AIC - SUOMI / FINLAND
Aeronautical Information Service
www.ais.fi
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AIC NR
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A 010/2024
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Publication date
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28 NOV 2024
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Fintraffic ANS, PL 157, FI-01531 VANTAA, ais@fintraffic.fi
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INSTRUMENT FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT AERODROMES WITHOUT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OR AFIS
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The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has issued Aviation Regulation OPS M1-6 (TRAFI/468278/03.04.00.00/2016), which entered into force on 23 APR 2020. The Aviation Regulation allows take-offs, approaches and landings under IFR flight rules at aerodromes outside of their ATS operating hours, uncontrolled aerodromes and other areas under the conditions described in the Aviation Regulation.
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This bulletin describes the detailed procedures for IFR flight operations at aerodromes outside of their ATS operating hours and with area control center (ACC).
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2 Flight Operations at aerodromes owned by Finavia and at Enontekiö, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli and Seinäjoki aerodromes
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During flight operations, the Aircraft operator must take into account the following procedures, as determined by the aerodrome operator:
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The operator must assess the operational risks and take them into account during their operations.
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A safe take-off or landing requires such conditions that the pilot in command is able to visually (or using assistance technology) make sure that the runway is unobstructed (REF OPS M1-6 3 d.). There may be maintenance equipment or other vehicles etc. on the runway at any given time. Personnel operating vehicles on the runway, runway strip or critical areas of the navigation aids monitor the published ATS frequency but are unable to transmit their position or any other information to the aircraft.
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The aircraft operator must also take into account the possibility of radio failure and vehicle breakdown. For example it is possible that there is a vehicle on the runway and the driver is not aware of the incoming aircraft or is unable to move the vehicle due to a technical failure. In such a situation the aerodrome personnel do not have any means to warn the aircraft. In addition, English language proficiency is not a requirement for ground personnel.
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Winter maintenance at aerodromes is performed to keep the runway in operable condition during the published operating hours of ATS units. There is no winter maintenance outside the ATS operating hours and runway conditions are not monitored or reported. In addition to the runway, maintenance work may be incomplete or not done at all on the taxiways, aprons or in the critical areas of the navigation equipment. The aircraft operator must ensure that the necessary areas for the safe conduct of the flight are in operable condition.
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Runway inspections are not conducted outside the published operating hours of ATS unit, so it is possible that the runway may contain foreign objects, birds, animals or other materials such as towing ropes or cables.
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In order to improve situational awareness of other pilots and airport personnel, pilots are reminded of the reporting requirements of RMZ areas (REF AIP, ENR 1.8, paragraph 3), including:
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- entering and leaving the Radio Mandatory Zone (RMZ)
- intended actions and planned route
- joining any part of the traffic circuit
- intentions to conduct a take-off or landing including the runway designator
- intended taxi route
- lining up on the runway
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Note: Outside of ATS operating hours it is recommended to circle the aerodrome and ensure the vacancy and usability of the runway.
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The aerodrome operator recommends requesting the opening of an aerodrome along with ATS services for all IFR flights.
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3 Aerodrome weather information
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When using aerodrome weather information, please note that real-time weather data is not available for operations outside of the ATS unit operating hours. The weather information included in observation messages should be used only to support decision making. The pilot is responsible for estimating the actual weather situation and ensuring that the weather conditions permit a safe IFR operation.
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It should be noted that changes in e.g. wind, runway visibility and QNH do not trigger an automatic SPECIAL observation. Furthermore, the ATIS broadcast may not always be updated. (AUTO) METAR messages are intended for flight planning purposes and they are issued only every half-hour (XX:20 and XX:50), SPECI messages are not issued. (AUTO) METAR reports use different averaging periods than those used for local reports and ATS weather displays: e.g. the wind averaging period in METAR is typically 10 minutes and the wind direction is reported as a true heading, whereas for operations, the reported wind information is normally based on a 2-minute average and the direction is a magnetic heading.
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The differences between METAR and local observations are described in more detail in Appendix Part-MET to Regulation (EU) 2017/373.
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4 Use of technical systems at aerodromes
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Area control center (ACC) has no information on the status or availability of equipment and technical systems or the prevailing conditions (weather or runway conditions) outside of the aerodrome and ATS operating hours.
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Signals from navigational aids are not monitored when the aerodrome ATS unit is closed and cannot be guaranteed to be accurate. The use of ground signals is the responsibility of the pilot in command. The pilot in command shall try to ensure the availability of the GNSS signal required and take into account the occasional disturbances in the GNSS service.
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The content of the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) is not monitored outside the aerodrome ATS units operating hours, so it may contain incorrect or outdated information.
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5 Interaction with Area Control Center (ACC)
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Area control center (ACC) does not forward operational requests to aerodromes, such as aerodrome runway light settings. The pilot in command shall coordinate such requests with the aerodrome operator, if necessary.
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Air traffic in uncontrolled airspace may not be known to ATC. Flight information service based on the surveillance system (e.g. radar) cannot be provided everywhere as the area minimum altitude (AMA) may be lower than the system coverage area.
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In all situations, the pilots of aircraft are responsible for monitoring the airspace and avoiding conflicts with other traffic, and within RMZ areas, for monitoring and reporting on the ATS frequency of the aerodrome.
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Area control center (ACC) does not primarily accept IFR flight plans filed on radio frequency (only in exceptional circumstances, e.g. when the aircraft is unintentionally entering IMC).
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Unnecessary pilot reports of local IFR flights (e.g. reporting of touch and go or approaches) on area control centers (ACC) frequencies, especially during peak hours, should be avoided.
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If the flight is planned to enter a controlled airspace, a written flight plan must be filed prior to departure.
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Activation of the IFR flight plan should not be requested less than 15 minutes prior to published opening (by a NOTAM) of the ATS unit or if the aircraft's movement in the movement area will be started after opening the ATS unit. Restriction is not valid for military, border guard, police, customs, maritime and aviation authorities, or authorities responsible for rescue and firefighting, emergency medical services, ambulance flights or flights assigned by these authorities. Restriction is also not valid for flights based on an international obligation of Finland.
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When the flight is planned to enter controlled airspace, the flight plan shall be activated prior to departure by calling area control center (ACC) +358 3 386 5172, from where the call is forwarded to the appropriate ACC sector.
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The aircraft will be provided with ATC clearance, or route information, as well as any known regulatory ATFM messages. The issued clearance expires in 10 minutes from the reported departure time taking into account possible ATFM measures.
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The pilot in command is responsible for complying with regulatory ATFM messages.
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When planning to enter controlled airspace, two-way radio communication shall be established with appropriate ATC unit and in case the aircraft is entering ACC airspace, surveillance identification is also required prior to entering controlled airspace.
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5.3 Approaches and landings
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After landing at an uncontrolled aerodrome, or outside of the operating hours of aerodrome's ATS unit, closing of an IFR flight plan shall be reported to area control center (ACC), +358 3 386 5172, as soon as possible.
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