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IFR online course
Welcome in this IFR online course. This new section will give you the opportunity to learn about the IFR positions. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact a staff member using the Contact section in the above menu. Before starting to read, make sure you are familiar with IvAc and also with VFR positions. Please note this course will not be as detailed as the VFR one. We prefer training through online sessions with real traffic. To request training, send an email to our staff.
What's an IFR controller?
An ATC can either be VFR or IFR. VFR controllers work in control towers (ground and tower positions). On the other hand, IFR controllers work in control centres with radar screens only. We call them IFR controllers because they are not able to see aircraft they control. We will look at the following positions:
- Terminal (_APP / _DEP);
- Centre (_CTR).
On IVAO, you have to provide services below the position you are working. That means that if you open a CTR position, you have to provide Terminal, Tower, Ground and clearance services for all airports in your area where no other ATC is online.
Before starting, read controller guidelines. These guidelines apply to all types of controllers.
Moreover, this document doesn't give any phraseology examples. Use controller phraseology guide to see examples of instructions you can give to pilots.
Also, all IFR controllers must have (and know) ALL charts of airports they are controlling (SIDs, STARs, approaches, etc.).
Please note: radar vectoring technique consists in giving aircraft headings to guide him at a particular spot. Use IvAc function called QDM. See manual.
Don't forget to always fill aircraft labels: cleared waypoint, cleared altitude and speed restriction.
Terminal
Terminal controller is responsible of terminal airspace surrounding large airports. His main role is to climb departures to the top limit of his zone and to transfer them to centre. He also has to take arrivals and provide them with instructions to join final approach and then to transfer them to tower. Each terminal has its own type of airspace, don't forget to read local procedures to know what's your type of airspace and rules that apply within it.
Terminal must climb and descend aircraft as quickly as possible while avoiding any conflict. Two aircraft must not come closer then 1 000 ft vertically and 5 nm laterally. To avoid that, use of restrictions and instructions is necessary. It is impossible to show an example of all possible instructions but we will show here the restrictions you can use. To avoid conflicts, it has to be planned well in advance. If an aircraft departs westbound and you have an arrival from the west, you must plan ahead to avoid a conflict situation. Here are some solutions:
- Give radar vectors to avoid the other aircraft or until the departure is 1 000 ft higher then the arrival;
- Give altitude restriction (5 000ft for the departure and 6 000ft for the arrival);
- Give speed restrictions for aircraft on the same arrival or departure route, so the second one won't catch up on the first one.
A departure aircraft will call you shortly after takeoff. Identify him on the radar, then climb him to the top limit of your zone, unless another aircraft in vicinity prevents you to do it. Also, you can give 1) headings, or 2) directs so the pilot can join his flight plan route as soon as possible. It is important to know preferred exit routes to separate outbound traffic from arrivals. Before your departure leaves your zone, transfer him to CTR controller or use the exit of controlled airspace phraseology if no CTR is online.
Arrival aircraft are supposed to fly STARs if they exist at your airport. Many pilots don't have charts when flying, therefore they won't be able to know the correct route published on the STAR. In that case, provide those pilots with radar vectors to intercept the final approach. If you have multiple aircraft in the same STAR or on converging STARs, use restrictions as discussed earlier to prevent conflicts. You control them!
For ILS interception, give an interception heading that makes a 30 degrees angle with inbound track. Plan the interception about 12nm from threshold at the interception altitude (see charts).
Transfer aircraft when established on final approach, between around 7 and 12nm from threshold.
When you have an aircraft transiting your terminal, once again, use restrictons to avoid conflicts with other aircraft you may have in the vicinity.
Centre
Centre covers large areas and his work is similar to terminal, except he has to mostly control aircraft at their cruising altitudes. He manages initial descents and end of climbs. He has to monitor all aircraft to make sure no one is on converging track with another one, at the same altitude. He has to know procedures for all large airports under his control, and he must have all charts and procedures for ALL airports under his control ready to use.
Read local procedures for your airport and procedures for your ACC.