Transatlantic flight

Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean.
A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa
and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction,
west-to-east.

Transatlantic flights use standardized aircraft routes called North Atlantic Tracks (NATs).

These routs change daily in position, however altitudes are standardized.
The the routs are shifted to compensate for the weather.
Particularly the jet stream tailwinds and headwinds, which may be substantial at cruising altitudes, have a strong influence on trip duration and fuel economy.

Eastbound flights generally operate during night-time hours.
Westbound flights generally operate during daytime hours, for passenger convenience.

The "Eastbound Flow", as it is called, generally makes European landfall from about 06.00 Z time (UTC) to 09.00 Z.

The westbound flow generally operates within a 12.00–15.00 Z time-slot.



The Gander Oceanic FIR (CZQX) and Shanwick FIR (EGGX) cover the airspace only above the North Atlantic,
from 44° North to 61° North and partly up to 64° North (only in Gander FIR).
This airspace is moderately hostile to civil aircraft, as there are virtually no land-based navigational aids, or communication relays.

The Shanwick FIR covers the airspace from the coasts of Europe to 30° W.
The airspace is class A from FL55 to FL660, (below FL55 is a class G airspace within the OCA, NOTA, SOTA and BOTA).
The Gander Oceanic FIR covers the airspace from 30°W to the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The airspace is class A from FL55 to FL660 (except the area over southern Greenland is a class A airspace from FL195 to FL660).

Traffic within the Shanwick FIR is managed by the Shanwick Oceanic Control Centre (CTR) located in Prestwick, Scotland.
The name of the FIR is actually a combination of Shannon and Prestwick -> Shan-wick.

Communication to pilots over the North Atlantic is made via Shanwick Radio (FSS) which is located in Shannon, Ireland.

Traffic within the Gander Oceanic FIR is managed by the Gander Oceanic Control Centre (CTR), which is a non-radar unit of the Gander ACC.
Communication to pilots over the North Atlantic is made via Gander Radio (FSS).

All ATC is provided via position reporting ONLY, as there are no radars in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

NAT track system

Because of the vast distances to be covered, the lack of navigational aids, and the weather conditions over the North Atlantic, a system of daily tracks exists.
North Atlantic Tracks dynamic airways which change location and direction twice daily to ameliorate traffic flow across the North Atlantic.

Random track system

Random tracks are basically handmade routes across the North Atlantic, using LAT/LON waypoints, just like the NATs.
Random tracks are used for routes where the NATs are nor suitable, such as flights from eastern Canada/USA, to the Scandinavian countries, or southern Europe, who will most probably not transit via The Shannon (EINN), Scottish (EGPX), London (EGTT) or Brest (LFRR) Flight Information Regions.

Source: occ.ivao.ca


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