ATS.OR.440 Aeronautical fixed service (ground-ground communications) – communication between flight information regions

(a)     An air traffic services provider shall ensure that flight information centres and area control centres have facilities for communications with all adjacent flight information centres and area control centres. Those communication facilities shall in all cases include provisions for messages in a form suitable for retention as a permanent record, and delivery in accordance with transit times specified by ICAO regional air navigation agreements.

 (b)    An air traffic services provider shall ensure that facilities for communications between area control centres serving contiguous control areas, in addition, include provisions for direct-speech and, where applicable, data link communications, with automatic recording, whereby for the purpose of transfer of control using ATS surveillance data, the communications are established instantaneously, and for other purposes, the communications are normally established within 15 seconds.

 (c)     When so required by agreement between the States concerned in order to eliminate or reduce the need for interceptions in the event of deviations from assigned track, an air traffic services provider shall ensure that facilities for communications between adjacent flight information centres or area control centres other than those mentioned in point (b):

 (1)     include provisions for direct speech alone, or in combination with data link communications;

 (2)     permit communications to be established normally within 15 seconds;

 (3)     are provided with automatic recording.

 (d)    An air traffic services provider concerned shall ensure that adjacent air traffic services units are connected in all cases where special circumstances exist.

 (e)    Wherever local conditions are such that it is necessary to clear aircraft into a controlled airspace prior to departure, the air traffic services provider or providers concerned shall ensure that the air traffic services units delivering the clearance to the aircraft are connected with the air traffic control unit serving the adjacent controlled airspace.

 (f)     The communication facilities supporting connections to be established in accordance with points (d) and (e) shall include provisions for communications by direct speech alone, or in combination with data link communications, with automatic recording, whereby for the purpose of transfer of control using ATS surveillance, the communications are established instantaneously, and for other purposes, the communications are normally established within 15 seconds.

(g)     An air traffic services provider shall provide suitable facilities for automatic recording in all cases where automatic exchange of data between air traffic services computers is required.