1.

Introduction

1.1.

The altimeter setting procedures in use within Flight Information Regions of Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata and Mumbai generally conforms to those contained in Doc.4444-PANS/ATM Part II, Section 12.

1.2.

Transition altitudes for all aerodromes are given in the tabulation in ENR 1.7-4. Transition altitudes are also indicated in the Instrument approach charts.

1.3.

QNH reports and temperature information for use in determining adequate terrain clearance is provided in meteorological broadcast and is available on request from Air traffic service units. QNH values are given to the lower whole HPa.

2.

Basic Procedure

2.1.

General

2.1.1.

A transition altitude is specified for each aerodrome. No transition altitude is less than 4000 Ft.

2.1.2.

Vertical positioning of aircraft when at or below the transition altitude is expressed in terms of altitude whereas such positioning at or above the transition level is in terms of flight levels. While passing through the transition layer, vertical positioning is expressed in terms of altitude when descending, and in terms of flight level when ascending.

2.1.3.

Flight level 0 (zero) is located at the atmosphere pressure level of 1013.2 HPa (29.92 inches).

2.1.4.

Consecutive flight levels are separated by a pressure interval corresponding 152.4M (500 Ft) in the standard atmosphere.

NOTE :

Example of the relationship between flight levels and altimeter indications are given in the following tables, the metric equivalents being approximate.

Flight Level

Altimeter

Indication

0

0

0

5

500

150

10

1000

300

15

1500

450

20

2000

600

50

5000

1500

100

10000

3050

150

15000

4550

200

20000

6100

2.2.

Take-off and Climb

2.2.1.

QNH altimeter setting is made available to aircraft in taxi clearance prior to take off.

2.2.2.

Vertical positioning of aircraft during climb is expressed in terms of altitude until reaching the transition altitude above which vertical positioning is expressed in terms of flight levels.

2.3.

Vertical Separation Enroute

2.3.1.

Vertical separation during enroute flight shall be expressed in terms of flight level at all times. Except when flying in the vicinity of an aerodrome at or below transition altitude.

2.4.

Approach and Landing

2.4.1.

A QNH altimeter setting is made available in the routine approach and landing instructions. The altimeter setting obtained on radio telephone shall be read back to the ATS unit.

2.4.2.

Vertical positioning of aircraft during approach is controlled by reference to flight levels until reaching the transition level below which vertical positioning is controlled by reference to altitude.

2.5.

Missed Approach

2.5.1.

The relevant portions of 2.1.2, 2.2 and 2.4 shall be applied in the case of a missed approach.

3.

Procedures applicable to operators (including pilots)

3.1.

Flight Planning

3.1.1.

The levels at which a flight is to be conducted shall be specified in a flight plan -

i) in terms of flight level if the flight is to be conducted at or above the transition level, and

ii) in terms of altitude if the flight is to be conducted in the vicinity of an aerodrome and at or below the transition altitude.

3.2.

Minimum Flight Altitude

3.2.1.

Pilot must ensure that in Instrument Meteorological Conditions and at night an aircraft is not descended below the minimum safe en-route altitude until over a known aid at the aerodrome, the only exception being when the position of the aircraft is positively established by reference to a Radio/ATS Radar aid within the initial approach area, where the initial approach altitude or associated sector altitude apply.

4.

System of Cruising level

4.1.

All VFR flights above 3,000 Ft from the ground and water and all IFR flights, when in level cruising flight levels appropriate to their magnetic tracks in accordance with the table set forth hereunder.

4.2.

In controlled airspace, the correlation of levels to track as prescribed in Tables of cruising levels shall not apply whenever otherwise indicated in Air Traffic Control Clearances.

4.3.

All flights shall be conducted in accordance with Instrument Flight Rules when operated at or above FL 150. However, Indian Military aircraft may operate VFR flights between FL 150 and FL 285 at appropriate levels given in Table of cruising levels when flying-

i) In VMC

ii) Outside controlled airspace and

iii) Unable to establish contact with appropriate ATS units.

5.

Changing levels

5.1.

A pilot-in-command shall read back level clearance.

5.2.

When required, the pilot-in-command may be instructed to reach an assigned level by a specified time or position and at a specified rate of climb or descend. The pilot-in-command shall advise ATC immediately if he is doubtful whether the assigned level can be reached as instructed.

5.3.

An aircraft may be required to change level at a time, place or rate specified by ATC. The pilot-in-command shall effect a level change as soon as possible but not later than 1 minute after the time specified.

5.4.

A pilot-in-command shall report:

i). at the time of leaving a level for newly assigned level

ii). When leaving or passing through such other levels as may be specified by ATC

iii). On reaching an assigned level.

6.

Table of cruising level

-90

0

10

300

1000

20

600

2000

30

900

3000

35

1050

3500

40

1200

4000

45

1350

4500

50

1500

5000

55

1700

5500

60

1850

6000

65

2000

6500

70

2150

7000

75

2300

7500

80

2450

8000

85

2600

8500

90

2750

9000

95

2900

9500

100

3050

10000

105

3200

10500

110

3350

11000

115

3500

11500

120

3650

12000

125

3800

12500

130

3950

13000

135

4100

13500

140

4250

14000

145

4400

14500

150

4500

15000

155

4700

15500

160

4900

16000

165

5050

16500

170

5200

17000

175

5350

17500

180

5500

18000

185

5650

18500

190

5800

19000

195

5950

19500

200

6100

20000

205

6250

20500

210

6400

21000

215

6550

21500

220

6700

22000

225

6850

22500

230

7000

23000

235

7150

23500

240

7300

24000

245

7450

24500

250

7600

25000

255

7750

25500

260

7900

26000

265

8100

26500

270

8250

27000

275

8400

27500

280

8550

28000

285

8700

28500

290

8850

29000

300

9150

30000

310

9450

31000

320

9750

32000

330

10050

33000

340

10350

34000

350

10650

35000

360

10950

36000

370

11300

37000

380

11600

38000

390

11900

39000

400

12000

40000

410

12500

41000

430

13100

43000

450

13700

45000

7.

List showing transition altitude for aerodromes in India

1.

Agartala

4000

2.

Agatti

4000

3.

Agra

4000

4.

Ahmedabad

4000

5.

Akola

4000

6.

Ambikapur

7000

7.

Aligarh

4000

8.

Amritsar

4000

9.

Aurangabad

5000

10.

AzamgarhAyodhya

4000

11.

BagdograAzamgarh

130004000

12.

BalurghatBagdogra

400013000

13.

Barapani (Shillong)Balurghat

90004000

14.

Behala

Barapani (Shillong)

40009000

15

Bengaluru (VOBL)Behala

70004000

16

Bengaluru (HALVOBL)

7000

17

Bilaspur

Bengaluru (HAL)

50007000

18.

BelagaviBilaspur

60005000

19.

BhavnagarBelagavi

40006000

20.

BhopalBhavnagar

50004000

21.

BhubaneswarBhopal

40005000

22.

BhujBhubaneswar

4000

23.

BilaspurBhuj

50004000

24.

BurnpurBilaspur

40005000

25.

CalicutBurnpur

100004000

26.

ChakuliaCalicut

400010000

27.

ChandigarhChakulia

100004000

28.

ChennaiChandigarh

400010000

29.

ChitrakootChennai

4000

30.

Cochin InternationalChitrakoot

110004000

31.

CoimbatoreCochin International

11000

32.

Cooch BeharCoimbatore

800011000

33.

DamanCooch Behar

40008000

34.

DaparizoDaman

4000

35.

DarbhangaDaparizo

4000

36.

DehradunDarbhanga

120004000

37.

DeesaDehradun

400012000

38.

DeogharDeesa

50004000

39.

Dibrugarh (Mohanbari)Deoghar

80005000

40.

Dimapur

Dibrugarh (Mohanbari)

110008000

41.

DiuDimapur

400011000

42.

DurgapurDiu

4000

43.

GayaDurgapur

4000

44.

GoaGaya

60004000

45.

GondiaGoa

50006000

46.

GorakhpurGondia

40005000

47.

GuwahatiGorakhpur

90004000

48.

GwaliorGuwahati

40009000

49.

HindanGwalior

50004000

50.

HollongiHindan

120005000

51.

HubballiHollongi

600012000

52.

HisarHubballi

50006000

53.

HirasarHisar

40005000

54.

HyderabadHirasar

70004000

55.

IGI Airport, DelhiHyderabad

50007000

56.

Imphal (Tulihal)IGI Airport, Delhi

110005000

57.

Indore

Imphal (Tulihal)

500011000

58.

JabalpurIndore

5000

59.

JagdalpurJabalpur

60005000

60.

JaipurJagdalpur

6000

61.

JaisalmerJaipur

40006000

62.

JalgaonJaisalmer

50004000

63.

JammuJalgaon

110005000

64.

JamnagarJammu

400011000

65.

JamshedpurJamnagar

50004000

66.

JhansiJamshedpur

40005000

67.

JharsugdaJhansi

70004000

68.

JodhpurJharsugda

40007000

69.

JorhatJodhpur

80004000

70

JPNI Airport,PatnaJorhat

40008000

71.

Juhu

JPNI Airport,Patna

4000

72.

Junagarh (Keshod)Juhu

60004000

73

Kadapa

Junagarh (Keshod)

50006000

74

KalaburagiKadapa

40005000

75.

KailashaharKalaburagi

4000

76.

KamalpurKailashahar

4000

77.

KandlaKamalpur

4000

78.

KangraKandla

210004000

79.

KannurKangra

1000021000

80.

Kanpur (Chakeri)Kannur

400010000

81.

Kishangarh

Kanpur (Chakeri)

60004000

82.

KhajurahoKishangarh

40006000

83.

KhandwaKhajuraho

50004000

84.

KolhapurKhandwa

60005000

85.

KolkataKolhapur

40006000

86.

KotaKolkata

4000

87.

Kullu (Bhuntar)Kota

230004000

88.

Kurnool

Kullu (Bhuntar)

500023000

89

KushinagarKurnool

40005000

90.

LalitpurKushinagar

50004000

91.

LehLalitpur

5000

92.

LengpuiLeh

900024000

93.

LucknowLengpui

40009000

94.

LudhianaLucknow

4000

95.

MaduraiLudhiana

60004000

96.

MaldaMadurai

6000

97.

MangaloreMalda

9000

98.

MopaMangalore

60009000

99.

MoradabadMopa

40006000

100.

Mumbai, C.S.I

Moradabad

4000

101.

Mumbai,Juhu

Mumbai, C.S.I

4000

102.

Mundra

Mumbai,Juhu

4000

103.

MuzaffarpurMundra

4000

104.

MysuruMuzaffarpur

60004000

105.

NandedMysuru

6000

106.

NagpurNanded

5000

107

NeyveliNagpur

40005000

108

North Lakhimpur (Lilabari)Neyveli

120004000

109

Pakyong

North Lakhimpur (Lilabari)

----12000

110.

PanagarhPakyong

4000

----

111.

PantnagarPanagarh

110004000

112.

PassighatPantnagar

11000

113.

PrayagrajPassighat

4000

114.

PuducherryPrayagraj

4000

115.

PorbandarPuducherry

60004000

116.

Port BlairPorbandar

40006000

117.

PunePort Blair

70004000

118.

PuttaparthiPune

50007000

119.

RaipurPuttaparthi

5000

120.

RajahmundryRaipur

5000

121.

RajkotRajahmundry

40005000

122.

RamnadRajkot

4000

123.

RanchiRamnad

60004000

124.

RatnagiriRanchi

6000

125.

RourkelaRatnagiri

6000

126.

RupsiRourkela

40006000

127.

Safdarjung,DelhiRupsi

50004000

128.

Salem

Safdarjung,Delhi

70005000

129.

ShimlaSalem

130007000

130.

ShirdiShimla

700013000

131

ShivamoggaShirdi

90007000

132.

SholapurShivamogga

50009000

133.

ShravastiSholapur

5000

134.

Silchar (Kumbhigram)Shravasti

80005000

135.

Sindhudurg

Silchar (Kumbhigram)

60008000

136.

SrinagarSindhudurg

200006000

137.

SuratSrinagar

400020000

138.

ThanjavurSurat

4000

139.

TezpurThanjavur

70004000

140.

TezuTezpur

180007000

141.

ThiruvananthapuramTezu

900018000

142.

TiruchirappalliThiruvananthapuram

40009000

143.

TirupatiTiruchirappalli

80004000

144.

Udaipur (Dabok)Tirupati

60008000

145.

Uttarlai

Udaipur (Dabok)

40006000

146.

VadodaraUttarlai

4000

147.

VaranasiVadodara

4000

148.

VelloreVaranasi

50004000

149.

VijayawadaVellore

40005000

150.

VijayanagarVijayawada

50004000

151.

VishakhapatnamVijayanagar

70005000

152.

WarangalVishakhapatnam

40007000

8.

Position reporting

8.1.

Transmission of position report

8.1.1.

The pilot shall report position as soon as possible after the aircraft has passed over each designated reporting point of ATS route defined by designated significant points. Additional reports over other points may be requested by ATC when so required for air traffic management (ATM) purposes.

8.1.2.

On routes not defined by designated significant points, position reports shall be made after the first half hour of flight and at hourly interval thereafter. Additional reports at shorter intervals of time may be requested by ATC units when so required for ATS purposes.

8.1.3.

The position reports required by 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 shall be made to the ATS unit serving the airspace in which the aircraft is operated on appropriate VHF RTF frequency/CPDLC. When outside VHF RTF range, the pilot-in-command shall report positions on HFRT/CPDLC in addition, the last position report before passing from one flight information region or control area to an adjacent flight information region or control area shall be made to the ATS unit serving the airspace about to be entered.

8.1.4.

Flights may be exempted from making position reports at each designated reporting point or interval, if adequate flight progress data is available from radar.

8.1.5.

All aircraft transiting from one FIR to another FIR shall transmit for FIR boundary and flight level to the ATS unit serving the FIR to be entered at least 10 minutes prior to entry.

NOTE-

This provision will not apply to aircraft transiting from one Indian FIR to another Indian FIR. Provisions will continue to apply to all aircraft, when transiting from a foreign FIR to an Indian FIR except where specifically indicated otherwise against an ATS route.

8.1.6.

Ten (10) minutes prior to crossing an established ATS route, pilot-in-command shall transmit the following information to the ATC unit serving the airspace-

i) Call-sign of the aircraft

ii) Estimate time of crossing the route

iii) Flight level

iv) Position of crossing the route with reference to a navigational aid or geographical position on the route.

Aircraft will join or cross ATS routes at or close to designated reporting points. Aircraft crossing the route shall do so at an angle of 90 Degrees, to the direction of the route and at a level appropriate to the magnetic track.

8.1.7.

Listening watch shall be maintained on appropriate communication frequency throughout the flight along the ATS routes.

9.

Content of the position report

9.1.

When reporting their position, pilots shall transmit the word ‘POSITION’ either immediately before or after the call-sign of their aircraft.

9.2.

Position reports shall have the following elements of information-

i) aircraft identification

ii) position

iii) time

iv) flight level or altitude

v) next position and time over

vi) ensuing significant point

9.3.

Routine air-report

9.3.1.

Pilots shall give the following meteorological information once in each FIR along with position report at designated MET reporting points on international and national ATS routes as detailed on page GEN 3.5-6.

9.3.2.

Meteorological information

i) air temperature

ii) wind direction

iii) wind speed

iv) turbulence

v) aircraft icing

vi) humidity (if available)

9.4.

Special air-report

9.4.1.

Special air-report shall be made by all aircraft whenever anyone or more of the following conditions are encountered or observed-

i) Clear air turbulence

ii) Severe turbulence

iii) Severe icing

iv) Severe mountain wave

v) Thunder storms without hail that are obscured, embedded, widespread or in squall-lines

vi) Thunder storm with hail that are obscured, embedded, widespread or in squall-lines

vii) Heavy dust storm or heavy sandstorm

viii) Volcanic ash cloud

ix) Pre-eruption volcanic activity or a volcanic eruption

9.5.

Transmission of ADS report

9.5.1.

The position report shall be made automatically to the air traffic service unit serving the airspace in which the aircraft is operating. The requirement for transmission and content of ADS report shall be established by the controlling ATC unit on the basis of current operational conditions and communicated to the aircraft and acknowledged through an ADS agreement.

9.5.2.

Content of the ADS report

9.5.2.1.

ADS report shall be composed of data-blocks selected from the following

i) Basic ADS - Latitude, Longitude, Altitude, Time, Figure of merit

ii) Ground vector - Track, Ground speed, Rate of climb or descent

iii) Air vector - Heading, Mach or IAS, Rate of climb or descent

iv) Projected profile - Next way-point, Estimated altitude at next way-point, Estimated time at next way-point, (Next+1) way-point, Estimated altitude at (Next+1) way-point, Estimated time at (Next+1) way-point

v) Meteorological information - Wind speed, Wind direction, Temperature, Turbulence (if available), Humidity (if available)

vi) Short-term intent - Latitude at projected intent point, Longitude at projected intent point, Altitude at projected intent point, Time of projection

vii) If an altitude, track or speed change is predicted to occur between the aircraft’s current position and the projected intent point, additional information would be provided in an intermediate intent block as - Distance from current point to change point, Track from current to change point, Altitude at change point, Predicted time to change point.

viii) Extended projected profile (in response to an interrogation from the ground system) - Next way-point, Estimated altitude at the next way-point, Estimated time at next way-point, (Next+1) way-point, Estimated altitude at (Next+1) way-point, Estimated time at (Next+1) way-point, (Next+2) way-point, Estimated altitude at (Next+2) way-point, Estimated time at (Next+2) way-point (repeated fir upto [Next+128] waypoints).

9.5.3.

The basic ADS data block shall be required from all ADS equipped aircraft. Remaining ADS data blocks shall be included as necessary. In addition to any requirement concerning its transmission for ATS purposes, data block at v) Meteorological information shall be transmitted in accordance with Annex 2, para 5.4.1.

9.5.4.

In addition to the above data blocks, other information shall be transmitted, including a block identifier, aircraft identification and 24-bit aircraft address.