Transfer of identification

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1- Transfer of identification from one controller to another should only be attempted when it is considered that the aircraft is within the accepting controller’s surveillance coverage.

2- Transfer of identification shall be effected by one of the following methods:

a) designation of the position indication by automated means, provided that only one position indication is thereby indicated and there is no possible doubt of correct identification;

b) notification of the aircraft’s discrete SSR code or aircraft address;

Note 1.— The use of a discrete SSR code requires a system of code assignment which ensures that each

aircraft in a given portion of airspace is assigned a discrete code (see 8.5.2.2.7).

Note 2.— Aircraft address would be expressed in the form of the alphanumerical code of six hexadecimal

characters.

c) notification that the aircraft is SSR Mode S-equipped with an aircraft identification feature when SSR Mode S coverage is available;

d) notification that the aircraft is ADS-B-equipped with an aircraft identification feature when compatible ADS-B coverage is available;

e) direct designation (pointing with the finger) of the position indication, if the two situation displays are adjacent, or if a common “conference” type of situation display is used;

Note.— Attention must be given to any errors which might occur due to parallax effects.

f) designation of the position indication by reference to, or in terms of bearing and distance from, a geographical position or navigational facility accurately indicated on both situation displays, together with the track of the observed position indication if the route of the aircraft is not known to both controllers;

Note.— Caution must be exercised before transferring identification using this method, particularly if other position indications are observed on similar headings and in close proximity to the aircraft under control. Inherent radar deficiencies, such as inaccuracies in bearing and distance of the radar position indications displayed on individual situation displays and parallax errors, may cause the indicated position of an aircraft in relation to the known point to differ between the two situation displays. The appropriate ATS authority may, therefore, prescribe additional conditions for the application of this method, e.g.:

i) a maximum distance from the common reference point used by the two controllers; and

ii) a maximum distance between the position indication as observed by the accepting controller and the one stated by the transferring controller.

g) where applicable, issuance of an instruction to the aircraft by the transferring controller to change SSR code and the observation of the change by the accepting controller; or

h) issuance of an instruction to the aircraft by the transferring controller to squawk/transmit IDENT and observation of this response by the accepting controller.

Note.— Use of procedures g) and h) requires prior coordination between the controllers, since the indications to be observed by the accepting controller are of short duration.

By Mustafa Altarrah

ATS

DOC 4444_ 8.6.3