INTRODUCTIONGeneral Flights by general aviation aircraft across the North Atlantic have increased dramatically. Unfortunately, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of general aviation fatalities and aircraft lost. Because of the harsh climate, lack of ground-based radio and navigational aids, as well as the immense distances involved, a trans-Atlantic flight is a serious undertaking. While IGA flights constitute a relatively small percentage of the overall North Atlantic traffic, they account for the vast majority of search and rescue operations and expenses. The information contained in this manual is intended to assist the IGA pilot in completing a safe flight. Within the NAT Region there are both civil and military air traffic operations. The civil operations include supersonic commercial flights, a significant volume of subsonic commercial traffic, as well as an increasing number of IGA aircraft. In addition to routine trans-Atlantic military air traffic, at least twice annually large-scale joint force military operations are conducted. These operations may restrict access by general aviation to portions of North Atlantic airspace. The NAT Region is comprised of the following flight information regions (FIRs) and control areas (CTAs): Bodo Oceanic
|