Special Airspace

There are several special airspace areas in Iceland, including recreational, training, prohibited, and restricted areas. In general, most are uncontrolled, but some neighbor or underly controlled airspace.

Occasionally, aircraft may intend to fly to such areas. In such cases, one may adapt typical VFR phraseology. For example:

🎧 (TF-)ISN, right turn to the Southwest towards Vestursvaedi, 1500ft, winds 190 degrees 19 knots, Runway 19, cleared for takeoff.

If a special airspace area lies within, or just bordering, a CTR, then one may ask them to report approaching the airspace area (e.g., “report approaching Vestursvaedi”) instead of reporting leaving the control zone.

Once the aircraft reports approaching a special airspace area, then one may inform them “frequency change approved.” This means they should monitor UNICOM, as well as maintain listening watch on any other frequencies (as required by some restricted areas).

If ATC gives permission for an aircraft to enter/pass through a special airspace area which requires ATC approval, or if any aircraft inform ATC that they are operating in an area that requires them to notify ATC, then ATC should add appropriate text to the ATIS as required by local operating procedures to indicate that traffic is active in that area. E.g., "GLIDERS OPERATING AT SANDSKEID."

One should additionally coordinate with relevant neighboring ATC (e.g., TWR with APP) to notify them of traffic known to be in certain areas.

See the Iceland AIP, ENR 5 (particularly 5.1 and 5.2) for information regarding such areas.