APLA issues advice on ATC provision in Argentine airspace
Background
Due to a decision by the Argentine government to transfer Air Traffic Control provision from ANAC to the military. This has given the Asociacion de Pilotos de Lineas Aereas (APLA) cause for concern with fears that the standard of ATC service may be degraded as the result of the use of military controllers unused to civil operations. Accordingly, APLA has issued a number of recommendations for pilots operating in the Comodoro Rivadavia, Cordoba, Ezeiza, Mendoza and Resistencia FIRs
APLA Recommendations
– Use ICAO standard phraseology for all communications
– Follow all ATC instructions exactly
– Avoid communications with ATC that are not essential for flight safety.
– Fly SIDs and STARs at less than 250kts IAS when below 10,000ft.
– Do not request “direct to” clearances
– Exercise extra vigilance, especially within Terminal Areas
– DO NOT OPERATE in the affected airspace without a fully serviceable TCAS
– To avoid go-arounds and/or missed approaches ensure that your approach is stabilised (IFALPA recommends before 1,000ft ACL in IMC and 500ft AGL in VMC)
– Plan to allow additional contingency fuel when operating within the affected FIR
