5.1   SERA.8035 Communications

Action in the event of Air-Ground Communication Failure

As soon as it is known that two-way communication has failed, ATC shall maintain separation between the aircraft having the communication failure and other aircraft based on the assumption that the aircraft will operate in accordance with 5.1.1 or 5.1.2.

Except as provided for in 5.1.2 a), a controlled flight experiencing communication failure in VMC shall:

1. set transponder to Code 7600;
2. continue to fly in VMC;
3. land at the nearest suitable aerodrome; and
4. report its arrival time by the most expeditious means to the appropriate ATS unit.

1. set transponder to Code 7600;
2. maintain for a period of 7 minutes the last assigned speed and level or the minimum flight altitude, if the minimum flight altitude is higher than the last assigned level. The period of 7 minutes commences:
   1. if operating on a route without compulsory reporting points or if instructions have been received to omit position reports:
      1. at the time the last assigned level or minimum flight altitude is reached, or
      2. at the time the transponder is set to Code 7600,

      whichever is later; or

   2. if operating on a route with compulsory reporting points and no instruction to omit position reports has been received:
      1. at the time assigned level or minimum flight altitude is reached, or
      2. at the previously reported pilot estimate for the compulsory reporting point, or
      3. at the time of a failed report of position over a compulsory reporting point,

      whichever is later; or

      Note.

      The period of 7 minutes is to allow the necessary air traffic control and coordination measures.

3. thereafter, adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan;

   Note.

   With regard to changes to levels and speed, the filed flight plan, which is the flight plan as filed with an ATS unit by the pilot or a designated representative without any subsequent changes, will be used.

4. if being radar vectored or proceeding offset according to RNAV without a specified limit, proceed in the most direct manner possible to rejoin the current flight plan route no later than the next significant point, taking into consideration the applicable minimum flight altitude;

   Note.

   With regard to the route to be flown or the time to begin descent to the arrival aerodrome, the current flight plan, which is the flight plan, including changes, if any, brought about by subsequent clearances, will be used.

5. proceed according to the current flight plan route to the appropriate designed navigation aid serving the destination aerodrome and, when required to ensure compliance with 5.1.2 f), hold over this aid until commencement of descent;
6. commence descent from the navigation aid specified in 5.1.2 e) at, or as close as possible to, the expected approach time last received and acknowledged or, if no expected approach time has been received and acknowledged, at, or as close as possible to, the estimated time of arrival resulting from the current flight plan;
7. complete a normal instrument approach procedure as specified for the designated navigation aid; and
8. land, if possible, within thirty minutes after the estimated time of arrival specified in 5.1.2 f) or the last acknowledged expected approach time, whichever is later.

6.1   Introduction

Use of airspace of the Republic of Lithuania is carried out in compliance with Republic of Lithuania Airspace Organization Rules approved by Goverment Decree Nr. 285 on 17 March 2004 and the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2150/2005 by which the common rules for the Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) based on the original conception of FUA are established.

The basis for the FUA Concept is that airspace should no longer be designed as either military or civil airspace but should be considered as continuum and used flexibly on a day-to-day basis. Consequently, any necessary airspace segregation should be only of a temporary nature.

The FUA Concept is based on three levels of Air Management (ASM) which have been identified as:

• strategic ASM – Level 1;
• pre-tactical ASM – Level 2;
• tactical ASM – Level 3.

The three ASM levels correspond with tasks of the sport/military activity co-ordination with ATM. Each level is related directly to, and impacts on the others.

6.2   Airspace Management (ASM) in the Republic of Lithuania

In accordance with Law on Aviation and Republic of Lithuania Airspace Organization Rules provisions Airspace Management on respective levels performed by Ministry of Transport, Armed Force Commander, Lithuania Transport Safety Agency and State enterprise „Oro navigacija“.

State enterprise “Oro navigacija“ performs specific tasks at ASM and FUA Level 1 and Level 3 (see 6.3 and 6.5) and the appointed Airspace Management Cell (AMC) is responsible for conduction of FUA tasks at Level 2 (see 6.4).

6.3   Strategic ASM (Level 1)

The National Airspace Coordination Working Group represents the strategic ASM (Level 1).

In line with Republic of Lithuania Airspace Organization Rules:

1. Prohibited, restricted and danger areas are approved by Minister of transport Order No. 3-353 of 16 June 2004.
2. Temporary segregated areas (TSAs), Special Glider Zones (SGZs) and Temporary established segregated areas (TESA) for military exercises, air shows, competitions etc. determines director general of the state enterprise “Oro navigacija” on ATM division rendering.

Major activities in ASM Level 1 performed by ATM division:

1. participates in the prohibited, restricted and danger areas draft preparation process;
2. creates temporary established segregated areas, TSAs and SGZs drafts;
3. creates drafts of the appropriate agreements in regard of airspace use.

Contact information:

Working hours:
MON – THU: 0530-1415 (0430-1315) UTC;
FRI and on the eve of HOL 0530-1315 (0430-1215) UTC, except SATs, SUNs and public holidays.

6.4   Pre-tactical ASM (Level 2)

ATM division (AMC) as a joint civil-military unit carries out pre-Tactical ASM in Lithuania. AMC conducts the day-to-day management and temporary allocation of airspace in the framework of the State airspace structure, rules and negotiation procedures as laid down in separate Letters of Agreement with airspace users.

ATM division (AMC) performs the following tasks:

1. collects and analyses applications/notifications requests for published airspace structures that are subject to AMC management (AMC manageable areas), for the following day. Application/notification shall be submitted to AMC until 09.00 (08.00) UTC. Application/notification of activity intended to be performed on the first workday of next week shall be submitted on the last workday of the current week;
2. when necessary coordinates the duration and scope of activity;
3. allocates and issues approvals for the activity within TSAs and SGZs;
4. provides State enterprise ”Oro navigacija“ AIS unit with all relevant information, which is necessary to issue appropriate NOTAM;
5. promulgates Airspace Use Plan (AUP) not later than 1400 UTC on the day before the day of planned activities;
6. collects and analyzes cancellations of previously allocated AMC manageable areas, if their need is terminated by the appropriate users;
7. promulgates UUPs and NUPs during the time-period from 0630 UTC till 1200 UTC on the day of planned activities, if any changes to airspace allocation are necessary;

   Note.

   AMC collects airspace requests from the Approved Agencies (AAs) and promulgates the airspace allocation as an Airspace Use Plan (AUP) (D-1), changes to the airspace plan are notified via Updated Airspace Use Plans (UUPs) (D-1 and D-0) by AMC and by Vilnius ACC during the AMC non-working hours. AUPs/UUPs contain AMC Manageable Areas (AMA) such as TSAs, TESAs, Restricted and Danger areas. EUROCONTROL consolidates national AUPs/UUPs and promulgates them on the NOP Portal (Network Operations Portal) as European AUP/UUP (EAUP/EUUP).

8. prepares and promulgates the bulletins of the airspace restrictions (NUP), which reflects all airspace restrictions (AUP and as local interest below FL095 – TSAs, TESAs, SGZs, D and R zones). The NUPs are available on the SE “Oro navigacija“website www.ans.lt.

6.5   Tactical ASM (Level 3)

On the day of operation, before commencing the planned activities inside pre-booked areas, users are obliged to coordinate with appropriate ATC unit conducts real-time coordination of appropriate activity the exact start time, delay or cancellation of the activities in the area.

Users are to inform Appropriate ATC unit immediately when the activity is completed.

Activation time or requested vertical limits of the airspace structure elements published in the AUP/UUP/NUP may only be decreased within the originally requested time and vertical limit block or cancelled.

Coordination of the significant alterations of activity within the temporary established segregated areas, TSAs and SGZs appropriate ATC unit conducts together with AMC (during its hours of service).