Im doing my first atlantic crossing this saturday on vatsim, and i was wondering if there are any special procedures? like do i have to request clearence to enter oceanic airspace?adam

If there's no controllers in the area there's no special procedures.It is appreciated to follow NAT tracks when you fly a northern crossing (and some controllers seem to think you need a NAT track for southern crossings as well though this is definitely not the case).

http://www.vatsim-uk.org/Oceanic/pilotprocs.html

The site Norman quotes gives good guidance on Oceanic procedures, but the fixed NAT tracks mentioned are seldom used now. The real-world NAT tracks are normally adopted, which change every day. Get them here:http://www.gofir.com/general/nat_tracks/Bruce KilbySenior CaptainBritish Airways Virtualhttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/876080/1730.png

No St. Maria Controller thinks that.Jos

Thats very true Bruce. As one of the few who staff up Shanwick, I let the pilot fly whatever track he has.

I know, but some European controllers seem to (maybe they didn't look at the destination, only noticed XXXXN waypoints and decided it was a north Atlantic crossing).Possibly human error, possibly egotripping (wanting to find fault even where there is none). It's rare though, only happened to me a few times over the years.But to warn starting pilots that yes: some controllers do have weird ideas for whatever reason (let's write it down to fatigue and inexperience).

Found in the hard way about Static NATS. Had a TRACKD filled and the controller just told me that wasn't correct, went in to the UK site and saw that the policie had changed since last time I checked it.Jos

A controller should *never* turn you away just because you are using a static or a non standard track.Im not UK Div but I do staff Shanwick quite often, usually getting caught for the events and I don't care what way you intend to cross. My goal by the end of it is that you will:a. Enjoy itb. Learn somethingc. Cross the pond!

He didn't. Until now all the controllers were very polite, first weekend after DST I forgot it and the controller kindly said: Do you confirm the estimate? That was enought Another point to the Oceanic and Shanwick in particular .:-walksmile Jos

Could Controllers reclear you on another route at the clearance stage? I know it happens in real life if a ceartain track is too buisy they will sometimes reroute the traffic on an alternitave track, and reread out the entire oceanic route up to the exit point. Say, "From XXX track change, NAT C, From MALOT track 50 North 20 West, 51 North 30 West, 53 North 40 West 52 North 50 West BALOR thence as filed onwards to YYQ." and if they can accept it they will, and it will make things more interesting, and if they can't accept it they'll tell you and you'll just have to make do somehow, ie: "Roger, Maintain as filed, Due traffic, FL340 is unavalable, I can give you FL360 or FL320."

The radio op could do this and indeed I have done it online on at least two occassions.

Oceanic Planning and Procedureshttp://www.natroutes.glideslope.de/ -Useful information about North Atlantic crossings, including weather, and much more.http://www.natroutes.glideslope.de/html/nats.php3 -Actual real world daily NAT Routeshttp://www.vatsim-uk.org/Oceanic/nats.asp -More information about NAT Routing, but very outdated Track information.http://www.vatsim-uk.org/Oceanic/pilotprocs.asp -Valuable information that you'll want to read up on BEFORE doing a trans-Atlantic flight.http://www.csgm.org/kzak/ -Pacific Ocean Crossing Routes and Informationhttps://www.notams.jcs.mil/ -This is the Department of Defense website containing real-world daily Atlantic and Pacific Routes as well as pertinent NOTAMS about oceanic weather.http://www.csgm.org/kzak/ -Tutorial on how to read PACOTS (Pacific Routes) http://www.netpar.com.br/rosvalmir/sbao/index_sbao.htm - Useful information about South Atlantic crossings, including routes, ICAO based flight plan, route segment calcules, how to use SELCAL and HF communications, and much more

>Im doing my first atlantic crossing this saturday on vatsim,>and i was wondering if there are any special procedures? like>do i have to request clearence to enter oceanic airspace?>adamVisit www.nyartcc.org Pilot area -> Flight Planning -> "PIC 767 North Atlantic Planner" (direct link http://www.nyartcc.org/route_central/NAT/index.htm) , it uses the current real world tracks as well as the preferred NARs (West side of Pond) and NERs (East side of Pond) to generate a COMPLETE preferred route flight plan.Please note, you do not need PIC 767, just use the route it generates and plug it into your FMS / FMC / GPS etc..