LETTER OF AGREEMENT Between Highland and Islands NATS (En Route) plc, Airports Ltd, Scottish Area Control and Inverness (Prestwick) Airport British Gliding Association (BGA), Cairngorm Gliding Club Effective: 13th November 2014 1 GENERAL 1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Letter of Agreement (LoA) is to define procedures which will permit NATS (En Route) plc, Scottish (AC) Area Control (Prestwick), hereby referred to as Scottish AC (Prestwick) to allow Cairngorm Gliding Club, hereby referred to as CGC, glider traffic operating under the provisions of this LoA access to specified Class E Controlled Airspace known as the GUSSI Box. 2 AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF ATS - See Appendix A 2.1 Airways N560 and Y906 All areas are contained within the Scottish Flight Information Region (FIR) as defined in UK AIP ENR 3-1. 2.2 GUSSI Box Lateral limits: GUSSI to 15nm south of GUSSI bounded by the points 571230.912N 0040348.178W - 571206.686N 0035820.254W – 565716.604N 0040203.099W - 565740.828N 0040728.849W. Vertical Limits: From airway base to FL190 Airspace classification: Class E+TMZ SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Page 1 3 Delegation of the Responsibility for the Provision of ATS 3.1 Delegation of ATS from Scottish AC (Prestwick) to Inverness – See Appendix B When Inverness Radar is operational, the responsibility for the provision of ATS on Airways N560 and Y906 within the area described below is delegated from Scottish AC (Prestwick) to Inverness Radar. Lateral limits: 10NM north of INBAS to 10NM north-east of CHINN Vertical Limits: At and below FL130 Airspace classification: Class E+TMZ When Inverness Radar is not operational, the responsibility for the provision of ATS on the Advisory Routes reverts back to Scottish AC (Prestwick) as the controlling authority. 4 PROCEDURES The procedures to be applied by CGC and Scottish AC (Prestwick) are detailed in the Annexes to this Letter of Agreement: Annex A: Definitions and Abbreviations Annex B: Eligibility & Obligations Annex C: Activation and Operation of the Areas Annex D: Emergency Procedures Annex E: Records & Contact Details Annex F: Checklist of Pages 5 REVISIONS AND DEVIATIONS 5.1 Revisions to the Letter of Agreement The revision of the present Letter of Agreement, excluding Appendices and Annexes, requires the mutual consent of the signatory authorities. 5.2 Revision of the Appendices and Annexes to the Letter of Agreement The revision of Appendices and Annexes to the present Letter of Agreement requires the mutual consent of the authorities designated by the respective signatory approving authorities. 5.3 Temporary Deviations When necessary, the Scottish AC (Prestwick) Operations Supervisor may introduce, by mutual agreement and for a specified time period, temporary modifications to the procedures laid down in the Annexes to the present Letter of Agreement. 5.4 Incidental Deviations Instances may arise where deviations from the procedures specified in the Annexes to this Letter of Agreement may become necessary due to an incident such as an aircraft emergency. Under these circumstances where discussions prior to the decision being made would not be appropriate, air traffic controllers are expected to exercise their best judgement to ensure the safety and efficiency of air traffic. SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Page 2 6 REVIEW OF THE PROCEDURES A review of the LoA shall be carried 12 months after the effective date or when requested by any party. 7 PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the parties to this LoA are NATS (En Route) plc, Highlands & Islands Airports, Inverness Airport, Cairngorm Gliding Club, and the British Gliding Association (BGA) Airspace Committee. 8 INTERPRETATION AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES 8.1 Should any doubt, or diverging views arise regarding the interpretation of any provision of the present LoA, or in case of dispute regarding its application, the parties shall endeavour to reach a solution acceptable to all of them. 8.2 Should no agreement be reached or there is a request to cancel this LoA, each of the parties shall refer the dispute to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, for settlement. 9 FUTURE AIRSPACE DEVELOPMENT Nothing in this LoA shall compromise or hinder the possible development of ATC procedures adjacent to or within the airspace designated for glider activity, as shown on the chart at Appendix A, as deemed necessary by NATS (En Route) plc. 10 VALIDITY This Letter of Agreement becomes effective 13/11/14. Signed: Signed: A Muir Operations Director (Prestwick) NATS (En Route) plc Date: Signed: I Lyon Managing Director HIAL Date: J Williams BGA Airspace Committee for the British Gliding Association Date: SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Page 3 Appendix A Effective 13th November 2014 Revised 23rd July 2015 GUSSI Gliding Box SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Appendix A Revised 23/07/15 Page App A Appendix B Delegation of ATS from Scottish AC (Prestwick) to Inverness Radar Effective 13th November 2014 SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Appendix B Page App B Annex A Definitions and Abbreviations Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: A.1 Definitions A.1.1 ATS Unit Area of Responsibility An airspace of defined dimensions where a sole ATS Unit has responsibility for providing air traffic services. A.1.2 Area of Common Interest A volume of airspace as agreed between 2 ATS Units, extending into the adjacent Areas of Responsibility (AoR), within which the airspace structure and related activities may have an impact on air traffic co-ordination procedures. A.2 Abbreviations ACI AIP AoR ATC ATS BGA CAS CGC COP ENR DTS FIR GAT HIAL IFR INS LOA NM OAT PC OS RTF Scottish AC (Prestwick) SSR TMZ VFR Area of Common Interest Aeronautical Information Publication Area of Responsibility Air Traffic Control Air Traffic Services British Gliding Association Controlled Air Space Cairngorms Gliding Club Co-ordination Point En-Route Desk Technical Specialist Flight Information Region General Air Traffic Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Instrument flight Rules Inverness VOR Letter of Agreement Nautical Mile Operational Air Traffic Scottish AC (Prestwick) Operations Supervisor Radio Telephony Scottish Area control (Prestwick) Secondary Surveillance Radar Transponder Mandatory Zone Visual Flight Rules SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex A Page A1 Annex B Eligibility & Obligations Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: B.1 B.1.1 B.1.2 B.2 B.2.1 B.2.2 B.2.3 GENERAL Pilots using the procedures in this LoA are to be members or affiliated members of the BGA operating from the CGC site at Feshiebridge. Failure of a party or individual to comply with the conditions specified in the LoA may result in the withdrawal of the privileges of the LoA from that party or individual. PILOT BRIEFING The CGC shall undertake to ensure that pilots using these procedures are adequately briefed, qualified to Bronze C with a Cross Country endorsement or hold SPL/LAPL(S) as a minimum and appropriately equipped to comply with the LoA. This briefing should be given within the six-month period preceding the pilot’s use of the procedures. In particular, the CFI CGC shall, on behalf of the BGA, ensure that pilots using the provisions of this LoA are suitably trained and equipped to ensure that their navigation performance allows them to remain within the defined airspace (GUSSI Box) detailed at Para 2 of this LoA. Pilots are responsible for ensuring that they have been briefed and have suitable training, qualifications and equipment as detailed in this Annex before they make use of the provisions of this LoA. B.3 B.3.1 B.3.2 B.3.3 RADIO TELEPHONY/ TRANSPONDER EQUIPMENT Pilots intending to operate in the GUSSI Box or within N560 must hold a valid Radio Telephony (RTF) operators licence and the glider must be equipped with radio equipment which is capable of continuous RTF reception and transmission with CGC at Feshiebridge on frequency 130.1MHz. Gliders utilising the GUSSI Box shall be equipped with a functioning moving map facility. Pilots intending to operate in the activated GUSSI Box are not required to be transponder equipped or be in R/T communication with PC Westcoast sector. SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex B Page B1 Annex C Activation and Operation of the Area Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: C.1 C.1.1 C.2 C.2.1 C.2.2 C.2.3 C.2.4 C.2.5 GENERAL An area within N560 (LoA Appendix A) between GUSSI and 15nm south of GUSSI, from the eastern edge until 3nm within the airway, is established as the GUSSI Box for use by gliders operating from the CGC. The upper limit is FL190. ACTIVATION The GUSSI Box may be activated on Saturday and Sundays between sunrise and sunset. Sunrise and sunset times to be determined by the PC OS in accordance with times designated for Scatsta as stated in the UK AIP, GEN 2.7. During activation the classification of controlled airspace remains Class E+TMZ. If weather conditions are such that gliders from CGC wish to access the GUSSI Box, the CGC shall contact the PC OS to request activation. Once approved, the box shall remain active until notified by the CGC that the last glider has vacated the box. Approval may not be granted when any of the following activities are notified to take place within the GUSSI area or which may restrict PC sector operations: • Royal Flights, • Non-Deviating status flights, • Any unusual activity as determined by the OS, • Air to Air Refuelling operations within Area 1 where the refuelling block is below FL210, • Aircraft emergencies. The reason for refusal should be passed to the CGC pilot and recorded in the ATC log. PC OS shall notify Inverness ATC, Swanwick (Mil) and the appropriate PC Sectors of activation of the GUSSI Box. CGC shall advise the PC OS when the Box has been vacated by CGC gliders and flying within the area is complete. The PC OS shall inform Inverness ATC, Swanwick (Mil) and the appropriate PC Sectors. C.3 C.3.1 C.3.2 OPERATION OF THE GUSSI BOX IFR aircraft are not restricted from entering the GUSSI Box but should not be encouraged to do so. Controllers are not required to provide navigational assistance to pilots to avoid the GUSSI Box unless requested. The GUSSI Box is promulgated in the UK AIP. SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex C Page C1 C.3.3 C.3.4 C.3.5 Whilst the GUSSI Box is activated IFR aircraft shall not be permitted to hold at GUSSI. PC Sector controllers or Inverness ATC, as appropriate during ATS delegation, shall provide traffic information to IFR airspace users which are operating as GAT within N560 adjacent to the activated GUSSI Box. The CAA has determined that such information to pilots and the VFR usage of the Box mitigates the requirement for application of the CAA Safety Buffer Policy. Traffic information may be passed to VFR aircraft receiving an ATS and operating in the vicinity of the GUSSI box. Glider pilots operating within the area are responsible for maintaining safe distances from other gliders and aircraft operating in Class E airspace. SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex C Page C2 Annex D Emergency Procedures Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: D.1 RADIO FAILURE D.1.1 Pilots who experience actual or suspected Radio Failure shall not enter the area. D.1.2 Pilots operating within the areas who experience actual or suspected Radio Failure shall ensure that they vacate the box at the earliest opportunity. D.2 D.2.1 EMERGENCIES In emergency situations, PC OS may contact the CGC to request that the area be vacated by all gliders. In such circumstances CGC shall notify PC OS once the area is vacated by CGC gliders. SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex D Page D1 Annex E Records and Contact Details Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: E.1 E.1.1 E.1.2 RECORDS PC OS, Inverness ATC and the CGC will keep records of the activations requested, granted or refused to provide the means for statistical analysis of crossing area operations. The CFI CGC shall keep relevant records of all pilots briefed and authorised to use these procedures, in particular the name and date of briefing. E.2 CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS Name Scottish AC (Prestwick) Operations Supervisor Number 01294 65 5300 Scottish AC (Prestwick) Ops Sup Alternative 01294 65 5301 CFI, CGC 07854 413 136 Cairngorm Gliding Clubhouse (Radio) Cairngorm Gliding Launch Point Inverness Radar 01540 651 317 07847 214 551 01667 464305 Inverness Tower 01667 464293 SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex E Page E1 Annex F Checklist of Pages Effective: 13th November 2014 Revised: 23rd July 2015 SECTION LoA App A App B Annex A Annex B Annex C Annex D Annex E Annex F EFFECTIVE DATE 13/11/2014 23/07/2015 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 13/11/2014 SAC (Prestwick)/Inverness/CGC/BGA LoA 13/11/14 Annex F Revised 23/07/15 Page F1