Chapter 8. NAS En Route Automation

Section 1. General

8-1-1. TRANSITION PROCEDURES

a. Facilities must develop and maintain current detailed procedures for transition to and from the various automated and nonautomated modes of operation.

b. The transition plans must include as a minimum:

1. Transition decision authority; i.e., the individual responsible for making the transition decision.

2. Specific transition procedures.

3. Detailed checklists specifying the duties and the responsibilities for the OMIC, STMCIC, FLM, Radar Position (R), and other appropriate positions. The checklist must include, as a minimum, the following information/procedures:

(a) Transition decision authority.

(b) Coordination/notification procedures (intra- and interfacility).

(c) Specific duties/responsibilities (including detection and resolution of potential conflicts).

NOTE-
Whenever possible, coordination/notification procedures and duties/responsibilities should be listed in the order in which they are to be accomplished.

c. The air traffic manager must not cause or permit the operational use of the Direct Access Radar Channel (DARC) solely for purposes of training when the primary operational system is available.

8-1-2. ALTRV FLIGHT DATA PROCESSING

a. Facilities must process ALTRV flight plans as follows:

1. Classified ALTRV data, stationary and/or flight plan information, must not be entered into the computer, processed, stored, or transmitted by the computer unless specific declassification data is provided; for example, "declassified for NOTAM/computer flight plan processing 24 hours in advance." In the absence of declassified data, process this information manually and pass to only those personnel with a need to know. All data must be marked with the appropriate level of security classification, collected when notification to all applicable parties is completed, and destroyed according to security guidelines.

NOTE-
The use of a mission plan message is not authorized for processing classified ALTRV flight plans.

2. The military operations specialist at the departure ARTCC or where the ALTRV begins must ensure that unclassified ALTRV missions are entered into the NAS computer to destination or to ALTRV end point.

NOTE-
Base operations within Anchorage ARTCC's jurisdiction may enter ALTRV flight plans into the NAS computer.

3. All flight plans for military aircraft (including ALTRVs) to or through the Anchorage FIRs must be given normal addressing plus PAZAZQZX and PAZNZQZX.

4. Unclassified ALTRV flight plans that have a block altitude change must be entered to the destination airport or ALTRV end point. An "XXX" must be entered into the route of flight immediately after each fix where a block altitude change is to occur to prevent the production of flight progress strips containing erroneous altitude information. The air traffic specialist working the area where the "XXX" has been entered must change the mission block altitude to what was previously coordinated and remove the "XXX" so that the correct block altitude will be processed to subsequent facilities.

5. Flight Plan Entries for MARSA and ALTRV

(a) For domestic flight plans (not leaving U.S. domestic airspace), include "MARSA" and/or "ALTRV" in Field 11.

(b) For international flight plans, include the word(s) "MARSA" and/or "ALTRV" in Reasons for Special Handling (STS/). Do not include additional/supplemental information in STS/. Include any additional/supplemental information in Remarks (RMK/).

EXAMPLES-
STS/ALTRV
STS/MARSA RMK/AR20HFAKER1233 IR101E1802X1845 MARSA BAKER23

b. The facility officer who has been designated military liaison and security duties is responsible for the development and implementation of methods for assuring the accuracy and the completeness of ALTRV flight plan and control information.

c. Estimates and revisions of ALTRV flight plans not processed online must be forwarded via the Aeronautical Information System from facility to facility.

8-1-3. COMPUTER DATA RETENTION

a. Retain SAR/CDR computer and DLOG (if recorded) recordings and data communications/console typewriter printouts for 15 days unless they are related to an accident/incident as defined in FAAO 8020.11, Aircraft Accident and Incident Notification, Investigation, and Reporting. Retention of the latter must be in accordance with FAAO 1350.15, Records, Organization, Transfer, and Destruction Standards, Chapter 14, subparas 8020(1), (a), (b), (c), (d), and (exception).

b. If a request is received to retain computer data following an accident, the printout of the relative data will suffice, and the recording tape/disc may then be returned to service through the normal rotational cycle. The printout data are considered a permanent record and must be retained in accordance with aircraft accident/incident retention requirements. Reduction of the SAR/CDR and DLOG (if recorded) tapes/discs to hard-copy format must be made at the earliest time convenient to the facility involved without derogating the ATC function and without prematurely taking the computer out of ATC service. Do not make these data and printouts a part of the accident/incident package.

c. If a request is received to retain a specific data recording and the data are available and contained on tape, the tape must be retained in its entirety. If the data are contained on disc, the facility may transfer all pertinent data to magnetic tape and label the tape a Duplicate Original. After successful transfer, the disc pack may be returned to service through the normal rotational cycle. However, if a specific request is received to retain the disc, the disc pack must be retained in its entirety.

d. Treat SAR/CDR and DLOG (if recorded) tapes/discs/duplicate and/or originals and data communications/console typewriter printouts related to hijack aircraft the same as voice recorder tapes. (See para 3-4-4, Handling Recorder Tapes or DATs.)