GEN 3.3 AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES
1. RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY
The authority responsible for the overall administration of ATS provided for international civil aviation within the Muscat FIR is the CAA.
Postal Address: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
P. O. Box 1
POSTAL CODE 111
MUSCAT
Sultanate of Oman
Telephone: (968) 24 354860
Telefax ACC: (968) 24 354533
Telefax COMM: (968) 24 354535
Email: Nil
2. AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
ATS, as indicated in the following paragraphs, are provided for the entire territory including its territorial waters of Oman as well as the airspace over the high seas encompassed by Muscat FIR.
In some cases, in accordance with the regional air navigation agreement, air traffic services are provided, under the delegated authority, in the airspace within another bordering FIR.Details of such services are provided in section ENR 2.
3. TYPES OF SERVICE
The following types of services are provided:
a) Approach Control (APP) (Surveillance)
b) Area Control (ACC) (Surveillance); and
c) Flight Information Service (FIS) and Alerting Service (ALRS).
With the exception of services provided at military air bases, the following types of services are provided at aerodromes:
a) Aerodrome Control (TWR);
b) Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS); and
c) Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), at certain aerodromes.
4 AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES
4.1 With the exception of certain military aerodromes, ATS in the Muscat FIR are provided by the CAA. Aerodrome Flight Information Services are provided by certain private aerodrome operators as notified in AD 2.
4.2 ATC Service within the Muscat FIR is exercised:
a) on AWYs covering the main ATS routes; and
b) in UTA, TMA, CTR and at controlled aerodromes equipped with approach and landing aids.
4.3 Flight information and alerting services within the FIR and ATC service within CTA is provided by one centre (ACC Muscat). IFR are mandatory at FL150 and above. The axis of each airway is constituted by a line connecting significant points.
4.4 Air traffic control, flight information and alerting services are provided by:
a) ACC Muscat along the airways, including those parts traversing terminal control areas.
b) The relevant APP and TWR units, in coordination with ACC Muscat as necessary, for arriving and departing aircraft.
4.5 Radar service is an integral part of the ATS system. A description of radar services and procedures is provided in ENR 1.6. Additional procedures applicable to CTR Salalah are contained in AD 2.OOSA.
4.6 The description of the airspace designated for ATS purposes, either in chart or tabular form, is found in ENR 2, 3 or ENR 6, as appropriate.
4.7 In general, the air traffic rules and procedures in force and the organization of ATS are in conformity with ICAO SARPS, PANS and SUPPS. Differences between national and international rules and procedures are given in GEN 1.7, the SUPPS and altimeter setting procedures being reproduced in full with an indication wherein there is a difference. Prohibited, Restricted and Danger Areas established within the Muscat FIR are shown in ENR 5. Activation of areas, subject to intermittent activity, is notified well in advance by NOTAM, giving reference to the area only by its identification.
4.8 Areas in which flight training activities are regularly conducted adjacent to controlled airspace are notified as Training Areas if designation as either Restricted or Danger Area is appropriate. Such areas are active as per the hours notified in ENR 5 or by NOTAM and are depicted on relevant charts in ENR 6.
4.9 Interception procedures and signals for use in the event of interception over the Sultanate of Oman and territorial waters are shown in ENR 1.12.
4.10 Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS)
Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is an information service provided at certain aerodromes by an Aerodrome Flight Information Officer (AFISO) to give information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights in the immediate aerodrome vicinity and to give taxi instructions on the apron and manoeuvring area. The service is easily identifiable by the call sign suffix 'INFORMATION'. AFIS is available at aerodromes during the hours of operation indicated at AD 2. AFISO may pass ATC clearances on behalf of the Muscat ACC, and in so doing will clearly include in the message the callsign of the ATS issuing the clearance.
The AFISO is responsible for:
a. Issuing information to aircraft flying in the immediate aerodrome vicinity to assist pilots in preventing collisions;
b. issuing instructions and information to aircraft on the apron and manoeuvring area to assist pilots in preventing collisions between aircraft and vehicles/ obstructions on the manoeuvring area, or between aircraft moving on the apron;
c. issuing instructions to vehicles and persons on the manoeuvring area;
d. informing aircraft of essential aerodrome information (i.e. the state of the aerodrome and its facilities);
e. provision of an alerting service;
f. initiating overdue action.
5. COORDINATION BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND ATS
5.1 This is effected in accordance with Annex 11, paragraph 2.15 and relevant portions of PANS-ATM (Doc 4444-ATM/501) Chapter 10, paragraph 10.2. Operators requiring the service prescribed in Annex 11, paragraph 2.12.1 and PANS-ATM Chapter 10, paragraph 10.2 should advise the CAA accordingly.
5.2 RPLs are no longer accepted in the Muscat FIR.
6. MINIMUM FLIGHT ALTITUDE
The minimum en-route levels on the AWY listed in ENR 3 have been determined so as to ensure on the basis of the lowest known MSL pressure values for the areas concerned, at least 2000 FT vertical clearance over mountainous terrain and 1000 FT elsewhere, above the highest obstacle within the AWY lateral limits and a 5 NM buffer area. Mountainous terrain is defined as all that which attains or exceeds an elevation of 5000 FT AMSL.