Position Reports [DELETE]

Position Reports [DELETE]

Pilots of instrument flight rules (IFR) and controlled VFR (CVFR) flights are required to make position reports over compulsory reporting points specified on IFR charts, and over any other reporting points specified by air traffic control (ATC).cAs specified in Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) 602.125, the position report shall include the information in the sequence set out on page C2 of the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS), that is:

  • The identification
  • The position
  • The time over the reporting point in coordinated universal time (UTC)
  • The altitude or flight level
  • The type of flight plan or flight itinerary filed
  • The name of the next designated reporting point and estimated time of arrival (ETA) over that point in UTC
  • The name only of the next reporting point along the route of flight (see NOTE)
  • Any additional information requested by ATC or deemed necessary by the pilot.

NOTE: Reporting points are indicated by a symbol on the appropriate charts. The “designated compulsory” reporting point is a solid triangle and the “on request”reporting point symbol is an open triangle. Position reports over an “on request” reporting point are only necessary when requested by ATC. Therefore, no mention of an “on request” reporting point needs to be made in any position report unless it has been requested by ATC.

En route IFR and CVFR flights should establish direct controller-pilot communications (DCPC) wherever possible. Peripheral stations (PAL) have been established at a number of locations to extend the communications coverage. Some PAL locations also employ a radio re-transmit unit (RRTU). The purpose of the RRTU is to transmit a pilot’s broadcast from one PAL location over another frequency at a different PAL location. This allows the pilot to know when the controller is working communications traffic on a different PAL frequency. Controllers at an area control centre (ACC) can disable this equipment when necessary due to the communications workload. However, it must be remembered that, while DCPC provides direct contact with the IFR unit at locations where there is no VFR control and aerodrome advisory service (AAS) or remote aerodrome advisory service (RAAS) is provided, pilots must also communicate with the flight service station (FSS) or flight information centre (FIC) for local traffic information. Whenever DCPC cannot be established, or whenever ATC has instructed a pilot to contact a FIC, position reports shall be made through the assigned FIC or the nearest communications agency en route.

When the pilot-in-command of an IFR aircraft is informed that the aircraft has been IDENTIFIED, position reports over compulsory reporting points are no longer required. Pilots will be informed when to resume normal position reporting.

In order that flight information and alerting service may be provided to all IFR flights outside controlled airspace, pilots should make position reports over all navigation aids (NAVAID) along the route of flight to the nearest station with air-ground communications capability.

If the time estimate for the next applicable reporting point differs from the previously reported estimate by 3 min or more, a revised estimated time should be reported to the appropriate air traffic service (ATS) unit as soon as possible.

REFERENCES 
AIM RAC 8.1 Position Reports
CAR 602.125 Enroute Position Reports
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