Standard Operating Procedures and Letters of Agreement

Virtual US Navy

Date	Code	Version	Contact
2004-09-03	LOA-VUSN	1.00	Facility Advisory Board (FAB)

This LOA was signed by Doug Pullen, ZOA ARTCC Chief, and Don Woolem, Chief of Naval Operations VUSN, on 09/03/04.

Purpose

This Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlines standard operating policies and procedures to be utilized by the Virtual United States Navy (vUSN) and Oakland ARTCC (ZOA).

Cancellation

This LOA supercedes any and all previous LOA's between vUSN and ZOA.

Distribution

This LOA is intended for use by ZOA and vUSN personnel staffing ZOA military positions and joint-civil military positions, and for ZOA controllers operating positions adjacent to ZOA military and joint civil-military positions.

Background

This LOA has been developed and shall be maintained to establish standard operating procedures, policy items, and flight management procedures for vUSN operations, so that ZOA ATC staff and vUSN pilots can expect consistent ATC support within ZOA. The procedures set forth in this LOA shall be disseminated to vUSN leaders, pilots, and the ZOA Staff and controller roster.

Definitions

ATCAA - Air Traffic Controlled Assigned Airspace is airspace defined by vertical/lateral limits, assigned by ATC, for the purpose of providing air traffic segregation between the specified activities being conducted within the assigned airspace and other IFR air traffic.
Facilities - Two types: "joint civil/military" and "military-only". ZOA controllers and VUSN military controllers, who are certified as ZOA controllers shall be authorized to man "joint" facilities. ZOA controllers shall not be authorized to man "military-only" facilities.
MARSA - Military Authority Assumes Responsibility for Separation of Aircraft. A condition whereby the military services involved assume responsibility for separation between participating military aircraft in the ATC system.
MOA (Military Operation Area) - Airspace established outside of Class A airspace area to separate or segregate certain non-hazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for VFR traffic where these activities are conducted.
Restricted Area - Airspace designated under 14 CFR Part 73, within which the flight of aircraft, while not wholly prohibited, is subject to restriction. Most restricted areas are designated joint use and IFR/VFR operations in the area may be authorized by the controlling ATC facility when it is not being utilized by the using agency. Restricted areas are depicted on en route charts. Where joint use is authorized, the name of the ATC controlling facility is also shown.
Warning Area - A warning area is airspace of defined dimensions extending from 3 nautical miles outward from the coast of the United States, that contains activity that may be hazardous to nonparticipating aircraft. The purpose of such warning areas is to warn nonparticipating pilots of the potential danger. A warning area may be located over domestic or international waters or both.

Policies

Neither party can dictate or strike to change either parties' policies and guidelines set forth within their own charters.
vUSN controllers are not required to request visitor status from the Oakland ARTCC, but are required to follow all of the vUSN policies regarding Joint-Use and Military-Only facilities and Oakland ARTCC visitor policies.
Personnel are restricted to controlling airports that are within their respective organization's control. At no time, shall either party, unless affiliated, qualified or certified with both, control each other's airspaces.

Oakland ARTCC controllers shall not, at any time, control at any Military-Only facilities or conduct any CATCC operations. These aircraft shall be treated as VFR aircraft until they enter a civilian sector or Joint-Use airspace.
vUSN controllers shall not control any airspaces or facilities other than those designated within this document. All vUSN controllers must hold a S-3 grade or higher to work a Tower shore-based military position and must hold a C-1 grade or higher to work a Radar (APP) position and shall be subject to proficiency checks at the request of the Oakland ARTCC training staff if controlling a joint use facility.
All controllers may only control at the facilities in the airspace. (Example: A vUSN controller working Fallon Approach may not control aircraft outside of the Fallon RAPCON even if certified to do so. That means the controller may not conduct operations in another TRACON or CATCC operations.)
Controllers affiliated with the Oakland ARTCC and vUSN may only control at the facilities that belong to one party at a time. They may not control civilian and Military-Only facilities at the same time. (Example: An Oakland ARTCC controller working Oakland Center may not, even if certified by the vUSN, conduct CATCC operations.)

Use of Military Facilities

Until properly certified by vUSN ATC instructors ZOA controllers shall not man KNLC or KNFL during military operations.

Joint Use Facilities

May be used by ZOA or vUSN controllers if properly certified.

Lemoore Naval Air Station (KNLC)
- Navy Lemoore Ground (NLC_GND - 121.65)
- Navy Lemoore Tower (NLC_TWR - 128.30)
- Navy Lemoore Approach (NLC_APP - 118.15)
Fallon Naval Air Station
- Navy Fallon Tower (NLC_TWR - 119.25)
- Navy Fallon Approach (NLC_APP - 118.30)

Military Only Use Facilities

May only by used by properly certified vUSN controllers.

Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC)
- CVN_xx_TWR provides VFR advisories and sequencing to aircraft during simulated daylight hours only
- CVN_xx_APP provides radar vectors and separation to aircraft during all hours
  - xx denotes the ship hull number
  - Both of these positions operate on 134.800 and only one shall be active at any given time

Operational Procedures and Responsibilities

Unless otherwise coordinated, the following procedures shall apply:

General

Military operations in excess of 250 knots below 10,000' should be conducted in Special Use Airspace to the maximum extent possible. The only exception is operating on an APPROVED military training route, authorized by Oakland Center.
ATC is not required to provide advisory/monitoring/separation services within the MOA, the pilot is responsible for remaining within the area and exercising "see and avoid" during visual conditions.
The primary users of the airspace contained within this document shall be flight squadrons of the VUSN. Typical operations within offshore Warning Areas are combat training, carrier operations proficiency training, aerial refueling, and AEW/EW training. Inland areas include air combat maneuvering, practice bombing, low-level flights, instrument navigation training.

Oakland ARTCC Responsibilities

Oakland ARTCC controllers shall ...

Be responsible for separation of air traffic within their airspace.
Issue advisories to civil aircraft when SUA's have been reported as active. Civil pilots may enter active MOAs at their own risk. Controllers are not responsible for "protecting" these areas.
Keep all civil aircraft clear of warning areas 283/285 and 260/513 if carrier operations are present.
Provide VUSN flight leaders using SUAs with traffic advisories if civil aircraft penetrate an active SUA. The term "whiskey alert" shall be used to indicate that a "spill in/out" situation (unauthorized penetration of the SUA) is imminent.
Coordinate scheduling of SUAs between military flights. If more than one flight will be operating in an SUA complex, Oakland ARTCC controllers must be informed that multiple coordinated missions are operating together in the SUA complex.

vUSN Responsibilities

vUSN shall ...

Allow properly certified VUSN military controllers to operate Carrier Air Traffic Control Centers (CATCC) for offshore CV operations and shore facilities specified within this document. A listing of these controllers shall be given to the ARTCC staff via the vUSN Commander.
Assume the responsibilities in W283/285 or W260/513 for the associated offshore Warning Area Complex in which the carrier is operating. Only one of these areas is active at any one time.
When the Oakland Center position is not manned, the senior vUSN member shall be responsible for the proper conduct of all vUSN pilots operating within the confines of the SUA utilized.
vUSN aircraft shall assume separation responsibility (MARSA) within Special Use Airspace when operating in airspace that has been scheduled for use.
vUSN chain of command is responsible for coordinating mission plans when multiple flights will use the same SUA complex. Flight leaders must inform Oakland ARTCC controllers when multiple flights will be operating within the SUA.
During CV operations, when no Carrier Air Traffic Control Center is operating, the senior ranking aircraft commander within the associated Warning Area shall coordinate carrier approaches and departures.
VUSN Commanders will provide the following information when aircraft carrier scenery is being issued to VUSN pilots:
1. Carrier hull number and Name (eg: CVN68, Nimitz)
2. Latitude/Longitude, or, bearing/range from major VORTAC
3. TACAN Frequency

Special Use Airspace

The following Special Use Airspace is designated as joint civil/military use airspace:

All altitudes are MSL unless noted otherwise

Complex Name	Floor	Ceiling
Warning Area 283/285	From SFC	To no include FL600
Warning Area 260/513	From SFC	To no include FL600
Foothills MOA	From 2000 MSL	To no include FL180
Hunter MOA	From 200 AGL	To not include 11,000 MSL
Gabbs/Austin MOA	From SFC	To not include FL600
Maxwell MOA	From 200 AGL	To not include FL180

Flight Level (FL) is equivalent to altitude above mean seal level in thousands of feet (e.g. FL205 = 20,500 feet MSL).
Airspace diagrams are attached to the end of this document. (Webmater note: graphics missing)
vUSN shall schedule the use of a SUA complex with Oakland ARTCC Military Liaison or Events Director prior to use. ZOA ARTCC should be notified by letter of any major operations the VUSN plans to put on in any SUA, MOA, or warning areas. If the use of a SUA complex will be a last minute decision, the vUSN shall post a message on the Oakland ARTCC forum and/or notify the appropriate Oakland ARTCC controller if online.
At the time of SUA utilization, if Oakland Center is offline, aircraft are permitted to conduct operations as scheduled without any further coordination. If Oakland Center opens while aircraft are using the SUA, the flight leader shall inform the controller that the area is 'hot,' as soon as practical.
MARSA if not previously granted, shall take effect once aircraft cross the entry fix. If Oakland Center cannot grant MARSA due to civil aircraft still in the SUA, ATC shall: (1) Issue a clearance that will insure separation with any civil aircraft still in the SUA, or (2) Issue a traffic advisory to the flight lead and instruct the flight to maintain VFR and issue a frequency change.
Aircraft requiring IFR flight for return-to-base (RTB), shall contact ATC for an in-flight IFR clearance no later than 5 minutes prior to exit from the SUA. The IFR route shall start from the exit fix. Aircraft shall proceed to and hold at the exit fix in a holding pattern that will keep them primarily within the SUA. Aircraft shall be radar identified at the exit fix and ATC shall assume separation responsibility.
Communications: When operating in flights or elements, the flight leader shall be responsible for obtaining the ATC clearance and squawk codes for his/her flight. Wingman shall be instructed to squawk standby. Flight shall not use ATC frequency for flight air-to-air communication.

ATC PROCEDURES TO/FROM SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE AREAS

Fallon/KNFL shall be the entry point airfield for all VUSN operations in the GABBS/AUSTIN MOA.

Entry and exit from the GABBS/AUSTIN MOA complex shall be at two points. Entry into G/A MOA off the 13 runways requires flying the runway heading of 129 for 15DME from the Fallon VORTAC NFL, thereafter the pilot may maneuver in the MOA. Entry into the G/A MOA departing off the 31 runways at KNFL requires the pilot to fly the runway heading of 309 to intercept the 045 Radial of HZN (HAZEN 114.10) which will be tracked outbound from HZN until 25DME, thereafter the pilot may maneuver in the MOA. Runways 7 and 25 will not be utilized. Pilots shall not exceed 10,000 feet prior to entry into the MOA.

Exit from the GABBS/AUSTIN MOA complex to the 13 runways for landing at Fallon requires the pilot to intercept the HZN025035 and track this radial inbound to HZN until turning for final on the 13s. Exit from the G/A MOA complex to the 31 runways for landing at Fallon requires the pilot to intercept the NFL115030 and track this radial inbound to NFL for final on the 31s. Pilots shall intercept the NFL115030 at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

AWACS

This is a special class of air traffic controller for military operations only. There shall be two levels: Advisory and Radar Vectoring. These controllers shall utilize ASRC and military AWACS terminology and procedures to provide advisories or to vector aircraft in special use airspace. This shall be in conjunction with VUSN operations and in coordination with ZOA staff and controllers. AWACS controllers shall only control aircraft inside special use airspace. The VUSN ATC Department shall insure that all AWACS controllers hold appropriate VATSIM ratings and are members in good standing of an approved VATSIM ARTCC/FIR. AWACS controllers shall be required to complete a special VUSN AWACS training program in addition to required VATSIM training for their rating. An AWACS advisory only controller must be an S-3 or above. An AWACS radar controller must be a C-1 or above. The VUSN shall provide ZOA ARTCC with an approved list of AWACS controllers. Call signs for AWACS will be Griffin Tower and Griffin Approach abbreviated GRFN_TWR and GRFN_APP.

Squawk Codes

The VUSN shall use the 4000 range of squawk codes.

Air Refueling

NAS Fallon In-flight Refueling Tracks

Tanker Communications/Entry

Contact Fallon Approach on 118.30 or Oakland Center on 132.20 to operate in MOAs appropriate to AR North or South.

Restrictions

AR North and South altitude blocks are FL190 to FL210 or FL220 to FL240. Assigned block will be dependant upon which air refueling (AR) route is in use.

AR Track Points

AR Gabbs North
A	N39-45	W118-28	NFL012/23
B	N39-37	W118-21	NFL037/21
C	N39-55	W117-45	NFL039/53
D	N40-03	W117-53	NFL026/54
AR Gabbs South
A	N39-04	W118-23	NFL130/27
B	N38-54	W118-23	NFL140/35
C	N38-55	W117-40	NFL105/57
D	N39-05	W117-40	NFL095/52