Pilot Briefing

Please read the following briefing to make sure you understand what the event is about and also, to help yourself (and others) enjoy the event as much as possible.We will depart from Lisbon (LPPT), Portugal, and fly to Recife (SBRF), Brasil. Flight time is approximately 7 hours. 

If the event is very popular (we do not know, it is the first event of this kind), ATC will use a slot time system in order to ease congestion at Lisbon and help traffic flow further downroute. The time window available for each route will be active for a period of 10 minutes, and we can expect a departure every 2 minutes.
 

• Pilots wishing to fly via airway UN741 will take off at H+00 and 30 (ie, from 1230 to 1240z...)
• Flights using airway UN873 will depart at H+10 and 40 (ie, from 1240 to 1250z....)
• Flights using airway UN857 will depart at H+20 and 50 (ie, from 1250 to 1300z)

Therefore, you will need to push and start at least 10 minutes before your allocated take off time. If it is VERY busy, you will only be cleared to go at those times.

Once you have chosen your routing, we advise you to get ready to depart in accordance with your slot. To avoid a slot, be flexible in your choice of routes. Please be advised that it is more likely you will get a "slot" if you use airways UN857 and UN873 as these have less capacity.

HOWEVER,  please note that ATC will be as flexible as possible and will try to avoid any delays or impose "slots".

Therefore, pilots should logon to VATSIM between 20 and 30 minutes maximum before their Take Off Time. This should give you enough time to get in the "slot system", receive ATC clearances, pushback instructions and taxi clearances. Pilots should complete most of their pre-departure procedures/checklists before logging on the network. Get two or three routes ready just in case, and enough fuel. 

From Clearance to Take Off (Portugal - LPPC)

Take Off to Top of Climb (Portugal - LPPC)

En-route controllers in Portugal will give you clearance to climb to your requested level (if it is available on your route), and might give you heading, speed, etc… instructions as per normal VATSIM operations.

After taking off, the pilots are supposed to contact Lisboa Approach around 1000ft, without the need to report airborne to Tower. Approach will route the planes until they leave the TMA after which they are handed over to Lisboa Control. They will remain with Control until the FIR exit point.

Morocco (GMMM)

It has been decided by the organisers that radar coverage exists all over Moroccan airspace and “normal” VATSIM procedures are in force. 

Canarias (GCCC) and Sal-Cape Verde (GVSC)

On entering the Canaries airspace, you are still under radar coverage and normal VATSIM operations still apply. This is also true in Sal’s airspace.  As stated in the Flight Plan section, please note that from Sal, "normal" RVSM levels apply (Even levels-Westbound; Odd levels-Eastbound).  

Dakar Oceanic (GOOO)

You are now entering “pure” Oceanic airspace and oceanic procedures now apply. Separation between aircraft is now procedural and based on the Mach number technique. The Sal controller(s) will ask you for an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) at the oceanic entry point, and your Mach Number. They won’t ask you for a FL number, they will just assume you want to continue the flight at your current level. If you want to step-climb at this stage, let the controllers know in advance so that they can plan for it. You can also ask later on (see below).At each “compulsory report” waypoints (depicted with a  on the airways charts), pilots will be required to give position reports to the Oceanic controller. Accurate position reports are very important as they are the only way the controller knows where each aircraft is and is the only way they have of maintaining separation between all aircraft. A position report includes:

• Your callsign
• The waypoint you are reporting
• The time at which you were over that waypoint
• Your Flight Level number
• Your Mach number
• The Estimated time at the next waypoint

Example: “TAP123, overhead DELAX time 1624, FL360, Mach .80, estimating MAROA time 1650”

For pilots that would like a step climb, it is important to ask for this during a position report. Step climb requests are not guaranteed to be granted, but it may be worth the asking. Be aware that it will take some time for the controller to work out if he can approve the request or not, so be patient. Time Acceleration is NOT allowed during the event.

Atlantico FIR (SBAO)

The same Oceanic procedures will apply.

Recife (SBRE)

We are back to Radar control and "normal" operations resume. As they get closer to Recife, pilots may expect holding along the arrival routes and the hold times may be lengthy. Plan your fuel quantity accordingly. Fuel Emergencies won’t be given priority, you will need to divert to Natal or Fortaleza. Be aware that Event traffic will be given priority in Recife.

We hope you have a great time. Enjoy!