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.

Various interactions relating to the Reykjavik CTA/OCA are handled via Iceland Radio. The main ones are:

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

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

North Sector

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, and GND – FL195 within BGGL FIR.

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 (i.e., workload permitting), choose to cover Nuuk Information's responsibilities top-down.

Underlying Aerodromes

NIL

If Iceland Radio chooses to cover Nuuk Information top-down, then Iceland Radio shall also provide top-down AFIS for 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+.)

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:

Issuing oceanic clearances to airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA.
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.

Issuing IFR and oceanic clearances to aircraft departing Greenlandic (BG**) AFIS aerodromes (throughout all of Greenland, not just the aerodromes underlying the North sector.)
- IFR clearances are required for aircraft climbing above FL195 (i.e., into the CTA.)
- Oceanic clearances are required for aircraft climbing above FL285 and/or leaving BGGL FIR.
- Clearance is relayed via local AFIS if online. If not, aircraft shall contact Radio 1 directly for the clearance request, and after issuing the clearance, BICC shall instruct them afterward to return to UNICOM until entering controlled airspace.

Radio 1 may also optionally 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, 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:

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.)
IFR/oceanic clearance to aircraft departing Greenlandic AFIS aerodromes.

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.

(It is assumed that if traffic is heavy enough that two BICC positions are required, that there will be existing BIRD coverage in the West sector, and that neither BICC position will have the bandwidth to perform the additional optional services described above.)

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.")