Provide aircraft engaged in the flight inspection of NAVAIDs with maximum assistance. Unless otherwise agreed to, maintain direct contact with the pilot and exchange information regarding known traffic in the area and his intentions.
NOTE -
1 - Many flight inspections are accomplished using automatic recording
equipment, and an uninterrupted flight is necessary for successful completion
of the mission. The workload for the limited number of aircraft engaged
in these activities requires strict adherence to a schedule.
2 - Flight inspection operations which require special participation
of ground personnel, specific communications, or radar operation capabilities
are considered to require special handling. These flights are coordinated
with appropriate facilities before departure.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 8200.1, United States Standard Flight Inspection Manual.
FAAO 8240.41, Flight Inspection/Air Traffic Coordination.
a. Clear the aircraft according to pilot request as soon as practicable. Do not ask the pilot to deviate from his planned action except to preclude an emergency situation.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 8240.41, Flight Inspection/Air Traffic Coordination, Appendix
1, describes certain flight inspection maneuvers in detail.
b. Issue radar advisories to the flight inspection aircraft where
adequate coverage exists and to the extent permitted by workload.
c. Suggest flight path adjustments, as required, for any aircraft
which will enter or penetrate an area in which a flight inspection function
is being performed.
d. Provide special handling, as required, to FAA aircraft conducting
flight inspections using the call sign "Flight Check." The call sign "Flight
Check (Nr) recorded" indicates automated flight inspections are in progress
in terminal areas.
NOTE -
FAA flight inspection aircraft will file flight plans using the call
sign "Flight Check" during flight inspections or when inbound to conduct
flight inspections. Flight plan remarks may indicate type NAVAID inspection
to be accomplished; e.g. "FC OKC P."
a. Provide special handling, as required, to expedite flight inspection of NAVAIDs, Direction Finding (DF) Equipment, and RADAR by Flight Check aircraft.
NOTE -
Certain flight inspection maneuvers require operations in close
proximity to the surface. These maneuvers can only be performed during
daylight visual meteorological conditions. Preplanned automatic flight
places the following limitations on the capability of the pilot to adhere
to normal ATC clearances:
{New-98-8 Revised August 13, 1998. "DP" was "SID"}
a. Route of flight - Orbital from 6 nautical miles to a maximum
of 40 nautical miles from the facility depending on
the type of inspection. During commissioning flight checks
all DP's, STAR's, airways, DME fixes, and
approaches must be flown.
b. Altitude assignment - From 1,000 feet above the antenna site up
to the minimum en route altitude (MEA).
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
FAAO 8240.41, Flight Inspection/Air Traffic Coordination, Appendix
1, describes certain flight inspection maneuvers in detail.
b. Avoid changes in the route or altitude from that filed by the
pilot in the initial flight plan.
c. Do not impose air traffic control delays in the flight except
to preclude emergency situations.
d. Do not change the previously assigned discrete beacon code
of special radar accuracy flight check aircraft.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Special Radar Accuracy Checks, paragraph 7-1-3.
FAAO 7210.3, ASR Performance Checks, paragraph 10-5-4.