IVAO Ireland > Special Operations > Information > AWACS

Airborne Warning & Control & Ground Controlled Intercept Procedures


AAR ATA ATA-DOG LAPES AWACS SAR RECON HALO

AWACS and GCI controllers shall be the only acceptable source of combat information for military aircraft engaged in combat sorties. Multiple controllers are permitted to provide control. In the case of AWACS controllers they will be known as the mission crew aboard the surveillance aircraft.

When no AWACS/GCI controller is available, military and/or Civilian Air Traffic Control will not participate in providing combat information and will only ensure that combat aircraft are safely separated from non-participating traffic and operating within assigned boundaries.

For AWACS controllers to be active a surveillance aircraft must be airborne and established in a racetrack pattern within a designated Air Surveillance Area (ASA). AWACS controllers will be able to control aircraft until the surveillance aircraft leaves the Orbit Area to RTB or transition to another designated ASA.

AWACS controllers will be unable to provide control while the surveillance aircraft is conducting air to air refueling, but can resume once the surveillance aircraft is reestablished in orbit within an ASA.

The AWACS controller is unable to provide control to the surveillance aircraft that they are aboard as part of the mission crew. Provision for control of the surveillance aircraft must be with either a GCI or ATC Controller. Communication between the surveillance aircraft and it's mission crew will be via the private message facility in Squawkbox.

If no CRC is active, AWACS controllers can provide a full service to participating aircraft for the duration or until a CRC is activated. The AWACS controller will then coordinate with the CRC in regards to the assignment of aircraft to be controlled. GCI/AWACS controllers may not provide en-route ATC to any aircraft under normal circumstances. This is the sole responsibility of either Military or Civil ARTCC.

If an aircraft under GCI/AWACS control wishes to go en-route, e.g. to RTB, the AWACS controller will hand over the aircraft to a Military or Civil ARTCC. If no ARTCC is available, the GCI/AWACS controller may provide limited ATC support according to their workload.

Controllers providing control from a surveillance aircraft use the callsign EISN_AW_CTR.