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Iceland Radio (North Sector)

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

Introduction to Iceland Radio

In real life, radio operators at Gufunes Communication Centre in Reykjavik, using the callsign "Iceland Radio," relay communications from Reykjavik ACC to aircraft entering, or within, the Reykjavik CTA.

There are two main types of interactions handled via Iceland Radio:

  • Oceanic clearances to airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA.
  • ATC instructions and clearances to aircraft in the North sector.

For VATSIM purposes, we combine the role of the controller at Reykjavik ACC (who would "issue" the above clearances and instructions), and the role of the Gufunes "Iceland Radio" operator (who would relay them to aircraft) into one position.

North Sector

North Sector.png

The North sector of Reykjavik OACC overlies northern Greenland and a large portion of the Arctic Sea. It is surrounded by Edmonton FIR to the West, and Bodo oceanic FIR to the East. It is also “bordered” by Murmansk FIR to the East, with a slight gap of uncontrolled (internationally disputed) airspace in between.

Airspace Classification

The North sector is classified as:

 
  • Class A from:
    • FL55+ within BIRD FIR.
    • FL195+ within BGGL FIR (see Delegated Airspace below.)
  • Class G from GND — FL55 within BIRD FIR.

Underlying Aerodromes

NIL

Reykjavik Control does not provide top-down AFIS to any Greenlandic aerodromes underlying the North sector.

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., FL195+ only), and which ones are from BIRD FIR (i.e., FL55+.)

North sector delegation map.png

Responsibilities

Solo Operations

Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS) shall always be the first Iceland Radio position to be opened. In isolation, Radio 1 shall perform all the responsibilities of Iceland Radio. This means:

  • Issuing oceanic clearances to airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA.
  • Issuing oceanic clearanceclearances to aircraft departing Greenlandic (BG**) AFIS aerodromes beneath the North sector, and also beneath the West sector if no other Reykjavik ACC positions are online to cover that sector. Clearance shall be relayed via the local AFIS unit if online.
  • An ADS-B based air traffic control service to aircraft in the North sector.

Previously, the North sector did not have any ATS surveillance coverage, and was therefore controlled procedurally. However, with developments in ADS-B satellite coverage, the North sector is now fully covered by satellite ADS-B. Hence, normal ATS surveillance procedures apply in the North sector. 

Radio 1 may also choose to provide the following additional services, workload permitting:

  • If no BIRD positions are online: An ADS-B air traffic control service to aircraft in the West sector.
  • If Nuuk Information (BGGL_FSS) is offline: Enroute FIS in BGGL FIR below FL195, top-down AFIS for Greenlandic (BG**) aerodromes, and top-down service at BGSF.

These additional services are provided at the controller’s discretion, and are not mandatory.

Split Operations

During heavy traffic situations,situations (events like CTP), 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:

  • Oceanic clearance to aircraft entering the East and West sectors.
     (During a heavy East/Westbound transatlantic traffic flow, such as in CTP, these sectors account for the majority of OCL requests.)

Radio 2 (BICC_2_FSS) provides:

  • Oceanic clearance to aircraft entering the North and South sectors.
  • An ADS-B based air traffic control service to aircraft in the North sector.
  • Oceanic clearance to aircraft departing Greenlandic AFIS aerodromes beneath the North sector (relayed via local AFIS if online.)

(It is assumed that if traffic levels and controller staffing are sufficient to justify having two BICC positions online, there will also be Reykjavik ACC coverage of the West sector, meaning Iceland Radio need not worry about issuing clearance to any departures on the ground beneath that sector.)

During events, an additional Iceland Radio position/frequency, Radio 3 (BICC_3_FSS), may also be opened. Radio 3 is a flexible “overflow” position with responsibilities to be assigned on an ad-hoc basis, and shall not be opened during normal operations.

Oceanic Clearance Phraseology

Even though "Iceland Radio" is the callsign used by all the above BICC positions, oceanic clearances are to be relayed to pilots using the phrase “Reykjavik Control clears you to…” For example:

🎧 AAL501, Reykjavik Control clears you to Washington via BARUD 63N010W 63N020W 63N030W 62N040W 60N050W AVUTI, from BARUD maintain FL340, Mach 0.82.

This is to reflect the fact that in real life, Iceland Radio relays clearances & instructions from Reykjavik ACC ("Reykjavik Control.")

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