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South Sector

South Sector.pngSouth Sector.png

The South sector directly overlies Iceland, containing the majority of the Icelandic Domestic Area. It is bordered by the Shanwick OCA to the South.

Airspace Classification

Excluding TMAs and CTRs, the South sector is classified as:

  • Class A from FL195+ within the lateral boundaries of the Domestic Area, and from FL55+ elsewhere.
  • Class E within the boundaries of the Domestic Area, from 3000ft — FL195.
  • Class G below 3000ft under the Domestic Area, and below FL55 elsewhere.

List of ATS Positions

South 1 (S1)

BIRD_S1_CTR

Reykjavik Control

119.700

South 2 (S2)

BIRD_S2_CTR

125.700

South 3 (S3)

BIRD_S3_CTR

128.600

Radio 1

OCL ONLY

BICC_1_FSS

Iceland Radio

127.850

Radio 2

OCL ONLY

BICC_2_FSS

126.550

Underlying Aerodromes

Controlled

BIKF
BIRK
BIAR

AFIS

BIBD
BIEG*
BIGJ
BIGR
BIHU
BIHN
BIIS
BIKR
BIVM*
BIVO
BITN

*AFIS aerodrome which has an associated ATZ. All other AFIS aerodromes in Iceland have no associated ATZ.

Uncontrolled

Various small landing strips; see Iceland AIP.

Delegated Airspace

Faxi TMA: 60 NM Ring

Surrounding the TMA is a 60 NM ring from Keflavik, upon which the various starting/ending fixes for BIKF (and some of BIRK)’s SIDs & STARs lie. This circle is colloquially known as the “Faxi Coordination Circle.”

The airspace between the 60 NM ring & the Faxi TMA is delegated from Reykjavik Control to Keflavik/Reykjavik Approach. Arrivals passing the 60 NM boundary are transferred to Approach and are considered fully released.
NIL.

Oceanic Clearance

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

  1. Radio 2 (BICC_2_FSS)
  2. Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS)
  3. The South sector whose level the aircraft will be entering.
    • E.g., if South 1 & South 3 are online, splitting the South sector at FL355, an inbound aircraft at FL365 would receive OCL from South 3.

OCL for departing aircraft on the ground are issued by local ATC units for controlled aerodromes (BIKF, BIRK, & BIAR), or by the lowest South sector for AFIS & uncontrolled aerodromes. At AFIS aerodromes, the clearance is relayed by the local AFIS unit if online.

Internal Standing Agreements

To/From Faxi TMA (BIKF & BIRK)

Reykjavik Control clears arrivals onto the STAR and descends the aircraft via STAR to FL100. Reykjavik Control transfers communications to Keflavik Approach 60 NM from KFV. Such arrivals are considered fully released.

Departures are transferred to Reykjavik Control at the TMA boundary (note: not at the 60 NM ring).

To/From Akureyri TMA (BIAR)

Reykjavik Control clears arrivals onto the STAR and descends the aircraft via STAR to 6000ft. Reykjavik transfers communications upon the aircraft beginning the STAR & approaching the TMA boundary.

To/From Icelandic AFIS Aerodromes

If the local AFIS unit is offline, the lowest South sector provides top-down AFIS.

See the SOP ATS Surveillance page for information regarding descent out of controlled airspace over Iceland.

Some AFIS aerodromes (e.g., BIIS) only permit VFR traffic. In these instances, Reykjavik may only issue IFR clearance once the aircraft is airborne (airborne pickup.)

  • Alternatively, at aerodromes with published SIDs which enter controlled airspace (e.g., BIIS), Reykjavik may issue an IFR clearance (which specifies a SID) for an aircraft on the ground, with the condition that the clearance is only valid after passing the first waypoint of the SID. The aircraft must depart under VFR.
  • Naturally, the aerodrome must be in VMC for such a clearance to be issued.
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