DOE and Other Aircraft

The USAF Technical Application Center (AFTAC), Department of Energy (DOE), or other U.S. Government agencies will use aircraft with the “SAMP” call sign to perform aerial sampling/surveying of suspected foreign or domestic nuclear, chemical, or hazardous material contamination. A planned aerial sampling/surveying schedule is established by the USAF. Although sampler/survey aircraft are flight planned to the suspected area of airborne contamination, the aircraft are likely to require altitude and route changes which cannot be anticipated prior to departure. The purpose of those altitude and route changes is to permit direct contact with and sampling/surveying of the airborne contamination whose exact location and altitude distribution cannot be accurately predicted.

The sponsoring agency will notify ATC facilities of the “SAMP” aerial sampling/surveying mission prior to departure.

ATC facilities must report any issues associated with “SAMP” aerial sampling/surveying flights to the Domestic Events Network (DEN) Air Traffic Security Coordinator (ATSC).

The Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) must issue a nuclear debris report as an ATCSCC numbered advisory if such report is received from AFTAC, DOE, or other U.S. government agencies.

Article 3 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Chicago Convention of 1944 includes the following:

This Convention must be applicable to civil aircraft and must not be applicable to state aircraft.

Aircraft used in military, customs and police services must be deemed to be state aircraft.

The contracting States undertake, when issuing regulations for their state aircraft, that they will have due regard for the safety of navigation of civil aircraft.

Department of Defense and U.S. Customs Service have specified that one of the following conditions must be met for flight operations outside U.S. Domestic airspace which are conducted under the “due regard” or “operational” prerogative of state aircraft and not in accordance with standard ICAO flight procedures. Under these conditions the PIC assumes the responsibility for separating his/her aircraft from all other air traffic.

Aircraft must be operated in visual meteorological conditions (VMC); or

Aircraft must be operated within radar surveillance and radio communications of a surface radar facility; or

Aircraft must be equipped with airborne radar that is sufficient to provide separation from other aircraft; or

Aircraft must be operated within Class G airspace.

Search and rescue actions for flights conducted under due regard provision are the responsibility of the parent organization.

WINTER SEASON MISSIONS.

Winter season missions are flown in support of the National Winter Season Operations Plan (NWSOP). The Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes (CARCAH) will publish the Winter Season Plan of the Day (WSPOD) by 1830 UTC. The WSPOD provides mission information and includes aircraft type and call sign, departure airfield, route of flight, and dropsonde release points.

TEAL or NOAA flights may request CARCAH to relay an en route clearance request to the ARTCC if the flight is unable to contact ATC.

ATC will provide TEAL and NOAA aircraft priority handling in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65, paragraph 2-1-4, Operational Priority.

HURRICANE AND TROPICAL CYCLONE MISSIONS.

These reconnaissance/research missions are flown in support of the National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP) and in accordance with:

The Memorandum of Agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aircraft Operations Center (AOC), U.S. Air Force Reserve Command 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO) in Support of the National Hurricane Operations Plan; and

Associated letters of agreement.

Prior to an NHOP reconnaissance/ research mission, the 53rd WRS or NOAA AOC will:

Provide the Mission Coordination Sheet to the appropriate ARTCC and the ATCSCC at least one hour prior to the mission.

Submit a request to the appropriate ARTCC for a Weather Reconnaissance Area (WRA) NOTAM at least one hour prior to the mission.

File a flight plan as soon as practicable before departure time.

The ATCSCC must:

Review the Tropical Cyclone Plan of the Day (TCPOD) by 1830 UTC.

Activate the Hurricane Desk, if required.

Review the Mission Coordination Sheet.

Designate the primary ARTCC when the reconnaissance/research flights are expected to operate through airspace managed by multiple ATC facilities.

Assist ATC facilities with traffic flow priorities if the hurricane reconnaissance/ research flight will impact terminal traffic.

The ARTCC(s) must:

Review the Mission Coordination Sheet.

Coordinate with all impacted ATC facilities within their area(s) of responsibility;

Coordinate with SUA Using Agencies in accordance with WRA Letters of Agreement (LOA),unless other coordination procedures are established by an agreement.

Issue the WRA NOTAM, as applicable.

Relay any operational concerns to the ATCSCC for further evaluation and coordination.

When designated by the ATCSCC as the Primary ATC Facility, or when the reconnaissance/research flights are expected to operate only through airspace managed by your facility, ARTCC responsibilities include:

When necessary, coordinate with CARCAH and aircrew(s) on flight plan specifics.

If the mission profile changes, coordinate with the ATCSCC and ensure other affected ATC facilities are aware of the change.

Advise the ATCSCC and other affected ATC facilities of any mission cancellation or delay information received from the flying unit.

Should it become necessary for ATC to contact a TEAL or NOAA flight and all other methods of communication are not possible (e.g., direct radio, New York Radio, San Francisco Radio, aircraft relay), CARCAH may be requested to relay messages to/from the aircraft. CARCAH may phone the appropriate ATC facility to authenticate the request.

Requests to change any portion of the NHOP or MOA must be coordinated with ATO System Operations Security.