General

Introduction to the Reykjavik CTA

The Reykjavik Control Area (CTA), the controlled airspace that Iceland is responsible for, is unique in that it overlaps three territories (Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands) and two FIRs.

The following image depicts the two FIRs within the Reykjavik CTA – Reykjavik (BIRD) and Nuuk (BGGL).

Screenshot 2023-09-13 at 7.36.01 PM.png

At present, Greenland delegates its enroute air traffic services to Iceland (as well as Canada.) Hence, the Reykjavik CTA consists not just of BIRD FIR, but also of the central and northern parts of BGGL FIR above FL195.

The CTA is divided into four sectors – North, South, East, and West. These sectors do not follow the FIR boundaries of BIRD or BGGL FIR.

image.png

The South sector overlies Iceland. The North sector overlies northern Greenland. The East sector overlies the Faroe Islands, and the West sector overlies central Greenland.

BGGL FIR is only delegated to the Reykjavik CTA above FL195. Below FL195, Nuuk Information provides flight information service in BGGL FIR.

Airspace Classification

Out of the seven airspace categories defined by ICAO, the Reykjavik CTA uses five: A, C, D, E, and G.

Class Separation Provided Service Provided Speed Limit Radio Communication Requirement Subject to ATC Clearance
A

IFR from IFR

IFR: Air traffic control service

VFR: NOT PERMITTED

N/A Continuous two-way Yes
C

IFR from IFR & VFR

VFR from IFR

IFR: Air traffic control service

VFR: Traffic information, and traffic avoidance advice upon request

250KT IAS below FL100 Continuous two-way Yes
D

IFR from IFR

VFR: N/A

IFR: Air traffic control service including traffic information about VFR flights (and traffic avoidance advice on request)


VFR: IFR/VFR and VFR/VFR traffic information (and traffic avoidance advice on request)

250KT IAS below FL100 Continuous two-way Yes
E

IFR from IFR

VFR: N/A

Air traffic control service and traffic information about VFR flights as far as practical

Traffic information as far as practical

250KT IAS below FL100

IFR: Continuous two-way

VFR: No

IFR: Yes

VFR: No

G N/A Uncontrolled; flight information service 250KT IAS below FL100

IFR: Continuous two-way

VFR: No

No

Classes B and F are not used in the Reykjavik CTA.

Most TMAs in the Reykjavik CTA are Class D (the Faxi TMA also has some Class A and C airspace.) All CTRs are Class D. FIZs and ATZs are Class G, but are also radio mandatory zones, meaning pilots must be in contact with the local AFIS unit.

Outside of TMAs, CTRs, and ATZ/FIZs, the Reykjavik CTA is:

Transponder Equipment

All IFR flights in the Reykjavik CTA must have a pressure-altitude reporting SSR (i.e., Mode A+C) transponder.

All aircraft within the Faxi TMA must have an SSR (i.e., Mode A) transponder.

Aircraft operating on transponder codes assigned by Reykjavik Control must keep those codes set throughout the Reykjavik OCA unless otherwise advised by ATC.

(Iceland Only) Abbreviating Local Registrations in R/T

When controlling Icelandic (BIxx) positions, in radio communications, controllers shall abbreviate local (Icelandic, with the TF- prefix) registrations as follows:

This is different from the standard ICAO convention for callsign abbreviation, which is detailed below.

For foreign (non-Icelandic) registrations, controllers shall use the standard ICAO convention for abbreviating registrations in radio communications. I.e.,

The above is not applicable to Greenlandic and Faroese positions. When controlling such positions, controllers shall continue to use the standard ICAO convention for callsign abbreviation for all registrations, local and foreign.


Revision #9
Created 27 September 2023 06:45:12 by Jonathan Fong (1308253)
Updated 17 July 2024 15:29:35 by Jonathan Fong (1308253)