SERA.6001 Classification of airspaces

GENERAL Where ATS airspaces adjoin vertically, i.e. one above the other, flights at a common level should comply with the requirements of, and be given services applicable to, the less restrictive class of airspace.

GENERAL

(a)Class B airspace is considered less restrictive than Class A airspace; Class C airspace less restrictive than Class B airspace, etc.

(b)The speed limitation of 250 kt for VFR flights in airspace Classes C, D, E, F, G and for IFR flights in airspace Classes D, E, F, G is intended to facilitate visual acquisition of flights which are not separated.

(c)Wherever there is a need to accommodate within a given airspace class operations compatible with a less restrictive class, the following may be used:

(1)reclassification of the airspace concerned;

(2)redesigning the volume of airspace concerned by defining airspace restrictions or reservations, or subvolumes of less restrictive classes of airspace (e.g. corridors).

SPEED LIMITATION — SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY Approval by the competent authority of an alleviation of the 250 kt speed limitation below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) should be based on a safety assessment. The conditions for granting such alleviation should be specified in the Member State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

SPEED LIMITATION — SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

(a)The following should, as a minimum, be considered when developing the safety assessment:

(1)air traffic, airspace classes requirements, and airspace design, the procedures designed for the airspace, and the potential use of clearances to maintain own separation as described in GM1 to SERA.8005(b);

(2)the minimum safe speed stated in the approved Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) of the relevant aircraft types.

(b)The safety assessment should be developed in coordination with the relevant airspace users.

(c)Coordination should be ensured with the affected airspace users who should provide the data necessary for the development of the safety assessment.

(d)The competent authority should ensure that the aircraft types eligible for such alleviation are specified in the Member State Aeronautical Information Publication.

SPEED LIMITATION — SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

(a)For localised alleviations from the speed limitation, the safety assessment is normally conducted by the ATS provider and is subject to approval by the competent authority.

(b)Where alleviation is applied universally across the airspace of the Member State, the competent authority should ensure that appropriate safety assessment has been conducted.

OPERATIONS IN CLASS F AIRSPACE

(a)Aircraft using the air traffic advisory service IFR flights electing to use or required by the competent authority on the basis of regional air navigation agreements to use the air traffic advisory service when operating within Class F airspace should comply with the same procedures as those applying to controlled flights except that:

(1)the flight plan and changes thereto are not subjected to a clearance, since the unit furnishing air traffic advisory service will only provide advice on the presence of essential traffic or suggestions a possible course of action;

(2)it is for the aircraft to decide whether or not it will comply with the advice or suggestion received and to inform the unit providing air traffic advisory service, without delay, of its decision;

(3)air–ground contacts should be made with the air traffic services unit designated to provide air traffic advisory service within the advisory airspace or portion thereof.

(b)Aircraft not using the air traffic advisory service

(1)Aircraft wishing to conduct IFR flights within advisory airspace, but not electing to use the air traffic advisory service, should nevertheless submit a flight plan, and notify changes made thereto to the unit providing that service.

(2)IFR flights intending to cross an advisory route should do so as nearly as possible at an angle of 90 degrees to the direction of the route and at a level, appropriate to its track, selected from the tables of cruising levels prescribed for use by IFR flights operating outside controlled airspace.

AIR TRAFFIC ADVISORY SERVICE The objective of the air traffic advisory service is to make information on collision hazards more effective than it would be in the mere provision of flight information service (FIS). It may be provided to aircraft conducting IFR flights in advisory airspace or on advisory routes (Class F airspace). Such areas or routes will be specified by the Member State concerned.

FLIGHT PLAN CHANGES IN CLASS F AIRSPACE It is assumed that a pilot will not effect a change in the current flight plan until they have notified the intended change to the appropriate air traffic services unit and, if practicable, have received acknowledgement or relevant advice.

CLEARANCES TO FLIGHTS THAT OPERATE PARTIALLY IN CLASS F AIRSPACE When a flight operates or is about to operate in a control area to continue eventually into an advisory area or along an advisory route, a clearance may be issued for the whole route, but the clearance as such, or revisions to it, applies only to those portions of the flight that are conducted within control areas and control zones. Advice or suggestions will be provided as necessary for the remaining portion(s) of the route.

GENERAL Class F airspace should only be implemented where the air traffic services are inadequate for the provision of air traffic control, and the limited advice on collision hazards otherwise provided by flight information service will not be adequate. Where air traffic advisory service is implemented, this should be considered as a temporary measure only until such time as it can be replaced by air traffic control service or, in cases where the traffic situation changes such that advisory service is no longer required, replaced by flight information service.

DURATION OF TEMPORARY MEASURE

(a)When establishing Class F airspace, its intended temporary duration after which it should be replaced by an alternative classification should be specified in the AIP of the Member State.

(b)The intended temporary duration of Class F airspace should not be longer than 3 years.

EXAMPLE

(c)Certain CTR airspace may change its classification on a daily basis (e.g. from 06:00 to 20:00 the airspace is classified as Class A, and from 20:00 until 23:59 and from 00:00 until 05:59 is classified as Class F). In this case, the duration of these arrangements should not exceed 3 years.