Supplementary Instruction (SI)

CAP 493 MATS Part 1

Safety Regulation Group
Air Traffic Standards

Number 2009/14

Issued 29 October 2009

PHRASEOLOGY FOR CLIMB CLEARANCES TO AIRCRAFT ON STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURES 1.

1.1

Introduction
Enquiries from UK and overseas aircraft operators together with a recent incident indicate that not all controllers are adhering to the correct phraseology when issuing climb clearances above the Standard Instrument Departure (SID) profile. The purpose of this SI is to re-emphasise the current UK SID phraseology as published in SI 2009/06.

2.
2.1

Background
Edition 15 of ICAO Doc 4444 (PANS-ATM) introduced revised procedures and phraseology associated with climb instructions issued to aircraft following a SID. The revised ICAO procedures represent a significant change to the way that pilots are expected to respond to climb instructions whilst following a SID and put the UK SID procedures at variance.

3.
3.1

UK Phraseology for Climb Clearances to Aircraft on SIDs

In the UK, for all stages of flight, instructions to climb and descend cancel any previous restrictions, unless the latter are reiterated as part of the instruction. To emphasise the UK variation from ICAO Doc 4444 SID procedures, when an aircraft is required to climb directly to the cleared level and ignore the vertical profile of the SID, controllers are to include the word now. e.g. Jet 347 climb now FL120.

3.2

3.3

Pilots flying on a SID in the UK Flight Information Regions (FIRs) have been briefed to expect climb instructions that cancel the SID vertical profile to include the word now. In the absence of this word being used, pilots will request clarification from ATC. In some cases omission of now has resulted in a delayed climb, and in at least one instance, a deviation from and then return to the vertical profile of the SID, thus generating an increased safety risk, particularly in congested airspace.

CAP 493 Supplementary Instruction

Air Traffic Standards

4.
4.1

Recent ICAO Developments

Following safety analysis of the revised ICAO procedures, the CAA issued SI 2009/06 (24 April 2009) detailing the procedures and phraseology to be used for climb clearances to aircraft on SIDs in the UK FIRs. ICAO subsequently issued a State Letter requesting comment on the PANS-ATM procedures and phraseology associated with ATC level instructions to aircraft following a SID or STAR. The CAA provided a robust and detailed response to this State Letter, arguing that the procedures and phraseology for clearances to aircraft on SID and STAR should follow the same logic as for aircraft in other stages of flight, i.e. instructions to climb or descend cancel any previous restrictions, unless they are reiterated as part of that instruction. The CAA continues to work both in Europe and ICAO towards at satisfactory solution. Further information on ICAO developments is available on the CAA website at: www.caa.co.uk/ATSDocuments.

4.2

4.3

5.
5.1

Queries
Any queries or further guidance required on the content of this SI should be addressed to: ATS Enquiries Air Traffic Standards CAA Safety Regulation Group 2W Aviation House Gatwick Airport South West Sussex RH6 0YR E-mail: ats.enquiries@caa.co.uk

5.2

Any queries relating to the availability of this SI should be addressed to: ATS Documents Air Traffic Standards CAA Safety Regulation Group 2W Aviation House Gatwick Airport South West Sussex RH6 0YR E-mail: ats.documents@caa.co.uk

6.
6.1 6.2

Cancellation
SI 2009/06 remains extant. This SI shall remain in force until further notice.

CAP 493 SI No. 2009/14

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CAP 493 Supplementary Instruction The following SIs remain current: Number 2008/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12 2009/13 2009/14

Air Traffic Standards

Title SSR Procedures for Military Aircraft Conducting Autonomous High Energy Manoeuvres Procedures and Phraseology Concerning Level Restrictions associated with Standard Instrument Departures ATS to Aircraft Formations Revised Procedures and Phraseology for Speed Control applicable to an Aircraft at or near the Level at which Speed Changes from Mach Number to Indicated Airspeed (IAS) Mode S ATC Procedures Position Information on Identification Danger Area Activity Status RT Phraseology Emergency Descents Phraseology for Climb Clearances to Aircraft on Standard Instrument Departures

CAP 493 SI No. 2009/14

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