FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Navigation and ATCHard
A dispatcher is planning an oceanic flight using the North Atlantic Track (NAT) system with no radar coverage. At each compulsory reporting point, what information must the flight crew include in the position report to ATC?
- AOnly the aircraft's Mach number and heading
- BPosition and a request for a new oceanic clearance
- CPosition, time, altitude, and the next position with estimated time of arrival
- DOnly the current position and remaining fuel on board
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Position, time, altitude, and the next position with estimated time of arrival
In non-radar oceanic airspace, standard position reports at compulsory reporting points must include the aircraft's identification, position, time over the fix, altitude, and the next position with its estimated time of arrival, plus the following significant point. This allows ATC to maintain procedural separation without radar coverage.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Mach number/heading alone is insufficient for procedural separation.
- B. A new clearance request is not part of the routine position report.
- D. Fuel remaining is not a standard required element of a position report.
Oceanic Position Reporting
In non-radar oceanic airspace, pilots must report at each compulsory reporting point with position, time, altitude, and next position/ETA to enable procedural separation.
- Required because radar coverage is unavailable over oceanic areas
- Report includes aircraft ID, position, time, altitude, next position/ETA, and following significant point
- Used to maintain longitudinal and lateral separation procedurally
- CPDLC/ADS-C may automate reporting on modern equipped aircraft
Memory trick: 'PTA-Next' — Position, Time, Altitude, Next point with ETA