ATS surveillance services and procedures

ENR 1.6 ATS surveillance services and procedures

1.6.1 PRIMARY RADAR

1.6.1.1 Radar Coverage

1.6.1.1.1 Radar coverage of primary radar in CTA PRAHA is ensured above FL 85.

1.6.1.1.2 Primary Radar sites are located at BRNO/Tuřany, OSTRAVA/Mošnov and PRAHA/Ruzyně airports.

1.6.1.2 Application of Radar Services

Note: Application of radar services is related to primary and secondary radar service provision.

1.6.1.2.1 Radar services are provided either on the basis of the decision of the radar controller or on request of the pilot-in-command.

1.6.1.2.2 Radar identification is carried out in accordance with procedures mentioned in ICAO Doc 4444, Chapter 8, with the exception of procedure in 8.6.2.2.1 c), which is not applied.

1.6.1.2.3 In order to reduce air-ground communication between the pilot and the ATC unit in all cases when the pilot is informed by the phrase “IDENTIFIED” or “RADAR CONTACT”, he/she automatically omits position reporting while flying in FIR PRAHA.

1.6.1.2.4 Horizontal radar separation minimum is 5 NM.

1.6.1.2.5 The following radar services are provided in radar coverage areas:

navigation assistance,
radar separation,
radar monitoring,
radar vectoring,
essentials traffic information and
traffic information.

1.6.1.2.6 An aircraft vectored by radar on to pilot interpreted final approach aids shall not be informed by the phrase “RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED” whenever pilot reports establishing at which time radar vectoring is terminated and information about position is provided on the pilot’s request only.

1.6.1.2.7 Supplementary Services

A radar unit normally operates as an integral part of the parent unit and provides radar service to aircraft, to the maximum extent practicable, to meet the operational requirement. Many factors, such as radar coverage, controller workload and equipment capabilities, may affect these services, and the radar controller shall determine the practicability of providing or continuing to provide radar services in any specific case.

1.6.1.2.8 The primary surveillance radar (PSR) and the secondary surveillance radar (SSR) may be used separately or together to provide Air traffic services.

1.6.1.3 Radar failure

1.6.1.3.1 In the event of radar failure the radar controller proceeds in accordance with ICAO Doc 4444, Chapter 8, para 8.8.4.

1.6.1.4 Radio Communication Failure

1.6.1.4.1 In the event of ground-to-air communication failure the pilot-in-command of the aircraft controlled by radar is obliged to return to the original track as soon as possible and to resume his own navigation.

1.6.2 SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR (SSR)

1.6.2.1 Operating Procedures

1.6.2.1.1 Pilot-in-command duties

A pilot-in-command of aircraft entering controlled airspace from an adjacent FIR shall operate the SSR transponder with the Code according to the instructions of preceding control centre unit a new Code is assigned (Code assignment see ENR 1.6 para 2.4).

1.6.2.2 Procedures for SSR Transponder Failure

1.6.2.2.1 In case of SSR transponder equipment failure after take-off the pilot-in-command may expect that appropriate ATC unit shall endeavour to provide for continuation of the flight to the aerodrome of first intended landing in accordance with the flight plan. The pilot-in-command shall ensure after landing that the SSR transponder will be restored to normal operation.

1.6.2.3 Radio Communication Failure and Unlawful Interference Procedures

1.6.2.3.1 In case of radio communication failure the pilot-in-command of the aircraft equipped with a SSR transponder shall operate the transponder on Mode A, Code 7600.

1.6.2.3.2 In case of unlawful interference the pilot-in-command of the aircraft shall set the SSR transponder to Mode A, Code 7500.

1.6.2.4 Allocation and Assignment of the SSR Codes

1.6.2.4.1 Allocation and assignment of SSR codes in the Czech Republic is applied in accordance with the procedures presented in the document The European Secondary Surveillance Radar Code Management Plan (EUR Doc 023) and its Attachment, SSR Code Allocation List for the ICAO EUR Region (CAL), detailing the requirements to be met by the States of the ICAO EUR Region to comply with the provisions of the European Basic Air Navigation Plan (EUR ANP) (Doc 7745, Volume I) and the European Facilities and Services Implementation Document (EUR FASID) (Doc 7754, Volume II).

1.6.2.4.2 Discrete codes

ATS units assign the discrete SSR codes in Mode A from following groups:

Transit codes	1401 - 1477 5170 - 5177 6620 - 6637
Local codes	3301 - 3377 4320 - 4337

1.6.2.4.3 SSR codes for special purposes

The following SSR codes are used for designated flight purposes.

Mode A Code	Assigns/sets	Purpose
0000	engineer	ground test of SSR transponders (see AIP ENR 1.6 para 2.5)
0040	pilot (unless otherwise instructed by ATS unit)	search and rescue flights
0041 - 0044	ATS unit	search and rescue flights
0045	pilot (unless otherwise instructed by ATS unit)	human life rescue flights
0046 and 0047	ATS unit	human life rescue flights
0050	ATS unit	parachute flights
0052 and 0053	pilot (unless otherwise instructed by ATS unit)	flights of helicopters of the C.R. Police during the day
0054 and 0055	pilot (unless otherwise instructed by ATS unit)	flights of helicopters of the C.R. Police during the night
0056 and 0057	pilot (unless otherwise instructed by ATS unit)	Calibration/verification flights of the ANS C.R. aircraft
1000	ATS unit	Mode S conspicuity code
2000	pilot / ATS unit	flights which are subject to ATS provision in the absence of ATS instructions related to code setting (see AIP ENR 1.6 para 2.4.5)
7000	pilot / ATS unit	flights not receiving ATS, in order to improve the detection of suitably equipped aircraft (see AIP ENR 1.6 para 2.4.6)
7776	engineer	ground monitoring transponders, potentially ground test of SSR transponders (see AIP ENR 1.6 para 2.5)
7777	engineer	ground monitoring transponders

1.6.2.4.4 An aircraft equipped with the SSR transponder shall operate the transponder during the flight. The SSR transponder shall reply to mode A and C interrogations.

1.6.2.4.5 Except for flights using special purpose codes, the pilot who is or intends to be receiving ATS, selects A2000 in the absence of other instructions related to code setting from ATS unit.

Note: The setting concerned is assumed for flights, e.g. entering a CTR, departing from aerodromes in CTR or AFIS aerodromes, combined VFR/IFR flights, flights receiving ATS from FIC etc.

The ATS unit may also assign the code A2000 to the aircraft if there is no reason to assign a discrete code or another special purpose code.

1.6.2.4.6 When a VFR flight pilot decides not to make use of the ATS from any ATS unit within the airspace, where is no more a subject to an ATC clearance (class G and E), changes the transponder setting to A7000.

The ATS unit may also assign the code A7000 to the aircraft if the information from the pilot about his intention not to make use of the ATS in the airspace concerned has been received.

Note 1: A one-time information provision to an uncontrolled flight when the pilot terminates the connection afterwards, typically with the FIC, does not constitute a reason for the change or for an instruction to change the code A7000, if the aircraft has it selected.

Note 2: The responsibility of the pilot-in-command arising from the ALRS provision requirements remains untouched (see AIP ENR 1.2 para 2.1).

1.6.2.4.7 The SSR code assigned by ATS unit shall be maintained by the aircraft until termination of the flight or until the instruction of ATS unit is given to change the code or to switch off the transponder.

1.6.2.5 Procedures for Ground Tests of SSR Transponders and Airborne Collision Avoidance System

1.6.2.5.1 Technical personnel, when performing ground tests of SSR transponders and ACAS, are obliged to adhere to the procedures presented hereunder. This will allow ATC staff to be kept informed about the actual air traffic in the air and, if necessary, to provide information for the aircraft equipped with the anticollision system ACAS.

If for the operational purposes no other SSR Code has been assigned by an ATC Unit, for ground testing of SSR transponders Mode A Code 0000 shall be reserved. Code 7776 can be used for a short time to test code change.
If tests are carried out within a CTR/MCTR, the personnel performing the tests shall request in advance a clearance of appropriate TWR/MTWR to perform the test. Subject of clearance is:
1. time of beginning and estimated time of finishing the test,
2. extent of Mode C values to be tested,
3. contacts for the case that an appropriate ATC Unit requires the test interruption.
If the tests are carried out outside a CTR/MCTR, the personnel performing the test shall supply in advance PRAHA FICTUNIT;TXT_NAME;1429 with the data as given under Item 2) and herewith pass information about the location where the test is performed (on FIC request also the coordinates).

Note: It is required that ground tests of SSR transponders in Mode A be carried out simultaneously with imitation of Mode C value by setting at least aerodrome elevation or minimum level, if the tests are carried out outside CTR/MCTR.

1.6.2.6 Radar Coverage

1.6.2.6.1 Radar coverage of SSR is ensured in the whole CTA PRAHA above 5000 ft AMSL.

1.6.2.7 Secondary radars:

BUKOP, PÍSEK, PRAHA

All radars are part of multi radar information.

1.6.2.8 ACAS Procedures

1.6.2.8.1 Responsibility during Airborne Collision Avoidance (ACAS) operation within the airspace of the Czech Republic.

When a pilot deviates from an air traffic control clearance or instruction in response to an ACAS resolution advisory, the air traffic control service is not responsible for preventing collisions until the flight path is returned to the limits of air traffic control clearance or instructions.

1.6.3 Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B)

1.6.3.1 Introduction

1.6.3.1.1 ADS-B OUT is a function on-board an aircraft that periodically transmits data such as identification, position, velocity and other information. The data link used for ADS-B messages in Europe is 1090 MHz Extended Squitter. The aircraft ADS-B position is derived from onboard GNSS based systems

1.6.3.2 Operating procedures

1.6.3.2.1 Aircraft equipped with having an aircraft identification feature shall transmit the aircraft identification as specified in the field 7 of the ICAO flight plan or, when no flight plan has been filed, the aircraft registration.

1.6.3.2.2 ATM systems process and present to the ATS surveillance services only data broadcasted from ADS-B version 2, paired with responses from SSR and/or WAM.

1.6.3.3 Emergency and/or urgency modes of ADS-B

1.6.3.3.1 Due to ADS-B processing limitations by ATM systems, only the following ADS-B emergency modes will be presented to the ATS surveillance services:

emergency,
communication failure,
unlawful interference.

Note: “Minimum fuel” and “medical” ADS-B modes are not presented to the ATS surveillance services.

1.6.4 Weather radar

1.6.4.1 Coverage

1.6.4.1.1 The coverage by weather radars which are used by PRAHA ACC and PRAHA FIC to provide information about significant clouds is ensured in the area of FIR PRAHA. Update rate of information is 5 minutes. Information is available on appropriate ATS unit in 1 - 2 minutes after completion of the weather radar measurement cycle.

1.6.4.2 Application of services

There is provided flight information service about significant weather in the area of weather radar’s coverage. It means that a provision of that service does not exempt a pilot-in-command from whatever responsibility including an acceptance of the final decision concern a suggested change of a flight plan.

This service is provided only on base of air traffic controller’s decision or on pilot-in-command’s request.