Enroute Charts and Procedures Overview Enroute Charts Symbols

Enroute Charts and Procedures

Overview • Enroute Charts • Symbols • Routing • Preferred IFR Routes • TEC Routes • Facilities • Obstacle Clearance Areas • Operations in Other Countries • Mandatory Reports • Other Clearance Types • VOR Service Volume © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Enroute Navigation IPG 3 -1 • 91. 181 is the basis for the course to be flown • Must fly the center of a federal airway or direct course between nav aids or fixes • May maneuver in VFR • Three strata: • Lower – Base of Controlled to 18, 000 feet MSL • Middle – Identifiable jet routes – FL 180 to FL 450 • Above – FL 450+ is intended for random point-to-point navigation © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Enroute Charts JIC 5 -3 • Two different charts to be used depending upon your altitude: • Low Altitude Enroute Charts • aka L-Charts • 17, 999 MSL and below • Airways are called “Victor Airways” • High Altitude Enroute Charts • FL 180 to FL 450 • Airways are called Jet Routes © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

L-Charts JIC 5 -3 • We will mainly talk about LCharts because most instrument training will happen in these altitudes • High altitude charts have similar symbols, with slight changes • The front panel shows the area the chart entails © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Navigational Aids • VOR Symbol is a small compass rose, which points to Magnetic North • You’ll notice the symbols are roughly the same as for Sectionals • NDBs are roughly same as well © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. JIC 5 -5

Navigational Aids • Fixes are labeled with 5 letters and given a triangle • ILS Localizer symbols indicate that a fix can be identified with a Localizer • Navigation Facility Information is given in a Box, roughly the same as a Sectional © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. JIC 5 -5

DME and Radials JIC 5 -7 • DME information is given with a number inside a D shape • Distance between fixes is a number between the respective fixes • Radials are given in 3 number increments (e. g. , 072, or 311) © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Airports JIC 5 -16 • Can be either Brown, Blue or Green • Green if Civilian with approach • Blue if Military with approach • Brown if Civilian with no approach © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Airspace JIC 5 -16 • Bravo is depicted by a large blue area ©

Airspace JIC 5 -16 • Charlie is depicted by a large blue area with

Airspace JIC 5 -16 • Delta is depicted by a large blue area with

Area Charts JIC 5 -19 • It may be necessary to have a large scale map of a heavily used terminal area • These charts ease the transition from an L-Chart to the approach • Will be depicted by green dashes © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Preferred IFR Routes • Help pilots, dispatchers and ATC minimize route changes • Efficient and orderly management of air traffic • Published in A/FD (See Page 401) © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -2

Tower Enroute Control • Similar to Preferred IFR Routes • Used when going between cities within one large metropolitan area • See A/FD page 422 for detailed explanation © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. A/FD

VOR Standard Service Volumes © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3

Facility Monitoring • Most VOR, VORTAC, ILS, NDB and Marker Beacon facilities are installed by the FAA and monitored by internal monitoring • The facility will shut itself down when performance deteriorates below a specific tolerance • The FAA will be notified remotely • Always check NOTAMs for pre-determined outages © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -4

LF Airways IPG 3 -5 • Low Frequency Airways exist in Alaska • NDB to NDB Navigation • Most of these have disappeared in CONUS • Labeled by something other than a “V” © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

VHF Airways IPG 3 -5 • Very High Frequency Airways exist throughout the CONUS • VOR to VOR Navigation • Labeled as either “V” (Victor Airway), or; “J” (Jet Route) © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

GPS Airways IPG 3 -5 • Global Positioning Routes exist throughout the CONUS, as

GPS Airways L-Chart • Global Positioning Routes exist throughout the CONUS, as well •

VHF Obstacle Clearance Areas IPG 3 -6 • Primary area of victor airways • Each route is 8 NM wide (4 NM from centerline) • Primary area is determined at a distance of 51 NM from navigation aid at a width of 4. 5 degrees • Secondary area • Extends an additional 2 NM from the centerline • Begins 500’ above the route © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

VHF Obstacle Clearance Areas © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3

VHF Obstacle Clearance Areas • Protected area: • 1000 feet above highest obstacle in non-mountainous terrain • 2000 feet above highest obstacle in mountainous terrain • May be reduced to 1700 feet under specific exemptions in Part 95 © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -7

Designated Mountainous Areas © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -8

Change Over Points (COPs) IPG 3 -11 • Normally at the midpoint between two routes • If other radio frequencies interfere with route, then it is placed at the optimal point © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Navigational Gaps IPG 3 -10 • Airways may have a gap of navigational service but still be approved for navigation • These are called MEA Gaps (we’ll get to this in a second) • Use extra caution in these areas, and avoid if possible © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Altitude Planning Obj. Op. • FAA requires all aircraft to fly at least the minimum published altitude • In absence of a published altitude • 1, 000’ above highest obstruction in non-mountainous areas • 2, 000’ above highest obstruction in mountainous areas • Based on heading • From magnetic course of 0 -179 odd altitude • From magnetic course of 180 -359 even altitude © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Altitude Changes IPG 3 -20 • “Climb Immediately” – ATC expects an immediate climb due to impending situation • “Climb at Pilot’s Discretion” – Begin your climb when you wish, and level off if needed during the climb • “Climb to…” – Climb at optimum rate until 1000’ of assigned altitude then transition to 1500 - 500 fpm until leveling off © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Types of Altitudes • • MEA – Minimum Enroute Altitude MOCA – Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude MRA – Minimum Reception Altitude MVA – Minimum Vectoring Altitude MCA – Minimum Crossing Altitude MAA – Maximum Authorized Altitude OROCA – Off Route Obstruction Clearance Altitude Lowest usable flight level © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) • Minimum altitude for • Obstruction clearance • Navigational coverage • Above floor of controlled Airspace by • 300’ for transition areas • 500’ in controlling areas • Adequate communications at MEA is not guaranteed © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -13

Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude • Minimum obstruction clearance altitude between radar fixes or off routes • Only guarantees navigational coverage within 22 NM of navaid • Calculated based on required obstruction clearance rounded to nearest 100 th © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -13

Minimum Reception Altitude • The lowest altitude which guarantees navigational and radio coverage • For both on or off route altitudes • May be higher than MEA © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -13

Minimum Crossing Altitude • Used when it is necessary to cross a fix at a specified altitude • Distance is based on • Up to 5, 000’ MSL – 150 ft/NM • 5, 000’ – 10, 000’ MSL – 120 ft/NM • Above 10, 000’ MSL – 100 ft/NM © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -13

Maximum Authorized Altitude • Maximum altitude aircraft can fly to be on a route • Based on technical limitations or airspace limitations of route © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -14

Off Route Obstruction Clearance Alt. • Gives pilot minimum obstruction clearance but guarantees no radar, navigation, or communication coverage • Must remain 3 NM from restricted areas © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -13

IFR Route Planning IPG 3 -12 • On Route Planning • A pilot must have navigation equip for route of flight • GPS can be the primary means of navigation but cannot be the sole route of planning • Routes are planning from fix to fix • (Not airport to airport) © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

IFR Route Planning • Off Route Planning • • Plan from point to point (if you can go direct) Still plan to fix (not airport) Take all other altitudes into consideration If OROCA is higher than © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -12

IFR Cruising Altitudes • 91. 159 issues altitudes for IFR flight • If operating

Lowest Usable Flight Level IPG 3 -16 • As pressure decreases, so does the aircraft’s true altitude • At 18, 000 feet, everyone changes to 29. 92 to fly Pressure Altitudes • If flying at FL 180, its possible that the aircraft may interfere with aircraft flying an MSL vs a Pressure Altitude • 91. 129 prescribes Lowest Usable Flight Levels for these reasons © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Operations in Other Countries • • • May hear the terms QNE and QNH QNE is fancy for Pressure Altitude (AKA a Transition Level) QNH is fancy for True Altitude (AGL) (AKA a Transition Altitude) QFE is the Transition Height Also note that a transition layer exists • If all of this confuses you, don’t worry about it! © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved. IPG 3 -17

Nonradar Position Reports IPG 3 -19 • Some areas have no radar for specific altitudes, so ATC may be required to be informed of your progress throughout your flight • Compulsory Reporting Points have been established to aid ATC in requiring pilots to report • These points will be a normal fix or Nav. Aid, but filled in Black © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Nonradar Position Report Format IPG 3 -19 • I Play The Accordion For Nothing, No Reason • ID, Position, Time, Altitude, Flight type, Next eta, Next point, Remarks • e. g. , “Archer 282 HP, Sidney, 15 past the hour, 9000, IFR, Akron 35 past the hour, Thurman next, rough headwind. ” © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Mandatory IFR Reports • • MARVELOUS VFR 500 Missed Approach Fix Inbound Radio Failure (nav or comm) Vacating Assigned Altitude Entering Hold Leaving Holding Fix Other Information Related to Safety of Flight IPG 3 -18 • Unforecast Weather • Speed Change from filed TAS 5% or 10 Knots (whichever is greater) • VFR-on-Top change in Altitude • Fix or position report • Revised ETA (error greater than 3 minutes) • 500 fpm climb (unable) © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Enroute Clearances IPG 3 -20 • Altitude Terminology • “Maintain” – ATC expects the pilot to maintain specified altitude unless the pilot requests otherwise • “Cruise” – ATC assigns a block of airspace to the pilot where he/she may climb or descend at their discretion • However, once a pilot descends and reports leaving an altitude, the pilot may not climb back up unless he/she requests it © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

Climb to VFR-on-Top IFH 10 -26 • Purpose is to climb to a VFR altitude • Used to climb through fog or haze, then cancel IFR, which then makes the pilot VFR Over-The-Top • A pilot must request “Climb to VFR On-Top” • If no top report is available, a pilot will climb until VFR and make a top report © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

VFR-on-Top IFH 10 -26 • A pilot must comply with VFR cloud clearances and IFR regulations on a VFR On-Top clearance • Permits the pilot to select an altitude or flight level of your choice with ATC restrictions © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.

References • JIC Jeppesen Instrument/Commercial: Guided Flight Discovery • Obj. Op. Objective Opinion • 14 CFR Federal Aviation Regulations • IFH Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083 -15 A) • IPG Jeppesen Instrument Procedures Guide • L-Chart No formal description in text, but found on L-Charts © 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.