co-ordinates in latitude and longitude followed in each case by the abbreviation 'PTS' and the track code.
FLIGHTS PLANNING TO OPERATE WITHOUT HF COMMUNICATIONS
The carriage of HF communications is mandatory for flight in the Shanwick OCA. Aircraft with only functioning VHF communications equipment should plan their route outside the Shanwick OCA and ensure that they remain within VHF coverage of appropriate ground stations throughout the flight.
Operational Procedures 14-1
GENERAL
Oceanic Clearances are required for all flights within the NAT Airspace at or above FL55. Pilots should request Oceanic Clearances from the ATC unit responsible for the first OCA within which they wish to fly. The clearances are applicable only from the entry point. Pilots should request their Oceanic Clearance at least 40 minutes prior to the Oceanic entry point ETA and should include the next preferred alternative if requesting an OTS track.