Transcript Polar Route Strategy

FAA Guidance Material
Polar Operations
• Establishes a uniform
process to validate all
operations
• Documents requirements
for polar operations
• Identifies equipment
requirements
• Requires passenger
recovery plan
Development of
Final FAA Guidance Material
• Current FAA guidance material is official.
However, later it will be written in another
format (HBAT).
• The guidance memorandum will be placed
in an advisory circular.
• An FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory
Committee (ARAC) working group tasked
to develop standardized procedures and
requirements for all long-range
operations.
FAA Guidance Material
Definition of Polar Operations
The north polar area
of operations is
defined as that area
that lies north of
latitude N 78° 00'.
FAA Guidance Material
Specific Area Approval
Operators are required to gain specific
approval to conduct polar operations (in
addition to FAA approval for flight in the area
of magnetic unreliability (AMU).
FAA approval is issued by amendment to the
airline’s Operations Specifications.
Issues Covered in Guidance Material
• Designation of en
route alternates
• Airline recovery plan
for passengers at en
route alternates
• Fuel freeze strategy
and monitoring
requirements
• Communications
• MEL considerations
• Airline training issues
• Long-range crew
requirements
• Dispatch and crew
considerations during
solar flare activity
• Special equipment
• Validation requirements
for area approval
Summary of
FAA Guidance Material
• US Airlines need specific approval for
polar operations
• US Airlines need approval for flight in the
Area of Magnetic Unreliability (AMU).
• FAA validates US airline capabilities
• Approval issued by amendment to the
airline’s Operations Specifications