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East Sector

The East sector overlies the Faroe Islands, and contains a small portion of the Icelandic Domestic Area.

It is bordered by Scottish FIR (EGPX), Stavanger ACC (ENSV) of Polaris FIR, and Bodo OFIR (Oceanic FIR). It also shares a small border (on the Westernmost side of the RATSU Triangle) with Shanwick OCA (EGGX).

List of ATS Positions

East 1 (E1)

BIRD_E1_CTR

Reykjavik Control

126.750

East 2 (E2)

BIRD_E2_CTR

132.200

East 3 (E3)

BIRD_E3_CTR

128.800

South 1 (S1)

Only if no East sector online

BIRD_S1_CTR

119.700

South 2 (S2)

Only if no East sector online

BIRD_S2_CTR

125.700

South 3 (S3)

Only if no East sector online

BIRD_S3_CTR

128.600

Radio 1 (CC1)

OCL ONLY

BICC_1_FSS

Iceland Radio

127.850

Underlying Aerodromes

AFIS

EKVG

Delegated Airspace

RATSU Triangle

The RATSU Triangle (SFC – FL660), at the southwest corner of the East sector, is delegated from Scottish (EGPX) FIR to Reykjavik Control. It is Class C from FL195 – FL660, and Class G from SFC – FL195.

See BIRD-EGPX LOA for more information.

Area IV

Area IV (SFC – FL85), at the southwest corner of the East sector, is delegated from Reykjavik Control to Sumburgh Radar (Prestwick ACC) in Scotland.

See BIRD-EGPX LOA for more information.

Oceanic Clearance

OCL for airborne aircraft entering the East sector (who do not already have OCL) is issued by the following positions, in order of priority:

  1. Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS
  2. The East sector whose level the aircraft will be entering.
    • E.g., if East 1 & East 3 are online, splitting the East sector at FL355, an inbound aircraft at FL365 would receive OCL from East 3.
  3. If no East sectors are online, the South sector (bandboxing East) whose level the aircraft will be entering.

OCL for departures from EKVG is issued by the lowest East sector, or the lowest South sector if no East sectors are online. The clearance is relayed to the aircraft by Vagar AFIS.

Internal Standing Agreements

To/From EKVG

If the local AFIS unit is offline, the lowest East sector provides top-down AFIS for EKVG.

For arrivals, Reykjavik Control shall descend aircraft to the Transition Level (TL) for EKVG, then clear the aircraft to descend below controlled airspace. Reykjavik Control shall not clear aircraft onto any instrument procedures, as the procedures are entirely within uncontrolled airspace.

Reykjavik Control may ask aircraft what their intended approach is, and share this information with Vagar AFIS as appropriate.

For departures, Reykjavik Control shall clear aircraft onto the SIDs, as they enter controlled airspace.

Neighboring Sectors Without LOAs

In lieu of official LOAs regarding the sectors below, note the following information.

NOTE! The information below is provided for reference only, and is not a substitute for proper coordination with these sectors in the absence of an LOA.

EGGX (Shanwick)

NAT_FSS is the bandbox position for Gander & Shanwick OCAs.

  • When transferring aircraft to NAT_FSS that are entering Shanwick OCA, the appropriate radio callsign is “Shanwick Radio” (e.g., “contact Shanwick Radio on…”)

In real life, Reykjavik Control passes to Shanwick Radio (by coordination) a squawk code for all aircraft entering Reykjavik OCA from Shanwick OCA. The intention is that the aircraft are squawking the Reykjavik-assigned code by the time they enter the Reykjavik OCA.

As this is not a formally defined policy in LOAs, not all Shanwick/NAT controllers may be aware of this procedure. Therefore, this procedure should only be adopted if mutually agreed upon by both Shanwick & Reykjavik controllers on an individual basis, pending potential implementation in a future LOA.

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