What we Experienced

• EUROCONTROL SISG discussions reconfirmed again, and from recent safety occurrences it was found that the correct Avoiding Action Phraseology has not been effectively used, and/or it has not been used where it would have been appropriate to;

• The BFU Uberlingen Investigation Report emphasised the importance of the proper use of avoiding action phraseology.

ICAO Procedure

• Please note the following phraseology contained in ICAO PANS ATM - provisions for Radar Phraseology - 12.4.1.8 TRAFFIC INFORMATION AND AVOIDING ACTION:

e) "TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) IMMEDIATELY HEADING (three digits) TO AVOID [UNIDENTIFIED] TRAFFIC (bearing by clock-reference and distance)"; or,

f) "TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) (number of degrees) DEGREES IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID [UNIDENTIFIED] TRAFFIC AT (bearing by clock-reference and distance)".

Please, note that ICAO provides two formats for an avoiding action message, both specifying a manoeuvre in the horizontal plane.

Disclaimer

© European Organisation for Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) June 2004. This alert is published by EUROCONTROL for information purposes. It may be copied in whole or in part, provided that EUROCONTROL is mentioned as the source and to the extent justified by the non-commercial use (not for sale). The information in this document may not be modified without prior written permission from EUROCONTROL. The use of the document is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. EUROCONTROL expressly disclaim any and all warranties with respect to any content within the alert, express or implied.