Section 10. North American ICAO Region

  1. APPLICATION

Provide air traffic control services in the North American ICAO Region with the procedures and minima contained in this section.

  1. VERTICAL SEPARATION

Provide vertical separation in accordance with:

  1. Chapter 4, IFR, Section 5, Altitude Assignment and Verification; and
  2. Facility directives depicting the transition between flight levels and metric altitudes.
  1. LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION

In accordance with Chapter 8, Offshore/Oceanic Procedures, Section 3, Longitudinal Separation, apply the following:

  1. Minima based on time:
  1. 15 minutes between turbojet aircraft.
  2. The prescribed minima in accordance with paragraph 8-3-3, Mach Number Technique.
  3. 20 minutes between other aircraft.
  1. Clear an aircraft for an ADS-B In Trail Procedure (ITP) climb or descent provided the following conditions are satisfied:
  1. The ITP climb or descent has been requested by the pilot;
  2. The aircraft identification of each reference aircraft in the ITP request exactly matches the Item 7 - aircraft identification of the corresponding aircraft's filed flight plan;
  3. The reported ITP distance between the ITP aircraft and any reference aircraft is 15 NM or more;
  4. Both the ITP aircraft and reference aircraft are either on:
  1. same identical tracks and any turn at a waypoint shall be limited to less than 45 degrees; or
  2. same tracks with no turns permitted that reduce required separation during the ITP.

NOTE-

Same identical tracks are where the angular difference is zero degrees.

  1. No speed or route change clearance shall be issued to the ITP aircraft until the ITP climb or descent is completed;
  2. The altitude difference between the ITP aircraft and any reference aircraft shall be 2000 ft or less;
  3. No instruction to amend speed, altitude or route shall be issued to any reference aircraft until the ITP climb or descent is completed;
  4. The maximum closing speed between the ITP aircraft and each reference aircraft shall be Mach 0.06; and
  5. The ITP aircraft shall not be a reference aircraft in another ITP clearance.

NOTE-

ATOP is designed to check for the above criteria prior to allowing the minima to be provided.

  1. Minima based on distance using Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract (ADS-C) in the Anchorage Oceanic and Anchorage Continental CTAs only:

NOTE-

The minima described in this paragraph are not applicable within airspace in the Anchorage Arctic CTA.

  1. Apply the minima as specified in TBL 8-10-1 between aircraft on the same track within airspace in the Anchorage Oceanic and Anchorage Continental CTAs designated for Required Navigation Performance (RNP), provided:
  1. Direct controller/pilot communication via voice or Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) is established, and
  2. The required ADS-C periodic reports are maintained and monitored by an automated flight data processor (for example, ATOP).

TBL 8-10-1

ADS-C Criteria

Minima

Standard

RNP

RCP

RSP

Maximum ADS-C Periodic Reporting Interval

50 NM

10

240

180

27 minutes

50 NM

4

240

180

32 minutes

30 NM

4

240

180

10 minutes

  1. Aircraft on reciprocal tracks in the Anchorage Oceanic and Anchorage Continental CTAs may be cleared to climb or descend to or through the altitude(s) occupied by another aircraft provided:
  1. An ADS-C position report on at least one of the aircraft has been received beyond the passing point, and
  2. The aircraft have passed each other by the applicable separation minimum.

NOTE-

ATOP has been designed to check for the above criteria prior to allowing the minima to be provided.

  1. When an ADS-C periodic or waypoint change event report is overdue by 3 minutes, the controller must take action to obtain an ADS-C report.
  2. If no report is received within 6 minutes of the time the original report was due, the controller must take action to apply another form of separation.
  3. Aircraft on the same track may be cleared to climb or descend through the level of another aircraft provided:
  1. The longitudinal distance between the aircraft is determined from near simultaneous ADS-C demand reports and the ATOP software is used to ensure the following conditions are met;
  2. The longitudinal distance between the aircraft, as determined in a) above, is not less than:
  1. 15 NM when the preceding aircraft is at the same speed or faster than the following aircraft; or
  2. 25 NM when the following aircraft is not more than Mach 0.02 faster than the preceding aircraft.
  1. The altitude difference between aircraft is not more than 2000 ft;
  2. The clearance is for a climb or descent of 4000 ft or less;
  3. Both aircraft are filed as single flights not flying in formation with other aircraft;
  4. Both aircraft are in level flight at a single altitude;
  5. Both aircraft are same direction;
  6. Neither aircraft are on a weather deviation;
  7. Neither aircraft have an open CPDLC request for a weather deviation;
  8. Neither aircraft are on an offset with a rejoin clearance; and
  9. The clearance is issued with a restriction that ensures vertical separation is re-established within 15 minutes from the first demand report request.
  1. Minima based on DME/RNAV:
    Apply the following DME/RNAV minima in Control 1234H, Control 1487H, and the Norton Sound High Control areas to turbojet aircraft established on or transitioning to the North Pacific (NOPAC) Route System.
  1. 30 NM between aircraft when DME reports or radar observations are used to establish the distance, otherwise at least 40 NM based on RNAV must be applied; and
  2. Unless both aircraft are radar identified, both aircraft must provide DME/RNAV distance reports via direct voice that indicates the appropriate separation exists; and
  3. Application of DME/RNAV separation without direct voice communications may not continue for more than 90 minutes; and
  4. The preceding aircraft is assigned the same or greater Mach number than the following aircraft; and
  5. Both aircraft must be advised of the other aircraft involved, including the distance relative to the flights.

EXAMPLE-

“Maintain Mach point eight four, same direction traffic, twelve o'clock, three five miles.”

REFERENCE-

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-21, Traffic Advisories.

  1. LATERAL SEPARATION

In accordance with Chapter 8, Offshore/Oceanic Procedures, Section 4, Lateral Separation, apply the following:

  1. Within areas where Required Navigation Performance separation and procedures are authorized, apply 50 NM to RNP 4 or RNP 10 approved aircraft.
  2. Apply 23 NM to approved aircraft (at a minimum, RNP 4, RCP 240, and RSP 180) operating within the Anchorage Oceanic CTA and Anchorage Continental CTA when direct controller/pilot communications via voice or Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and the required ADS-C contracts are maintained and monitored by an automated flight data processor (e.g., ATOP).

NOTE-

The minimum described in subparagraph b is not applicable within airspace in the Anchorage Arctic CTA.

  1. 90 NM to aircraft not covered by subparagraphs a or b.