WATRS LATERAL OFFSET NOTAM Nov 28 02

**STRATEGIC LATERAL OFFSET OPERATIONAL TRIAL IN THE NEW YORK (NY)
OCEANIC FIR WEST OF 60 WEST AND SOUTH OF 38-30 NORTH**

It has been determined that allowing aircraft conducting oceanic flight
to fly lateral offsets not to exceed 2 NM right of centerline will
provide additional safety margin and mitigate the risk of conflict when
non-normal events such as aircraft navigation errors, height deviation
errors and turbulence induced altitude-keeping errors occur.

Effective 24 January 2002 at 0901 UTC the NY Oceanic FIR portion of
WATRS airspace between FL 290 and 410 (inclusive) will be designated as
RVSM exclusionary airspace. The WATRS area has a high frequency of
opposite direction traffic. This strategic lateral offset trial became
effective on 1 November 2001. The operational trial was planned on being
in effect for one year, expiring 1 November 2002. **The trial period has
been extended for an additional year, with a new expiration date of 1
November 2003.**

This procedure provides for offsets within the following guidelines.
Along a route or track there will be three positions that an aircraft
may fly: centerline or one or two miles right. Offsets will not exceed 2
NM right of centerline. The intent of this procedure is to reduce risk
(add safety margin) by distributing aircraft laterally across the three
available positions.

For the duration of this trial, this procedure should also be used to
avoid wake turbulence. In lieu of the existing wake turbulence offset
procedures, pilots should only fly one of the three positions shown
above. (See paragraph 4 below).

For the purpose of this trial, this procedure is applicable in the NY
Oceanic FIR west of 60 west longitude and south of 38 degrees, 30
minutes north latitude between FL 290-410 (inclusive). The procedure is
as follows:

**1.** Aircraft without automatic offset programming capability must fly
the centerline.

**2.** Operators capable of programming automatic offsets may fly the
centerline or offset one or two nautical miles right of centerline to
obtain lateral spacing from nearby aircraft. (Offsets will not exceed 2
NM right of centerline).

**3.** Pilots shall apply this authority in the area of NY Oceanic FIR
identified. Pilots should use whatever means is available (e.g. TCAS,
communications, visual acquisition, GPWS, ADS-B) to determine the best
flight path to fly.

**4.** Pilots should also fly one of the three positions shown above to
avoid wake turbulence. Aircraft should not offset to the left of
centerline nor offset more than 2 NM right of centerline. ***Pilots may
contact other aircraft on the air to air frequency, 123.45, as
necessary, to coordinate the best wake turbulence offset option. As
noted below, contact with ATC is not required.***

**5.** Due to the frequency of opposite direction traffic in the New
York Oceanic FIR, it is recommended that aircraft normally fly an offset
of 1 or 2 NM right.

**6.** Offsets may be applied outbound at the time that radar contact is
terminated. Aircraft must return to centerline when radar contact is
re-established.

**7.** There is no ATC clearance required for this procedure and it is
not necessary that ATC be advised. **(ATP-**