**UPDATE:** Effective **1 March 2024,** Iceland Radio no longer requires a separate endorsement to control. All Iceland-familiarized C1 controllers are allowed to staff Iceland Radio.
The position of "Iceland Radio" serves a unique function within the VATSIM Reykjavik CTA, in relation to oceanic clearances and ATC service in the North sector. ## List of ATS Positions| Radio 1 | BICC\_1\_FSS | Iceland Radio | 127.850 |
| Radio 2 | BICC\_2\_FSS | 126.550 | |
| Radio 3 **EVENT ONLY** | BICC\_3\_FSS | 129.625 |
In BGGL FIR below FL195, flight information service is provided by Nuuk Information (BGGL\_FSS), which is a separate position to Iceland Radio. However, controllers staffing Iceland Radio may, at their discretion (workload permitting), choose to cover Nuuk Information's responsibilities top-down.
### Underlying Aerodromes NILIf Iceland Radio chooses to cover Nuuk Information top-down, then Iceland Radio shall also provide top-down ATC for BGSF and top-down AFIS for other Greenlandic (BG\*\*) aerodromes.
### Delegated Airspace A significant portion of the North sector consists of airspace delegated from **Greenland (Nuuk FIR | BGGL)** to **Iceland (Reykjavik ACC)** from FL195+. Reykjavik ACC provides enroute ATC service in this airspace, which is (like the rest of the OCA) classified as Class **A**. The diagram below indicates which portions of the North sector are delegated from BGGL FIR (i.e., controlled from FL195+), and which portions are part of BIRD FIR (i.e., controlled from FL55+.) [](https://wiki.vatsim-scandinavia.org/uploads/images/gallery/2023-09/north-sector-delegation-map.png) ## Responsibilities and Procedures ### Solo Operations **Radio 1 (BICC\_1\_FSS)** shall always be the first Iceland Radio position to be opened. In isolation (i.e., with no other BICC positions online), Radio 1 shall perform the following responsibilities: - An ADS-B based **ATC service** to aircraft in the **North** sector. - With developments in ADS-B satellite coverage, the North sector is now fully covered by satellite ADS-B, and normal ATS surveillance procedures apply (procedural control is no longer required.) - Processing & responding to **RCL messages** for airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA *(all* sectors, not just North.) - Issuing **IFR clearances** to aircraft departing Greenlandic (BG\*\*) AFIS aerodromes (throughout *all of Greenland,* not just the aerodromes underlying the North sector.) - Clearance is relayed via local AFIS if online. If local AFIS is offline, aircraft shall contact Radio 1 directly for clearance. After issuing clearance, BICC shall instruct the aircraft to return to UNICOM until entering controlled airspace. As described earlier, Radio 1 may also **optionally** (workload permitting) choose to cover the responsibilities of Nuuk Information (BGGL\_FSS) top-down, including top-down ATC/AFIS for Greenlandic (BG\*\*) aerodromes. ### Split Operations During heavy traffic situations, or events like CTP, it may be desirable to split the responsibilities of Iceland Radio across multiple positions/controllers. Under routine circumstances, a two-way split is possible, between **Radio 1 (BICC\_1\_FSS)** and **Radio 2 (BICC\_2\_FSS.)** Under such a split, Radio 1 (BICC\_1\_FSS) provides the following services: - Processing & responding to **RCL messages** for aircraft entering the **East** and **West** sectors. - **IFR/oceanic clearance** to aircraft departing Greenlandic AFIS aerodromes. Radio 2 (BICC\_2\_FSS) provides: - Processing & responding to **RCL messages** for aircraft entering the **North** and **South** sectors. - **ATC service** to aircraft in the **North** sector. *(It is assumed that if the workload is heavy enough that two BICC positions are required, neither BICC position will have the capacity to also cover the responsibilities of Nuuk Information.)* During events, an additional Iceland Radio position/frequency, **Radio 3 (BICC\_3\_FSS),** may also be opened. Radio 3 is an “overflow” position with responsibilities assigned on an ad-hoc basis. It shall **not** be opened during normal operations. ### Phraseology Even though "Iceland Radio" is the callsign used by all the above BICC positions, all clearances and instructions should be given to pilots prefaced by the phrase “Reykjavik Control clears you…” For example, for an amended route clearance issued in response to an RCL message: > 🎧 AAL501, amended route clearance, Reykjavik Control clears you after ING direct NASBU. This reflects the fact that in real life, Iceland Radio relays clearances & instructions from Reykjavik ACC/OAC ("Reykjavik Control.")