3.11 Pilot Visits to Air Traffic Facilities. Pilots are encouraged to visit air traffic facilities (Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs), Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs), and Flight Service Stations (FSSs)) and familiarize themselves with the ATC system. On rare occasions, facilities may not be able to approve a visit because of workload or other reasons. Pilots should contact the facility prior to the visit and advise of the number of persons in the group, the time and date of the proposed visit, and the primary interest of the group. With this information available, the facility can prepare an itinerary and have someone available to guide the group through the facility.
3.12
Operation Take.off and Operation Rain-check. Operation Take.off is a program that educates pilots in how best to utilize the FSS modernization efforts and services available in Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS), as stated in FAA Order 7230.17, Pilot Education Program . Operation Takeoff. Operation Raincheck is a program designed to familiarize pilots with the ATC system, its functions, responsibilities, and benefits.
4.
En Route Procedures
4.1 Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
An ARTCC is a facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on instrument flight rule (IFR) flight plans within CONTROLLED AIRSPACE and principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to visual flight rule (VFR) aircraft.
4.2 ARTCC Communications
4.2.1 Direct Communications, Controllers and Pilots
4.2.1.1 ARTCCs are capable of direct communica-tions with IFR air traffic on certain frequencies. Maximum communications coverage is possible through the use of Remote Center Air/Ground (RCAG) sites comprised of very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitters and receivers. These sites are located throughout the
U.S. Although they may be several hundred miles away from the ARTCC, they are remoted to the various centers by land lines or microwave links. As IFR operations are expedited through the use of direct communications, pilots are requested to use these frequencies strictly for communications pertinent to the control of IFR aircraft. Flight plan filing, en route weather, weather forecasts, and similar data should be requested through Flight Service Stations, company radio, or appropriate military facilities capable of performing these services.
4.2.1.2 An ARTCC is divided into sectors. Each sector is handled by one or a team of controllers and has its own sector discrete frequency. As a flight progresses from one sector to another, the pilot is requested to change to the appropriate sector discrete frequency.
4.2.1.3 Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) is a system that supplements air/ground voice communications. As a result, it expands two.way air traffic control air/ground communica-tions capabilities. Consequently, the air traffic system’s operational capacity is increased and any associated air traffic delays become minimized. A related safety benefit is that pilot/controller read. back and hear.back errors will be significantly reduced. The CPDLC’s principal operating criteria are:
a) Voice remains the primary and controlling air/ground communications means.
b) Participating aircraft will need to have the appropriate CPDLC avionics equipment in order to receive uplink or transmit downlink messages.
c) CPDLC Build 1 offers four ATC data link services. These are altimeter setting (AS), transfer of communications (TC), initial contact (IC), and menu text messages (MT).
1) Altimeter settings are usually transmitted automatically when a CPDLC session and eligibility has been established with an aircraft. A controller may also manually send an altimeter setting message.
NOTE.
When conducting instrument approach procedures, pilots are responsible to obtain and use the appropriate altimeter setting in accordance with 14 CFR Section 97.20. CPDLC issued altimeter settings are excluded for this purpose.
2) Initial contact is a safety validation transac-tion that compares a pilot’s initiated altitude downlink message with an aircraft’s ATC host computer stored altitude. If an altitude mismatch is detected, the controller will verbally provide corrective action. 中国航空网 www.aero.cn 航空翻译 www.aviation.cn 本文链接地址：美国航行情报汇编 AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION PUBLICATION AIP 1(104)
