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=Week 2 BAMM 6 D & A 18th & 20th Jan, 2022

Airspace & Traffic Management:

TOPICS: I Pakistan Airspace Structure

II Airspace classifications

III The relationship between Airspace and Air structure.

I- Pakistan Airspace Structure

• Pakistan Airspace is divided into

• 02 Flight Information Regions (FIRs)

– Karachi Flight Information Region

– Lahore Flight Information Region

• Lahore FIR

– includes Pakistan airspace North of latitude 30 North

• Karachi FIR

– includes Pakistan airspace south of latitude 30 North as well as those portions

of high seas (up to 2330N)

• Responsibility for provision of ATS rest with Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.

• Services in respective FIRs are provided by Karachi and Lahore Area Control Centers
(ACCs).

• Karachi ACC has

– 4 control sectors (East, west, North and South)

• Lahore ACC has

– 03 control sectors (East, West Upper and West Lower).

• Aerodrome Control Services is provided from

– Aerodrome Control Towers established at each airport.

• Approach Control Service is provided by

– Approach Control offices established around major airports

• Pakistan CAA provides Air Traffic Services to both civilian and military flights using
Communication & Navigation facilities from these ATS units.
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Important Definitions:

Area Navigation (RNAV).

A method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the
coverage of station-referenced navigation aids or within the limits of the capability of self-
contained aids, or a combination of these.

Area Navigation Routes.

An ATS route established for the use of aircraft capable of employing area navigation.

Arrival Routes

Routes identified in an instrument approach procedure by which aircraft may proceed from
the en-route phase of flight to an initial approach fix.

ATIS

The symbol used to designate automatic terminal information service.

ATS Route

A specified route designed for channeling the flow of traffic as necessary for the provision of
air traffic services.

Controlled Airspace

An airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided in
accordance with the airspace classification.

Note: Controlled airspace is a generic term which covers ATS airspace Classes A, B, C, D,
and E.

Performance-based navigation (PBN).

Area navigation based on performance requirements for aircraft operating along an ATS
route, on an instrument approach procedure or in a designated airspace.

Performance-based surveillance (PBS).

Surveillance based on performance specifications applied to the provision of air traffic

services.

Required navigation performance (RNP).

A statement of the navigation performance necessary for operation within a defined airspace.

Terminal control area (TMA).

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A control area normally established at the confluence of ATS routes in the vicinity of one or
more major aerodromes.

Waypoint.

A specified geographical location used to define an area navigation route or the flight path of
an aircraft employing area navigation. Waypoints are identified as either:

a) Fly-by waypoint.

A waypoint which requires turn anticipation to allow tangential interception of the next
segment of a route or procedure, or

b) Flyover waypoint. A waypoint at which a turn is initiated in order to join the next
segment of a route or procedure.

Flexible use of airspace

1-The appropriate authorities should, through the establishment of agreements and

procedures, make provision for the flexible use of all airspace in order to increase airspace
capacity and to improve the efficiency and flexibility of aircraft operations. When applicable,
such agreements and procedures should be established on the basis of a regional air
navigation agreement.

2- Agreements and procedures providing for a flexible use of airspace should specify, Inter
alia:

a) the horizontal and vertical limits of the airspace concerned;

b) the classification of any airspace made available for use by civil air traffic;

c) units or authorities responsible for transfer of the airspace;

d) conditions for transfer of the airspace to the ATC unit concerned;

e) conditions for transfer of the airspace from the ATC unit concerned;

f) periods of availability of the airspace;

g) any limitations on the use of the airspace concerned; and

h) any other relevant procedures or information.

TYPE OF SERVICE PROVIDED WITHIN PAKISTAN AIRSPACE CLASSIFICATION:

The type of service provided within Karachi and Lahore flight information regions as per
airspace classification are given in the table below :

AIRSPACE SERVICE PROVIDED REMARKS

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Air Traffic Control Service and It is mandatory for all flights to

Class “A” Alerting Service with or comply with Air Traffic Control
without radar above FL155. Instructions

It is mandatory for all flights to

Air Traffic Control Service to
Class “B” comply with Air Traffic Control
all flight with or without radar.
Instructions

Air Traffic Control Service to

It is mandatory for all flight to
all IFR flights and flight
Class “C” comply with Air Traffic Control
information services to VFR
Instructions
flights

It is mandatory for all IFR

Class “D”, Air Traffic Control Service to
flight to comply with Air Traffic
“E” IFR flights only
Control Instructions

Flight information service and

Class “G”
Alerting service

ATS UNITS

The air traffic services unit which provide the above services are :

a) Within Class A and C airspace: Area Control Centers

b) Within Class B airspace: Approach Control Unit

c) Within Class D and E airspace: Approach Control Unit

d) Within Controlled Aerodromes: Aerodrome Control Tower

e) Within Class G airspace : Area Control Centers

FLIGHT RULES WITHIN PAKISTAN

i) Flight by civil aircraft within Pakistan airspace shall be conducted in accordance

with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) or Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in addition to
general rules of Annex 2 read in conjunction with Civil Aviation Rules 1994.

ii) No flight shall take off or land at a controlled aerodrome (Class C airspace) or
enter its traffic zone without prior clearance from appropriate ATC unit.

iii) Single engine aircraft are not permitted to fly over the high seas at a distance
from where they cannot glide to the coast or 16 kms or more for more than 1
hour.
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iv) VFR flight to be operated within a control zone (Class B airspace) established
at an aerodrome and specified portion of the associated control area shall:

a) have two way radio communication with appropriate ATC unit.

b) Obtain permission from the appropriate air traffic control unit and

c) report positions, as required.

Note: The phrase “specified portions of associated control area” is intended to signify at
least those portions of the CTA used by IFR flights for holding, approach and departure
procedures.

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Air Traffic Management (ATM)

ATM is the dynamic, integrated management of air traffic and airspace including air traffic
services, airspace management and air traffic flow management. The objective is to ensure
safely, economically and efficiently the air traffic flow through the provision of CNS facilities
and seamless services in collaboration with concerned stakeholders.

Air traffic services are used to manage the safe and orderly flow of aircraft into, out of, and
across Pakistan airspace including those portions of high seas for which the responsibility has
been delegated to Pakistan under Regional Air Navigation Agreements.

Airspace management (ASM) is a planning function with the primary objective of maximizing
the utilization of available airspace by dynamic time – sharing and, at times, the segregation
of airspace among various stakeholders based on their needs.

Air traffic Flow Management (ATFM) is a service established with the objective of contributing
to a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic by ensuring that ATC capacity is utilized to
the maximum extent possible, and that the traffic volume is compatible with the capacities
declared by the appropriate ATS authority.
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An airspace management describes the intended operations within airspace. Airspace

concepts are developed to satisfy explicit strategic objectives such as improved safety,
increased air traffic capacity and mitigation of environmental impact etc. Airspace concepts
can include details of the practical organization of the airspace and its users based on
particular CNS/ATM assumptions, e.g. ATS route structure, separation minima, route spacing
and obstacle clearance.

1 Airspace redesign due to complex airspaces, traffic grow and enhanced aircraft
capabilities
2 Apply Airspace Organization and Management (AOM) principles Improve airspace
classification, ATM separations, procedures, vectoring
3 Reinforce PBN Training – specially for pilots and ATCOs
4 Day by day operational application
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