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Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 6:22 am
by skypirate88
I asked a YYZ controller the other day why we had to read back an altitude now after calling in a PDC, since the SID has a charted altitude published. Apparently, the SID altitudes are going to be removed, and the controllers will be able to give whatever climb limit they want/need.

I thought the whole point of PDC was to reduce radio calls, but now we need 2 more to achieve the same thing. It is going to be great trying to get a call in when the clearance guy/gal is also working ground.

YUL is also interesting. I used to be able to just acknowledge a PDC, and call apron for push. No call was required to clearance. Now I have to call them after I acknowledge it to get a climb limit on the SID I don't mind making a call, it really isn't any trouble, but it would seem we are moving backwards.

I find it amusing though, I can almost hear the annoyance of the controller's voice when they clear me VIA the STAR to another altitude for the 5th time.

I feel we will be seeing many memos over the next few weeks clarifying this whole new process.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 1:22 pm
by av8ts
You keep saying STAR. Do you mean SID?

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 2:51 pm
by skypirate88
av8ts wrote:You keep saying STAR. Do you mean SID?
I sure did. I've made the changes.

Too many days on in a row it would seem.

Thanks

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 12:38 pm
by URC
What a bunch of absolute nonsense this new "via SID/STAR" terminology is. I give it less than 3 months before they get rid of it. What idiotic brain trust in ICAO/Nav Canada came up with this crap ? They should ALL be fired !

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 1:29 pm
by RexKrammer
Most likely it was somebody who has never worn a headset, and has no comprehension or appreciation of the implications this "improvement" would cause.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 9:13 pm
by ahramin
Actually, descend via star is an excellent addition to standard phraseology. The controller issues it, and you can descend when and how you want as long as you meet the star restrictions. Allows you to plan your descent and then fly it exactly as planned.

The NavCanada version where they issue you 5 separate descend via star instructions ... well let's be charitable and say they maybe didn't understand what the words via and star mean.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 5:29 am
by Married a Canadian
Actually, descend via star is an excellent addition to standard phraseology. The controller issues it, and you can descend when and how you want as long as you meet the star restrictions. Allows you to plan your descent and then fly it exactly as planned.

The NavCanada version where they issue you 5 separate descend via star instructions ... well let's be charitable and say they maybe didn't understand what the words via and star mean.
It would work if you are the only aircraft in the sky and you are flying on a closed STAR.
If you are number 8 in the sequence and are going to be vectored/sequenced on or off the STAR into the downwind (like YYZ), then kept at an altitude above the published restrictions due to running parallel approaches, all it does is create highly unnecessary RT clutter and confusion.

I shouldn't have to say it 5 times to one aircraft. I shouldn't have to reiterate an altitude to an aircraft who is level just because I have issued a vector.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 8:38 pm
by Married a Canadian
SID/STAR phraseology was cancelled today...officially.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 8:39 pm
by photofly
What was the official reason given?

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:11 pm
by PostmasterGeneral
Image

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 4:08 am
by Braun
Married a Canadian wrote:SID/STAR phraseology was cancelled today...officially.
What? I'm at work and have not heard anything about this. I so hope this is true!

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 6:39 am
by ZBBYLW
PostmasterGeneral wrote:Image
+1

Although I don't know for certain it seemed to me this was put together by desk jockeys at Nav Canada with the help of management pilots from my airline, trying to solve a problem that never existed. I do understand it was to more closely align with ICAO but any other jurisdiction I have flown through in Central America or the Caribbean (albeit simple airports) never issued it like that.

From a pilots perspective the way the US clears you to descend via the XXX arrival is indeed better and yes many of the arrivals do end on a DTW and are not closed up. The way the arrivals and sids intersect in YYZ is part of the problem so you basically protect the stars and sids and you could do it here... it might not be ICAO but it's much better it seems for both us and ATC.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 7:48 am
by Married a Canadian
From a pilots perspective the way the US clears you to descend via the XXX arrival is indeed better and yes many of the arrivals do end on a DTW and are not closed up. The way the arrivals and sids intersect in YYZ is part of the problem so you basically protect the stars and sids and you could do it here... it might not be ICAO but it's much better it seems for both us and ATC.

Exactly...and that was always part of the problem in YYZ.
Now we can debate all day about whether the way we run the planes in YYZ terminal is efficient...and what ways we can do it better....that is part and parcel of aviation...and part of discussion forums.

The problem we had was that this "generic" phraseology was not compatible with HOW terminal sequences aircraft. For a procedure to work it has to take into account ALL the sectors it will affect and how it will be interpreted. We do it differently to YVR to YYC to YUL etc etc.....each individual specialty had their own problems and unanswered questions with the change..that led to problems that were not there on April 26th.

I don't think management believed that such a "small" change would have such a large effect.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 1:59 pm
by ahramin
Possibly because (predictably) it took less than a week to risk a loss of separation?
An American corporately registered Embraer EMB-505 (N896LS) from Teterboro, NJ (KTEB) to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) was instructed to descend via (STAR) and maintain 8 000 feet. The aircraft was observed descending below 8 000 feet and instructed to descend to 4 000 feet. An Air Transat Boeing 737-800 (TSC485) from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) to Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau, QC (CYUL) and a Chartright Air Inc. Gulfstream 200 (HRT119) from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) to Ottawa/MacDonald-Cartier, ON (CYOW), were in close proximity and separation was not assured. However, no loss of separation occurred.
I know I'm not as smart as the chiefs at NavCanada but if I could make a suggestion: If you don't want an aircraft to descend via star, don't use the words descend via star.

http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/c ... d2017O1216

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 2:07 pm
by ahramin
Ladies, Gentlemen,

After discussion with Airlines, CATCA, Operational personnel, Safety and Quality and Senior Management, it has been decided to temporarily rescind all changes made on April 27th. This was not an easy decision. ATC and FSS across the country have given their utmost in trying to make this work but the continuing safety concern over altitude deviations and the unforeseen large increase in workload have brought about this decision.

Effective 0000z May 20th 2017, ATC clearances shall not include the phrase VIA SID/STAR.

The term VIA may be used in the routing segment of an IFR clearance. ATC will also not issue a climb altitude on an initial IFR departure clearance.

The following will be published in a NOTAM today and it is also a requirement on the ATIS for the following Airports: CYUL, CYYZ, CYYC, CYVR and any other airports where you may feel it is necessary.

On all STARS:
WHEN A LOWER ALTITUDE IS ISSUED, PILOTS SHALL DESCEND ON THE STAR PROFILE TO THE ATC ASSIGNED ALTITUDE.
CHARTED RESTRICTIONS ABOVE THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE REMAIN MANDATORY.

NAV CANADA will follow-up in the coming weeks.

Thank you.
I don't understand how someone could implement this despite all the objections of the working controllers and pilots who had to actually deal with it, have their nose rubbed into how bad a decision it was, and then write something like the above acting as if it's still a good idea it just has a few unforeseen safety problems. How do these people retain credibility? I realize they won't sign their name to their decisions but surely most people involved know who these bright boys are no?

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Fri May 19, 2017 2:49 pm
by Braun
ahramin wrote:Possibly because (predictably) it took less than a week to risk a loss of separation?
An American corporately registered Embraer EMB-505 (N896LS) from Teterboro, NJ (KTEB) to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) was instructed to descend via (STAR) and maintain 8 000 feet. The aircraft was observed descending below 8 000 feet and instructed to descend to 4 000 feet. An Air Transat Boeing 737-800 (TSC485) from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) to Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau, QC (CYUL) and a Chartright Air Inc. Gulfstream 200 (HRT119) from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson, ON (CYYZ) to Ottawa/MacDonald-Cartier, ON (CYOW), were in close proximity and separation was not assured. However, no loss of separation occurred.
I know I'm not as smart as the chiefs at NavCanada but if I could make a suggestion: If you don't want an aircraft to descend via star, don't use the words descend via star.

http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/c ... d2017O1216
Don't worry. We said this...multiple times. It's cancelled and gone for now.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 12:53 pm
by RexKrammer
Effective 0000z May 20th 2017, ATC clearances shall not include the phrase VIA SID/STAR.

The term VIA may be used in the routing segment of an IFR clearance. ATC will also not issue a climb altitude on an initial IFR departure clearance.
Interesting that you got this email. I just got one saying the procedure was now cancelled, but nothing regarding the cancellation of the mandate to issue an altitude in the initial IFR clearance. And I was in work today and nothing at all given in our mandatory briefings at sign-in.

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 1:31 pm
by kevenv
RexKrammer wrote:
Effective 0000z May 20th 2017, ATC clearances shall not include the phrase VIA SID/STAR.

The term VIA may be used in the routing segment of an IFR clearance. ATC will also not issue a climb altitude on an initial IFR departure clearance.
Interesting that you got this email. I just got one saying the procedure was now cancelled, but nothing regarding the cancellation of the mandate to issue an altitude in the initial IFR clearance. And I was in work today and nothing at all given in our mandatory briefings at sign-in.
What it is referring to was the requirement to include an altitude when issuing a SID. This was rescinded along with the VIA SID/STAR. If you issue a departure clx that doesn't include a SID you still need to issue an altitude. That was what we received for direction here.

So much for the climb/descend Via idea

Posted: Sat May 20, 2017 5:17 pm
by pelmet
How about we just do it the same as the USA instead of ICAO. Maybe we should try Fahrenheit and miles again too.

"After discussion with stakeholders, it has been decided to temporarily rescind, effective 0000Z May 19th, all SID/STAR phraseology changes made on April 27th. Today’s move was made out of concern over altitude deviations we were seeing in the system and the unforeseen large increase in workload as a result. We are continuing to communicate with airlines, aircraft operators and our employees as we revert back to the phraseology rules that were in place prior to this change."

Re: New Phraseology for SIDs and STARs: Beginning April 27, 2017

Posted: Sun May 21, 2017 7:57 am
by thenoflyzone
Grey_Wolf wrote:
daedalusx wrote:I also dislike the SID readback which now has to include altitude. As far as I'm concerned, SID readback should be the sid itself and transponder code, everything else is on the procedure unless obviously there is an ATC amendment.
Interesting series of flights today ...

We flew out of YUL, and got a PDC via ACARS. We acknowledged. Contacted Apron for the push and was advised to contact Clearance. Clearance wanted us to confirm the Trudo 2 and read back a SID altitude of 3000'. We then flew out of YTZ. Same scenario (PDC) but no altitude readback was required.

We asked Ground, why the difference? The answer, because YTZ includes altitudes in the PDC; pilots aren't required to read back an altitude. Acknowledging the PDC implies you'll conform to the SID and fly the altitude depicted on the chart. Since YUL doesn't include an altitude; Pilots are required to read back the SID and altitude assigned to them (which ironically is depicted on the chart).

Looking forward to the growing pains on this one :D
The Altitude info that the PDC sends is usually the cruise altitude.

There is no official parameter in which you can send an initial climb altitude with a PDC (which is stupid!). So a workaround (that apparently YTZ adopted) was to use the remarks field to send the initial climb altitude. I have no idea if this was legal or not with these new procedures.

Scroll down to see an example of a PDC with initial alt in remarks field here.

Here at YUL, readbacks of the altitude were required. We modified all PDC's to include "contact CLX" in the remarks field to make sure of it. If you didn't, your flight plan wasn't activated, meaning apron had no info on you, which is why they told you to call us back (Which you should have in the first place, as your PDC said so in the remarks field.)

I have no idea who approved the "no readback" scenario at YTZ.

As I just pointed out, not all pilots pay particular attention to the remarks field of a PDC, so If i use that box to send "climb 5,000", and you don't catch it in the cockpit, there is a potential for a SID bust.