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RNAV to RNP

Following on from ICAO Circular 353 UK NATS has issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) Y 140/2019 which outline the plan for the transition of the naming of instrument approaches from ‘RNAV’ to ‘RNP’ – so what’s it all that about then?

Well according to the ICAO Performance Based Navigation (PBN) definition:
“Area navigation based on performance requirements for aircraft operating along an ATS route, on an instrument approach procedure or in a designated airspace.”
and within the construct of PBN lies ‘Navigation Specification’.
‘Navigation Specification’ can either be aRea NAVigation (RNAV) or Required Navigation Performance (RNP) – What’s the difference?

RNP has onboard performance monitoring and alerting and RNAV does not. So what has been traditionally called RNAV approaches are in fact RNP approaches.

This transition is all about changing the name on the plates that NATS produces in the UK eAIP and of course what they are called on the radio. CAA has issued CAP 413 Supplementary Instruction 02/2020 for the RTF.

What more info? why not Pass Your Message! and we’ll explain.

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Radiotelephony Manual CAP 413 Updated

After the recent publication of Edition 23 of the UK CAA’s CAP 413 on 9th April 2020 (effective from 8th June 2020) the UK CAA has published Edition 23 Corr (sic). We’re not sure what Corr actually means, perhaps Correction or Corrigendum either way CAP 413 Edition 23 Corr was published on 8th June 2020 (effective from 17th August 2020).

So what is the difference between Edition 23 and Edition 23 Corr and indeed Edition 22?

Very helpfully UK CAA have added a list of the revisions between Edition 22 and Edition 23 on Page 1 of Edition 23 Corr (if you take your page numbering from the document itself) or Page 21 of 365 (if, like we do, you open the pdf version in a document reader). They have also underlined in red the amended text throughout the document.

  1. Definitions and Glossary previously in Edition 23 on Page 29 of 368 has been removed and added to CAP 1430 – UK Air Traffic Management Vocabulary although at the time of writing (10th June 2020) the current version of CAP 1430 on the CAA website was Version 2 effective 12th October 2017 so expect a new version…
  2. Military Callsigns updated paragraphs 2.39 to 2.47 inclusive (Page 49 of 365)
  3. Aerodrome Phraseology for Helicopters vocabulary boxes updated to reflect callsign placement for rotary wing aircraft i.e. the surface wind now preceding the clearance. In fact this has been done throughout the document but to quote the document “The intention is to show that while there is a preferred order of delivery, there are circumstances under which it may be prudent to deliver the phraseology in another order, for example to emphasise a particular issue i.e an aircraft needing an immediate clearance or it will need to go-around. For that reason, some examples of these differing phraseologies are retained in the manual. These can be found at paragraphs: 4.47; 4.52 and in the table at paragraph 4.84 – Helicopter Operations”
  4. Emergency Phraseology : The placement of the callsign in the minimum fuel transmission has been changed to reflect the requirements of EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) 2018 – 08. i.e. callsign was placed after the words MINIMUM FUEL and it is now afterwards e.g. “G-ABCD MINIMUM FUEL”
  5. Military Specific Phraseology has had a complete administrative re-write

Happy Reading!

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UK CAA PPL TK exams are changing!

The conduct of the UK PPL Theoretical Knowledge (TK) exams is currently by Ground Examiners who hold paper copies of all the PPL examinations. A pass in each subject is recorded by the DTO/ATO and entered on to the PPL application form and signed by the Ground Examiner.

The UK CAA are in the process of rolling out a new E-Exam system where the applicant and DTO/ATO will be provided with a login each which will be used to conduct the exams on line digitally. The results then being held by UK CAA. This is similar to the system currently in use for ATPL, CPL and IR TK exams.

The implementation is planned for the first half of 2020 and UK CAA is currently busy communicating this to ATOs/DTOs by means of a roadshow.

What this space!

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UK CAA looking for RT senior examiners

Following an in-depth review of the Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) examination system and the training, testing and oversight of RT examiners, a new system will be introduced.

Senior RT Examiners
The CAA will appoint, train and authorise a small number of examiners who together will form a new panel of senior RT examiners. The panel, on behalf of the CAA, will set and maintain RT standards, and will provide ongoing oversight of the training and testing of RT examiners.

The CAA would like to invite expressions of interest from those individuals who may wish to consider the role of senior sxaminer (RT).

Successful applicants will be invited to interview and will meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a current RT examiner certificate with at least 6 years’ experience
  • Have conducted a minimum 60 RT practical tests
  • Hold or have held either a CPL(A), a CPL(H) or an ATCO licence.
  • Hold or have held flight instructor and examiner privileges

Please send a brief email outlining relevant experience and contact details to examiners@caa.co.uk with the subject title ‘Senior Examiner (RT)’

All applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be contacted by the CAA chief RT examiner who will give an overview of the planned changes.

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UK CAA Squawk a Change to RFT Phraseology

UK CAA published Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) Yellow 128/2019. This AIC announces changes, effective from 27th February 2020, to RTF phraseology and conspicuity codes relating to transponder code procedures.
Conspicuity Codes
The code of 7000 has, to date, been called the conspicuity code and is selected on the transponder when operating within United Kingdom airspace and have not received a specific instruction from ATS concerning the setting of the transponder. 
The Enroute section of the Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) ENR 1.6 now defines two different types of conspicuity code:
7000 – VFR conspicuity code: when operating within United Kingdom airspace in accordance with VFR and have not received a specific instruction from ATS concerning the setting of the transponder. 
2000 – IFR conspicuity code: when operating within United Kingdom airspace in accordance with IFR and have not received a specific instruction from ATS concerning the setting of the transponder.
The choice of whether to select VFR conspicuity or IFR conspicuity is based on the flight rules being followed by the pilot not the meteorological conditions encountered. 
Phraseology Changes
When changing from a previously issued discrete code to a conspicuity code the phraseology: 

ATSU: “G-ABCD, squawk 7000”
Pilot: “Squawk conspicuity, G-ABCD” 

CAP 413 will change to:

ATSU: “G-ABCD, squawk conspicuity”
Pilot: “Squawk conspicuity, G-ABCD” 

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Night Rating Completion Time FCL.810

Amendment (EU) 2019/1747 to Commission Regulation (EU) 1178/2011, has been published, which will come into force on 11 November 2019.
The Night Rating (FCL.810) has been amended:‘Applicants shall have completed a training course within a period of up to 6 months’
The 6 months starts from the first training flight.
Courses operated after 11 November 2019, to reflect this amendment and ensure this time scale is met for all applicants.
Courses started before 11 November 2019 and completed in more than 6 months, candidates must ensure that the CAA receives their application by 31 March 2020.