# Presentation: 710387

## CROSS POLAR WORKING GROUP Edmonton Area Control Centre September 18-20, 2007 

**CROSS POLAR WORKING GROUP**** ****Edmonton Area Control Centre**** ****September 18-20, 2007**** **

## INTRODUCTION

- April 2007 – At CPWG 3 Edmonton ACC agreed to track the use of FL380 at the Russian entry points:  RAMEL, ORVIT, NIKIN.
- Concerns had been raised regarding aircraft non-compliance when cleared to FL380 at those fixes.
-   Aircraft which had reserved FL380 and then advised
-    unable when cleared
-   Aircraft which had been filed either FL320 or FL340,
-     the pilots then indicated they were able FL380 prior to
-     entry point(s), then declined the altitude when offered.

## Slide 3

| May 31 – August 31: 17 Flights Option FL380 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Date | Flight | Type | Fix | Fix Estimate | GRL altitude | Result |
| May 11 | COA9 | B772 | ORVIT | 2211 | 340 | Reached FL380 |
| May 14 | AAL289 | B772 | RAMEL | 2100 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| May 28 | ACA015 | A345 | RAMEL | 2013 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| June 3 | COA89 | B772 | RAMEL | 2257 | 340 | Reached FL380 |
| June 4 | COA89 | B772 | RAMEL | 2328 | 340 | Reached FL380 |
| June 4 | ACA031 | A343 | RAMEL | 0021 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| June 4 | ACA015 | A345 | RAMEL | 2110 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| June 5 | ACA087 | A343 | RAMEL | 2047 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| June 8 | AAL289 | B772 | ORVIT | 2144 | 380 | Reached FL380 |

## Slide 4

| May 31 – August 31 (cont.)
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Date | Flight | Type | Fix | Fix Estimate | GRL Altitude | Result |
| July 27 | CPA831 | A346 | RAMEL | 0245 | 340 | Cleared FL380, unable.   Re-cleared FL320 |
| Aug 2 | ACA031 | A343 | RAMEL | 0010 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| Aug 4 | CPA831 | A346 | RAMEL | 0236 | 340 | Cleared FL380 to cross 140W level. Unable, re-cleared FL320 |
| Aug28 | KAL038 | B772 | ORVIT | 0014 | 320 | Reached FL380 |
| Aug 29 | CPA831 | A346 | RAMEL | 0248 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| Aug 29 | KAL082 | B744 | RAMEL | 0049 | 340 | Cleared FL380 to cross 141W level. Unable, re-cleared FL340. |
| Aug 30 | ACA087 | A345 | RAMEL | 2108 | 380 | Reached FL380 |
| Aug 31 | ACA087 | A345 | RAMEL | 2139 | 380 | Reached FL380 |

## USE OF FL380

-   Total of 1105 flights westbound from Canada and USA over
-     RAMEL, NIKIN, and ORVIT in May – August period
-   17 involved clearances to FL380 –> 17/1105 = 1.54%
-   Factoring in potential omissions in data collection
-    = approximately 3.08% of all westbound flights
-    involving the use of FL380; either planned in the GRL, or
-    requested by ATC due traffic.
-   Is this statistically significant?

## USE OF FL380

-  Of the 17 flights where use of FL380 was a factor:
-   14 flights reached FL380.  Of those, 10 were flight planned
-     FL380 at their Russian entry points, 3 were flight planned
-     FL340 and 1 was planned FL320.
-   All flights flight planned for FL380 reached that altitude!
-   Three flights failed to reach FL380 when cleared.
-   None of the 3 were flight planned at FL380 (2 A346, 1 B744)
-   Why were they unsuccessful?
-   Lower fuel burn than expected?
-   OAT too low/high? Seasonal?
-   Air thinner than expected?
-   Solar radiation higher than expected?
-   Is this a crew education issue?

## CONCLUSION

- This limited analysis supports the continued use, for the time being, of FL380 in the GRL.
- Edmonton ACC controllers will be reminded to use diligence when considering clearing aircraft to FL380 that have not filed FL380 in their flight plan, and/or the GRL.  This reminder will apply especially to B744 and A346 aircraft.
- Edmonton ACC will continue data collection and analysis, and report back to next CPWG meeting.

## Questions?