Oakland Oceanic FIR (KZAK)
| Date | Code | Version | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-12-22 | LOA-KZAK | 1.00 | Facility Advisory Board (FAB) |
This Letter of Agreement (LOA) sets forth the administrative procedures for the VATSIM Oakland Oceanic FSS Position. It shall NOT encompass operational ATC procedures, which are to be set forth in the associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Offices of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for this LOA is the KZAK Facility Advisory Board (FAB).
3. DISTRIBUTION:
This LOA is intended for use by the administrators of Oakland Oceanic Position and as a reference to controller training for, or staffing, the Oakland Oceanic Position.
4. BACKGROUND:
This LOA, when in effect, shall supercede any and all previous agreements between ARTCCs regarding the administration of the Oakland Oceanic Position. However, this LOA shall be superceded by published VATSIM and VATUSA policies in effect, should there be any conflict between the two. This LOA is established to set forth procedures for administering and supervising the Oakland Oceanic Position. This LOA was adopted by Jeff Clark for ZLA and Jim Bartosh for ZOA on 15 OCT 02.
5. ADMINSTRATIVE POLICIES:
5a. FSS Facility Leader, Development of Policy and Procedures and Facility Advisory Board
(1). An Oakland FSS Facility Advisory Board (FAB) shall be established consisting of the ARTCC Chief of each ?participating? ARTCC/FIR.
(2). VATUSA shall appoint a Facility Leader who shall, in consultation with the FAB, manage the facility. The Facility Leader shall serve at discretion of VATUSA or until resigning by notification to VATUSA.
(3). The FSS Facility Leader shall establish and approve all policies, procedures and amendments thereto, concerning the Oakland Oceanic FSS, with consultation from the FAB members, and consent of VATUSA.
(4). The FSS Facility Leader shall be responsible for the maintenance of the FSS facility web site and the publishing of associated information and materials. The FSS Facility Leader may delegate these tasks, or appoint support staff, as he sees appropriate.
(5). The FSS Facility Leader may invite other ARTCCs whose airspace is adjacent to the OAK FSS airspace to become ?participating members? at his discretion. The FSS Leader may also remove an ARTCC from membership with the consent of VATUSA, should that ARTCC?s contribution be determined as ineffective. ARTCC Chiefs may resign from the FAB by notification to the Facility Leader.
(6) The current Facility Leader, participating ARTCCs, and FAB members are:
Jim Bartosh, ZOA ARTCC, FSS Facility Leader
David Hendleman, ZLA ARTCC, FAB Member.
Brandon Lee, Honolulu Control Facility, FAB Member.
James Pheibush, Anchorage ARTCC, FAB Member.
5b. Certification of Controllers, Position Staffing, Enforcement
(1). Controllers must be certified to work the Oakland Oceanic Position. Certification will consist of an exam, as established by the FSS Facility Leader, which tests applicable knowledge of non-radar and related ATC procedures, as well as familiarity with applicable SOPs and LOAs as published on the Oakland Oceanic website.
(2). Controllers need no particular rank or ARTCC/FIR affiliation to be eligible for certification. They shall not be required to become ?visiting controllers? of any ARTCC adjacent to the Oakland Oceanic airspace.
(3). The FSS Facility Leader shall insure a list of certified controllers is maintained and accessible from the web site. As of this writing, ZOA ARTCC has volunteered to perform this task.
(4). FSS Facility Leader may rescind the oceanic certification of any controller should he determine that controller is not complying with applicable procedures or policies.
(5). FSS Facility Leader shall be responsible to establish staffing plans of the Oakland Oceanic Position during scheduled events.
(6). Enforcement of Oakland Oceanic FSS policies and procedures shall be executed by VATSIM Network Supervisors per routine VATUSA/VATSIM policy.
5c. Instruction
(1). Anyone holding an "Instructor" rating, regardless of ARTCC/FIR affiliation, who has themselves meet the oceanic certification described in 5c(1), may give supervised instruction to oceanic students on oceanic procedures and towards obtaining oceanic certification.
(2). The FSS Facility Leader may delegate testing authority to particular instructors and thus permit them to certify controllers for the position per 5c(1). The FSS Facility Leader may remove such authority from any instructor at his discretion for cause.
END