Outside of the OTS periods operators may flight plan any random routing, except that during a period of one hour prior to each OTS validity period the following restrictions apply: For such aircraft, however, continuous climb or descent through the specified levels may be available on request, subject to traffic. It must also be stressed that aircraft without the equipment required to satisfy the Data Link Mandate will not be permitted, during the OTS validity period, to join or cross those tracks within the mandate, as specified in the REMARKS section of the daily NAT Track Message.

However they should be aware that, whilst ATC will make every effort to clear random traffic across the OTS at published levels, re-routes or significant changes in flight level are likely to be necessary during most of the OTS traffic periods. If they so choose, operators are not restricted from flight planning through or across the OTS. on a random route to remain clear of the OTS, either laterally or vertically.along a route that will join or leave an outer track of the OTS.Therefore, crews of all NAT flights at or above FL290, even those that will transit the NAT above the NAT High Level Airspace (HLA) (above FL420) or through the NAT HLA outside the OTS, should obtain the current track message prior to planning their route and carry a copy of that or any updated message during the flight.įollow this link for the current NAT Track Message.ĭuring the hours of validity of the OTS, operators are encouraged to flight plan as follows:

However, in the event of a contingency or diversion, knowledge of the location of the OTS tracks will be useful to the crew of any NAT high level flight. This article is intended to provide an overview of the Flight Planning Procedures for the North Atlantic.Ĭrews intending to route via one of the Organised Track System (OTS) tracks will require a copy of the current NAT Track Message to plan and execute their flight. Aircraft separation, and hence safety, are ensured by demanding the highest standards of horizontal and vertical navigation performance/accuracy and of operating discipline. Direct Controller Pilot Communications (DCPC) and ATS Surveillance are unavailable in most parts of the NAT Region. In 2012 approximately 460,000 flights crossed the North Atlantic and that volume of traffic continues to increase. The airspace of the North Atlantic (NAT), which links Europe and North America, is the busiest oceanic airspace in the world.

Flight planning