Blue Spruce Routes?
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Blue Spruce Routes?
Anyone know the origin of the term 'Blue Spruce Routes' that's mentioned in the AIP? Did a google and didn't come up with anything.
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tower controller
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- Location: East Coast
If you're looking for the official info on it you can call the Shift Manager at Gander ACC (pm me for the number) and he'll explain em to you. From what I know of it Blue Spruce routes are routes for aircraft that have to stay within so many minutes of land when crossing the Atlantic. In other words aircraft that don't meet ETOPS Extended Twin engine Operating procedures (I think). Some aircraft still use em but mostly they are ferry flights as I guess for anybody crossing the ocean on a regular basis it's cheaper to buy the equipment.
Basically the blue spruce routes go up over Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and back down on the other side.
hope this helps, but if you need more info pm me and I'll dig it up.
Basically the blue spruce routes go up over Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and back down on the other side.
hope this helps, but if you need more info pm me and I'll dig it up.
I think Blue Spruce routes are the few routes that you can cross the North Atlantic with only one Long Range Navigation System, plus VOR/NDB.
I think they are mostly a contingency thing, if one of your LRNS's fail, you have to fly the Blue Spruce Routes.
I'm not sure why they came up with the term, Spruce is popular for aircraft manufacture, but not blue spruce, they are mostly ornamental, like Christmas Trees.
Maybe that's it... lots of Aircraft crossing the NAT during Christmas???
Cat?
I think they are mostly a contingency thing, if one of your LRNS's fail, you have to fly the Blue Spruce Routes.
I'm not sure why they came up with the term, Spruce is popular for aircraft manufacture, but not blue spruce, they are mostly ornamental, like Christmas Trees.
Maybe that's it... lots of Aircraft crossing the NAT during Christmas???
Cat?
Many aircraft fly to Europe that do not enter the NAT system. This would be referred to as "Random Routing".
Many aircraft also fly north over Labrador, with possible stops in Sondrestrom Fjord BGSF or Narsarsuaq BGBW, continue to Iceland to either Kef or REK then to Europe, mostly due to range limitations of the aircraft. Most use RNAV and will most likely use direct routings to the destination. eg Goose Bay to Kef., Iqaluit, Rek via many lat and long cords.
Blue Spruce routes are routes over a similar route that was used prior to the RNAV era using high powered NDB along the Greenland and Iclandic coast. I don't think anyone uses these routes in the traditional sense anymore. Anyone using these routes would most likely have RNAV equip and happen to be there due to an IFR clearance or flightplanning purposes.
Many aircraft also fly north over Labrador, with possible stops in Sondrestrom Fjord BGSF or Narsarsuaq BGBW, continue to Iceland to either Kef or REK then to Europe, mostly due to range limitations of the aircraft. Most use RNAV and will most likely use direct routings to the destination. eg Goose Bay to Kef., Iqaluit, Rek via many lat and long cords.
Blue Spruce routes are routes over a similar route that was used prior to the RNAV era using high powered NDB along the Greenland and Iclandic coast. I don't think anyone uses these routes in the traditional sense anymore. Anyone using these routes would most likely have RNAV equip and happen to be there due to an IFR clearance or flightplanning purposes.
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BobzYurUnkl
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The Blue Spruce Routes are used for aircraft with one Long-Range-Nav System (LRN's). The most common comes from Goose Bay (CYQX) with three Coast out points, and they converge over Prins Cristian Sund NDB and carry on to Keflavik (BIKF). There is also one farther North that passes over Sondre Stromfjord also carrying on to Keflavik. Theres are established, published routes (Unlike the NAT Track system that changes daily). They tend to be used by smaller A/C like lear 35's etc, that Don't have 2 LRN's and can't make it over Non-stop, and require a stop in BIKF before carrying on to Europe.
They can also be used by any A/C that has a failure of a LRN system BEFORE entering the Oceanic Control Area (OCA). Say an Airliner that has a failure can carry on using the Blue Spruce routes and continue to the destination, by say, overflying BIKF and using published routes from there to Europe. Most Airliners I know of have 3 LRN's and even with a failure, can carry on using the NAT tracks.
A Random Route is any route that does not use the entire length of a published NAT track. Therefore you're flight planning to a particular dest. may have you use a portion of a Track, and then something more direct to your Dest. you are using a random route. You may also Flight plan using a track that you are to early for (The Eastbound system is not in effect) or you are after it has expired, you are again on a random route.
As for the term "Blue Spruce" Sorry...
They can also be used by any A/C that has a failure of a LRN system BEFORE entering the Oceanic Control Area (OCA). Say an Airliner that has a failure can carry on using the Blue Spruce routes and continue to the destination, by say, overflying BIKF and using published routes from there to Europe. Most Airliners I know of have 3 LRN's and even with a failure, can carry on using the NAT tracks.
A Random Route is any route that does not use the entire length of a published NAT track. Therefore you're flight planning to a particular dest. may have you use a portion of a Track, and then something more direct to your Dest. you are using a random route. You may also Flight plan using a track that you are to early for (The Eastbound system is not in effect) or you are after it has expired, you are again on a random route.
As for the term "Blue Spruce" Sorry...
