Chapter 8 Air Traffic Services

1. Introduction

Air Traffic Services are provided in accordance with the Air Navigation Order
Rules of the Air Regulations and Standardized Rules of the Airspace. Generally,
these are in line with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Manual of Air Traffic
Services contains instructions and guidance for controllers providing Air Traffic
Services to cater for both routine and many emergency situations. However,
nothing in this manual prevents controllers from using their own discretion and
initiative in response to unusual circumstances, which may not be covered by the
procedures herein.

2. Air Traffic Services

An Air Traffic Service is a generic term meaning variously:

 Air Traffic Control Service;

 Air Traffic Advisory Service;
 Flight Information Service;
 Alerting Service.

2.1 Air Traffic Control Service: An ATC service is provided according to the
particular circumstances and class of airspace (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G).
An Air Traffic Control Service shall include the provision of pertinent flight
information.
Air traffic control service shall be provided:
1. to all IFR flights in airspace Classes A, B, C, D and E;
2. to all VFR flights in airspace Classes B, C and D;
3. to all special VFR flights;
4. to all aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes.

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2.2 Air Traffic Advisory Service
An Air Traffic Advisory Service is a service provided within Class F airspace to
ensure separation, in so far as practical, between participating IFR flights.
2.3 Flight Information Service
Flight Information Service is a service provided for the purposes of supplying
advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flight, together
with pertinent information about: (1) weather; (2) changes to serviceability of
facilities; (3) conditions at aerodromes; (4) any other information likely to affect
safety in class G airspace, the ICAO requirements for Flight Information Service
are met through a suite of services, known as the ‘Flight Information Services’
and consist of:
1) Basic Service;
2) Traffic Service;
3) Deconfliction Service;
4) Procedural Service.

2.4 Alerting Service

An Alerting Service is provided to notify appropriate organizations regarding
aircraft in need of SAR (Search and Rescue) aid and assist such organizations as
required.

3. Objectives of Air Traffic Services

The objectives of the air traffic services shall be to:
a) Prevent collisions between aircraft;
b) Prevent collisions between aircraft on the maneuvering area and obstructions
on that area;
c) expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic;
d) provide advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of
flights;
e) notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of search and
rescue aid, and assist such organizations as required.

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Airspace classification
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted the different classification
of airspace:
Class Definition
FR flights only are permitted, all flights are provided with air traffic control
A
service and are separated from each other.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all flights are provided with air traffic
B
control service and are separated from each other.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all flights are provided with air traffic
C control service and IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and from
VFR flights.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted and all flights are provided with air traffic
control service, IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and receive
D
traffic information in respect of VFR flights, VFR flights receive traffic
information in respect of all other flights.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted, IFR flights are provided with air traffic
E
control service and are separated from other IFR flights.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all participating IFR flights receive an air
F traffic advisory service and all flights receive flight information service if
requested.
IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive flight information service if
G
requested.

Annex:

IFR: Stands for instrument flight rules – the set of rules that govern aircraft that fly in
IMC, or instrument meteorological conditions. In general terms, instrument flying
means flying in the clouds.

VFR stands for visual flight rules, and the term refers to a set of rules created by the FAA
for flight in VMC, or visual meteorological conditions. When referring to VFR is the type
of flight operation or type of flight plan flown by the pilot.

SVFR: Special visual flight rules: are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may
operate an aircraft. It's a special case of operating under visual flight rules (VFR).