After take-off
Airborne report – Class C control zones AIP ENR 1.1
In Class C and Class D control zones where an ATS surveillance service is provided, on first contact with centre, approach or departures, a pilot must report:
- if assigned an initial heading – the direction of turn and assigned heading
- the altitude passing, to nearest 100 ft and
- the last assigned level.
Departure report – certain Class D aerodromes
At certain Class D aerodromes where the tower also provides a procedural approach control service (see ERSA), a pilot must report on the tower frequency after take-off:
- tracking information and
- the last assigned altitude.
However, this report is not required:
- for VFR aircraft departing the control zone directly into Class G airspace or
- for aircraft that have been instructed to contact centre, approach or departures once airborne – in which case an airborne report will be made on the relevant frequency.
The departure time must be calculated as follows:
- current time minus an adjustment for the distance from the aerodrome or
- when over or abeam the aerodrome.
Frequency change
When frequency change instructions are issued immediately preceding the take-off clearance, pilots must change frequency automatically from tower as soon as practicable after take-off, preferably within one nm of becoming airborne.
In all other situations, pilots of departing aircraft must remain on tower frequency until specific frequency change instructions are issued. Pilots can generally expect an instruction to contact departures control before reaching 2000 ft and should, when advised, effect the change as soon as possible.
When contacting area control, pilots must advise the last assigned level and, if not maintaining the assigned level, the level maintaining or last vacated level.
Note
The ‘last vacated level’ may be omitted by identified aircraft squawking pressure altitude derived level information.