VATSIM –
VATSIM EUROPE - PORTUGAL VACC
CODE OF REGULATIONS
[Edition
VI, Amendment 0309
- 25 March
2009]
Article 1. Members
1.1 Requirements
1.2 Rights and duties
1.3 Training and instruction
1.4 Restrictions
1.5 Visitors
1.6 Pilots
Article 2. Staff
2.1. Board of Directors
2.2. Hierarchy
2.3.
Founders
Article 3. ATC Units
3.1. Description
3.2. Enrolment
3.3. Callsigns
3.4. Position Occupancy rules
3.5. ATIS
3.6. Airport Classification and Requirements
Article 4. Amendments
Article 1. Members
1.1. Requirements
1.1.1. All persons who have completed thirteen (13) years of age on
the date of enrolment may be members of Portugal VACC. (CoR A1 §1.01 A)
1.1.2. Members must agree with the VATSIM Code of Conduct, VATSIM Code of
Regulations and the VATSIM User Agreement. (CoR A1 §1.01 E)
1.1.3. Active VATCs enrolled in Portugal VACC shall make available at least
ten (10) hours per period of two (2) months for service in Virtual Air Traffic
Control.
1.1.4. Enrolment in Portugal VACC implies agreement with the rating upgrade
procedure imposed by VATSIM. (CoR A1 §1.01 G)
1.1.5. Written and spoken fluency in Portuguese and English.
1.2. Rights and Duties
1.2.1. All VATCs enrolled in Portugal VACC shall accept and register
in one of the 10 ATC Units available which have a vacancy, considering the
restrictions imposed by paragraph 1.4 of this Article.
1.2.2. The VATC shall cooperate in the operation and maintenance of his/her
ATC Unit, completing the shifts to which he/she has agreed upon.
1.2.3. Respect the rules for composition of the sector indicators, as
explained in Article 3 of this Code of Regulations.
1.2.4. Maintain composure and civility under any circumstance that may occur.
(CoR A1 §1.01 F) (CoC A 1)
1.2.5. All VATCs shall ALWAYS make voice VATC communications available,
notwithstanding written communications which are optional. (CoC C)
1.2.6. Upon the occurrence of a situation of violation of the VATSIM Code of
Conduct, VATSIM Code of Regulations, VATSIM User Agreement, VATSIM-EUR Region
Policy and/or VATSIM-EUR Division Policy, the VATC shall deal with the situation
as soon as possible and, if required, call a Supervisor.
1.2.7. If a VATC observes an illegal situation involving another member of
Portugal VACC or a pilot within Portuguese airspace, he/she shall inform the
respective FIR
Director, including the following data in the report: user ID of party;
callsign, time/date, description of occurrence, measures taken, other
observations (Supervisor contacted, etc)
1.2.8. During an event or shift, the control positions shall be, in first
instance, occupied by the VATCs belonging to that ATC Unit, and then by others.
1.2.9. All VATCs shall comply with Operational Orders and NOTAMs published in
the Portugal VACC website.
1.3. Training and Instruction
1.3.1. Training sessions shall be made available by Training
Department, where the VATCs shall participate in order to familiarise themselves
with the ATC environment.
1.3.2. The ATC Training Department may, at any time, consider necessary
that a VATC undergoes a training session.
1.3.3. All VATCs shall obtain approval in the form of a written
and/or practical
test, for the ATC Unit where they intend to control.
1.3.3.1. Unit certifications can be issued by Unit Chief of Staff,
FIR
Director, ATC Training Director, vACC Director or any member authorised to do so.
1.3.3.2. Exception made for LPPS and LPCS
aerodromes, which are designated Minor Aerodromes. All other aerodromes are
designated Major Aerodromes/
1.3.4. The following members are qualified by VATSIM-EUR as examiners and may
supervise a CPT up to Senior Controller Level: Pedro Sousa (810523 Instructor);
Daniel Gomes (810882 Instructor/Supervisor); Pedro Diogo (985361 Instructor).
1.3.5. The following member is qualified by VATSIM-EUR as examiners and may
supervise a CPT up to Enroute Controller Level: Paulo Oliveira (943811 Senior
Controller/Supervisor).
1.3.6. Mentors are volunteers, that help other less experienced controllers in whatever they need, as long as duly accepted and certified by the
respective Unit Chief of Staff, FIR Director, ATC Training Director or General
Director.
1.4. Restrictions
1.4.1. By imposition of VATSIM-EUR, VATCs with Tower Controller
rating may not enrol and control in CTR or FSS Units – Lisboa ACC Unit (LPPC)
and Santa Maria OACC Unit (LPPO).
1.4.2. VATCs may only control in the Units for which they are certified,
unless for training purposes if supervised by a Mentor, Unit Chief of Staff, FIR
Director or ATC Training Director.
1.4.3. In the case of an Event, shift or other system which reserves an ATC
position for a controller, such position shall be left or made open as soon as
the VATC enters for service.
1.5. Visitors
1.5.1. Visiting VATCs are considered to be those who, belonging to
another Region, Division or VACC, request authorisation for control in
Portuguese Air Space.
1.5.2. After the request is received, the Board shall convene with the
appropriate Unit Chief of Staff and only then will a decision for approval be
made.
1.5.3. All Visiting VATCs shall be bound by the rules in force of this Code
of Regulations, VATSIM Code of Conduct, VATSIM Code of Regulations, VATSIM User
Agreement, VATSIM-EUR Region Policy and VATEUD Divisional Policy.
1.6. Pilots
1.6.1. Pilots may register as active members of Portugal vACC, as long as in
good status of membership of VATSIM comlying with paragraph 1 of this article.
1.6.2. Pilots shall not be involved in Portugal vACC management, or be able
to vote under any circumstances.
Article 2. Staff
2.1. Board of Directors
2.1.1. The Board of Directors is composed of VATCs with
valid enrolment in VATSIM and duly registered in Portugal VACC, with rating
higher or equal to TMA Controller; members may accumulate responsibilities.
2.1.1.1. At least one member from each Flight
Information Region (FIR) must be part
of the Board of Directors.
2.1.1.2. Each FIR Director must be a member of the Board of Directors.
2.1.2. Each Department is maintained by at least one Director. If a member
accumulates two positions, he/she shall use the lowest callsign.
2.1.3. The Board shall convene at least once (1) every two months, with the
content of said meetings being open for distribution. The Board shall convene
with the Hierarchy at least once (1) every six months. In these meetings a
sufficient number of Directors shall be present to make up a majority over the
total number of members that make up the Board.
2.1.4. The Board of Directors may nominate committees composed of other
elements enrolled in Portugal VACC, with predefined duties and validity which
represent and work in the interests of the Board.
2.1.5. The Board is composed of the following departments and members:
2.1.5.1. General Director; Coordinates all functions of Portugal VACC,
including management, coordination and conflict resolution of members; Has
call sign ACCPT1.
2.1.5.2. ATC Training Director; Instructs and
maintains updated the VATCs' knowledge level; Has call sign ACCPT2.
2.1.5.3. Pilot Training Director; Instructs
pilots; Has call sign ACCPT3;
2.1.5.4. Events and Public Relations Director; Responsible for public
relations, communication and coordination of events. Has call sign ACCPT4.
2.1.5.5. Lisboa FIR Director (FIRLIS); Responsible for
administration of Lisboa FIR, as well as all Units within, maintaining and
coordinating the required operations; Has call sign ACCPT5.
2.1.5.6. Santa Maria FIR Director (FIRSMA); Responsible for
administration of Santa Maria FIR, as well as all Units within, maintaining and
coordinating the required operations; Has call sign ACCPT6.
2.1.5.7. Webmaster; Responsible for maintaing the website
and technological services running under
terms specified by each staff member.; Has call sign ACCPT7.
2.2. Hierarchy
2.2.1. The Hierarchy of Portugal VACC is made up of Unit Chiefs
of Staff and Pilot Support Team.
2.2.2. It is the duty of the Hierarchy, to maintain, coordinate and assist
the VATCs enrolled in the respective Unit.
2.2.3. The Unit Chiefs of Staff are VATCs nominated by the Board who accept
these duties and have a rating of TMA Controller or above.
2.2.4. Each Unit Chief of Staff shall whenever necessary report any problem,
idea or suggestion firstly to the FIR Director and only then to the respective
Director to which the case pertains.
2.2.5. The Unit Chief of Staff shall monitor his/her VATCs, controlling the
requirements of Portugal VACC for example, regarding the minimum hours
controlled.
2.2.6. The Hierarchy may nominate committees made up of other elements
enrolled in Portugal VACC with predefined duties and validity, which represent
and work in the interests of the Hierarchy.
2.2.7. The members, positions, relations and call signs are published on the
website.
2.2.8. The Pilot Support Team help pilots in whatever they
need. Members of the Pilot Support Team are published on the website.
2.3.
Founders
2.3.1. The Founders are a group of Portugal vACC members who by their
experience and service apply for a special status. They serve most as advisors
for the Board of Governors, keeping the vACC on the course they believe it is
the most correct.
2.3.2. Members of the Founders group may also be members of the current Board
of Governors.
2.3.3. A Portuguese vACC member may only get the Founder status after the
founders themselves approve it, and under appointment by the Board of Governors.
2.3.4. Founders may never get involved in the daily operations of the vACC,
but the Board of Governors must keep them updated of the current vACC status and
projects.
2.3.5. The Founders have the power to impose a set of actions to the Board of
Governors after the majority of the Founders voted for it.
Article 3. ATC Unit
3.1.
Description
3.1.1.
For
more efficient management and greater realism of Portugal VACC, the various
control positions are grouped in strategically placed ATC Units.
They
are Lisboa ACC, Lisboa, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Santa Maria OACC, Santa Maria,
Ponta Delgada, Lajes, Horta and Training.
3.1.2. Each ATC Unit is constituted by a group of VATCs who, being certified for
control in the positions of the Unit, are enrolled in that same ATC Unit.
3.1.3. Visiting VATCs are those who, not being enrolled in the Unit, are
nevertheless certified in said Unit.
3.2. Enrolment
3.2.1. All VATCs enrolled in Portugal VACC may enrol in the ATC Units
provided they have obtained approval in the written and theoretical test for the
Unit they have applied.
3.2.2. VATCs may control in any other Unit besides their own provided they
are duly certified for such.
3.2.3. The theoretical test shall be carried out by the Unit Chief of Staff,
and the practical test conducted by the Unit Chief of Staff and/or the Training
Director.
3.2.4. Beginner VATCs shall be conducted in control only in the Training
Unit, until their abilities are considered sufficient for enrolment in an ATC
Unit.
3.3. Operational Callsigns
3.3.1. For the purpose of control, only the call signs presented in
the form <ICAO>_X_<position suffix> shall be considered valid.
3.3.2. The following position suffixes are valid for Portugal: DEL
(Clearance), GND (Ground), TWR (Tower), APP (Approach), CTR (Centre) e FSS
(Oceanic).
3.3.3. The following Call signs are valid for control in Portugal:
LPPC_X_CTR, LPPT_X_DEL, LPPT_X_GND, LPPT_X_TWR, LPPT_X_APP, LPPR_X_TWR,
LPPR_X_APP, LPFR_X_TWR, LPFR_X_APP, LPMA_X_APP, LPMA_X_TWR, LPPS_X_TWR,
LPPO_X_FSS, LPPO_X_CTR, LPAZ_X_TWR, LPAZ_X_APP, LPPD_X_TWR, LPPD_X_APP,
LPLA_X_APP, LPLA_X_TWR, LPLA_X_GND, LPHR_X_APP, LPHR_X_TWR, LPFL_X_TWR.
3.3.4. The following are valid call signs for control for positions not
directly pertaining to ATC Units: LPCS_X_TWR, LPAM_X_CTR. The aerodromes served
by these call signs, although not integrated in an ATC Unit, shall report to the
nearest Unit, and shall be preferentially occupied by controllers from that
Unit.
3.3.5. Remaining aerodromes which do not belong to and ATC Unit and which
only provide information services (AFIS) shall use callsigns of the type
LPXX_X_TWR. Any controller may occupy one of these positions.
3.3.6. Military aerodromes shall be controlled by the nearest enclosing area.
3.3.7. Callsign indicator rules
3.3.7.1. The central character X shall be replaced with: Nothing;
Numerals; Any letter indicating a sector split.
3.4. Position occupancy rules
3.4.1. Due to it being impossible to maintain all sectors of the ATC
Units regularly occupied and active, a rule shall exist to allow various active
sectors with a minimum of VATCs online. As such, some rules exist in the
sequence of activation of the various sectors of each ATC Unit to be enforced
online. Therefore:
3.4.1.1. In ATC Units (Porto, Faro, Santa Maria, Lajes, Ponta Delgada and
Horta) which only have Approach and Tower sectors, the Approach sector will be
activated first and then the Tower.
3.4.1.2. In Lisboa ACC Unit one sector may be activated which can be
divided into 2 sectors,
West
and
East,
when another VATC of Lisboa ACC Unit is connected.
3.4.1.3. In Lisboa Unit, the activation rule shall respect Approach, Tower
and then Ground.
3.4.1.4. In Madeira Unit, after Approach activation, Madeira Tower shall
be activated and then Porto Santo Tower.
3.4.1.5. In Santa Maria OACC Unit, the first sole area sector shall be
activated, and then the TMA.
3.4.2. Note: The activated sectors within each Unit shall be responsible for
providing services otherwise provided by the inactive sectors below. For
example, in the Madeira Unit, upon activation of Madeira Approach sector, it
shall be responsible for the Madeira Tower and Porto Santo Tower sectors; upon
activation of Madeira Tower, Madeira Approach will continue to be responsible
for Porto Santo Tower.
3.5. ATIS
3.5.1. All units shall contain in the ATIS <voice channel> <position
name>, except:
3.5.1.1. LPPT, LPPR, LPFR, LPMA and LPLA –
Which shall contain <voice channel> <Position name> <information> <active runway> <transition level> <approach type>
<other information> < latest decodified METAR>. The ATIS shall be defined by the lowest
position (DEL/GND) and only the extreme positions shall have it (APP and DEL/GND). Remaining
Positions shall have ATIS the same as other Units.
3.5.2.
Voice ATISes are permitted at the following aerodromes: LPPT, LPFR, LPPR, LPMA
and LPLA.
3.5.2.1. Lowest position to use Voice ATIS is TWR; which may delegate this
function to any other controller.
3.6.
Airport Classification and requirements
3.6.1. All airport are subject to the minimum requirements of:
3.6.1.1. DEL, GND and TWR position subject to minimum Tower Controller
rating.
3.6.1.2. APP position subject to minimum TMA Controller rating.
3.6.2. Exception made for:
3.6.2.1. Flores LPFL TWR position which requires TMA
Controller rating.
Article 4. Amendments
Amendment 0106
12th
of
June
2006
- Revision of the entire document
Amendment 0206
3rd
of
July
2006
- New paragraph 1.6 of article 1
Amendment 0306
4th
of
October
2006
- New line 1.3.3.1 of article 1; New line 1.3.5 of article 1; Amended line 1.4.2
of article 1.
Amendment 0406
21st
of
December
2006
– Amended lines 1.2.5 and 1.3.4 or article 1
Amendment 0108
27th
of
January
2008
– New paragraph 2.3
Amendment 0208
2nd
of
February
2008
– Updated rating names; New position added in 3.3.3 LPHR_X_APP; New paragraph
3.6; New paragraph 2.2.6;
New
paragraph 2.1.5.7
Amendment
0309
25th
March
2009
– Board of Directors list updated to reflect callsign and
designation changes - paragraph 2.1; Examiners' list updated - paragraphs 1.3.4
and 1.3.5; ATIS regulations changed to reflect VATSIM's Voice ATIS Policy -
paragraph 3.5.2; Changes to reflect Global Ratings Policy: Major and Minor
Positions introduced - paragraph 1.3.3.2; Minimum rating of TMA Controller for
LPPS TWR position removed - paragraph 3.6.2.1;
The
reading of this document does not exempt the reading and compliance with the
Code of Conduct, Code of Regulations and User Agreement of VATSIM, VATSIM-EUR
Region Policy and VATSIM-EUR Division Policy of VATSIM-EUR, as well as other
Internal Service Orders and NOTAMs published in the Portugal VACC website -
http://www.portugal-vacc.org.
(This CoR is based on the VATSIM Code of Regulations, with adaptation to
VATSIM-EUR regulations and inclusion of internal regulations)
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