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Offshore Guide

Offshore Guide

Introduction

General

Cruising Altitudes

Civil helicopters operating to and from off-shore installations in the North Sea where air traffic services are provided by Norway, will outside controlled airspace be operating at following altitudes, based on area/forecast QNH minimum.

Magnetic track Altitude
000 ̊ - 179 ̊ 3000FT
180 ̊ - 359 ̊ 2000FT
From ENKB to offshore destinations EVEN altitudes/Levels. To ENKB from offshore departure ODD altitudes/Levels.

Helicopter Routes

Helicopter Routes (HR) are established in that part of the North Sea and Norwegian Sea where Norway is responsible for providing ATS (REF AIP Norway GEN 3.3).

A HR is an ATS-route frequently used by civil helicopters, along which control and flight information service may be provided. They can be directional or bi-directional.

Civil helicopters are normally operating within 4 NM either side of the HR from 1000 FT AMSL to FL 80.

The HR (KY tracks) shall be utilizied outside surveillance coverage. Within surveillance-coverage, flights may be routed on direct track by ATS.

Map of Helicopter Routes in South-Norway

Cruising below a CTA

Flights planned at 1000 FT shall follow a HR. If the flight is planning to follow a bidirectional HR (e.g KY916), this procedure shall be used:

Magnetic track Altitude
360 ̊ - 179 ̊ 1000FT
180 ̊ - 359 ̊ 2000FT or above*
*If the flight will be provided with surveillance service, and there is no conflicting opposite traffic on the HR, 1000FT might be requested. If there is conflicting traffic at 1000FT, the flight has to be conducted within the CTA.

Altimeter setting

Within Polaris FIR south of 66.20 ̊N, altimeter setting at 7000 FT or lower is based on actual area QNH.

  • ATS will provide QNH for the QNH Areas.
  • A change to a new QNH shall be carried out when instructed by ATS.
  • Transition Level for a CTA will be determined based on the lowest observed area QNH inside the CTA.
  • Transiton Altitude is 7000FT

QNH Areas

Within Polaris FIR north of 66.20 ̊N, altimeter setting is based on Forecasted Minimum QNH within Altimeter Setting Regions (ASR) Bjornoya.

  • An estimate of the lowest QNH value for a longer period will be made for the Altimeter Setting Region and is available from ATS provider or MET office.

QNH Areas and ASR (Altimeter Setting Regions)

For flights at 1000 FT or lower, radar altimeter shall be used.

ADS areas

ADS areas are defined areas of Class G airspace, either below a CTA (MSL – 1500 FT), or a specific area (MSL – FL 085) between the main land bases and the main oilfields where radar- and/or ADS-based ATS is provided to ADS equipped helicopters.

Communication

Air Traffic Service

Air traffic service provided for helicopter operations on the Norwegian continental shelf:

Southern Norway

Area Service Provided by
Statfjord CTA Air Traffic Control Polaris ACC Stavanger
Balder CTA
Ekofisk CTA
Statfjord ADS Flight Information
Balder ADS
Balder ADS
Tampen HTZ Tampen HFIS
Ekofisk HTZ Ekofisk HFIS
HTZ Polaris ACC Stavanger

Middle and Northern Norway

Area Service Provided by
Heidrun CTA Air Traffic Control Polaris ACC Bodø
Heidrun ADS Flight Information
Norne ADS
Barents Sea
HTZ

Radio communication

On-deck report

After landing on an installation, pilots shall deliver an on-deck report to the appropriate ATS unit, and shall contain:

  1. Callsign
  2. Name on the installation
  3. Actual time of arrival (ATA)
  4. Additional information if required (e.g. refueling, shut down)

NOR123 on deck, Gullfaks C, 1450

Pre-lift-off report

Prior to lift-off from any installation, pilots shall deliver a pre-lift-off report to the appropriate ATS unit, and shall contain:

  1. Callsign
  2. Location
  3. Intended route
  4. Intended altitude or level

The appropriate ATS unit shall provide traffic information before lift-off is initiated.

NOR123 ready for lift, Gullfaks C, flight planned route to Flesland, 3000ft.

NOR123, ready for lift, Gullfaks C to Martin Linge via NEBAV direct NASET, 2000ft.

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