GEN 1.5 AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT AND FLIGHT DOCUMENTS

 

1 GENERAL

Regarding aircraft instruments equipment and flight documents the EASA Basic Regulation with its implementing rules shall apply.
Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012 shall apply to technical requirements related to air operations.

2 SSR TRANSPONDER

2.1. Aircraft shall be equipped with a serviceable transponder with pressure-altitude reporting capability and it is mandatory to operate the transponder within the following airspace:
  1. within airspaces given in ENR 2.1 with TMZ requirement
  2. EFHK CTR NORTH, EFHK CTR SOUTH
  3. within the uncontrolled airspace below EFHK TMA LOWER.


The aircraft shall be equipped with a transponder with pressure-altitude reporting capability operating on Modes A and C or on Mode S.
 
2.2. Exemptions from the requirements above can be granted as follows:
  1. At the request of the entities conducting the following activities, the competent authorities may grant exemptions from the specific requirements of this Regulation to those entities for the following activities of public interest and for the training necessary to carry out the activities safely:
    1. police and customs missions
    2. traffic surveillance and pursuit missions
    3. environmental control missions conducted by, or on behalf of public authorities
    4. search and rescue
    5. medical flights
    6. evacuations
    7. fire fighting
    8. exemptions required to ensure the security of flights by heads of State, Ministers and comparable State functionaries.
  2. The air navigation service provider (Fintraffic ANS) grants exemptions from the requirements based on EU's Standard European rules of the air (SERA) as follows:
    1. Requirements given in para 2.1 do not apply to non-power driven aircraft, motorized hang-gliders, self-sustaining powered sailplanes and self-launching gliders. Requirements do not apply to aircraft without motorized charging system either.
    2. Traffic conditions permitting, occasional exemptions for individual flights may be granted by the appropriate ATC unit:
      1. or the removal of an aircraft for maintenance or repair
      2. for participation in an air show or an air competition
      3. for other similar purpose
      4. for RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) operations.
For more information of the application of the requirements above, see Aviation Regulation OPS M1-31.

For more information about operating procedures, see ENR 1.6.

3 PERFORMANCE BASED NAVIGATION (PBN)

For performance-based-navigation, aircraft must comply with the airworthiness requirements for the particular navigation requirement. Other than state aircraft operating according to instrument flight rules within the Finnish flight information region (HELSINKI FIR) above FL 95 shall carry RNAV equipment fulfilling at least the RNP 5 requirements set out in the ICAO EUR Regional Supplementary Procedures (Doc 7030) Chapter 4.
Flight safety permitting and when operationally appropriate, occasional exemptions for individual flights may be granted by the ATS unit.
 
3.1. PBN capability requirements
3.1.1. The usage of RNAV STAR or RNAV SID procedures requires RNAV 1 capability. GNSS is the only supported sensor. DME/DME function is possible only at Helsinki-Vantaa RNAV STAR procedures.
3.1.2. All approach procedures in PBN based operational environment requires RNP APCH capability, including ILS or LOC procedures, because in them the initial, intermediate and missed approach are based on utilization of the RNP functionality. In addition, APV Baro-VNAV approach to LNAV/VNAV minima requires Baro-VNAV capability. APV SBAS approach to LPV minima requires SBAS receiver and qualification.
3.1.3. The following Finnish aerodromes have exclusively PBN based operational environment, i.e. no conventional instrument procedures are available. Flight operations from these airports requires at least RNP APCH capability and qualification.
EFET, Enontekiö
EFIV, Ivalo
EFJO, Joensuu
EFKI, Kajaani
EFKE, Kemi-Tornio
EFKK, Kokkola-Pietarsaari
EFKS, Kuusamo
EFLP, Lappeenranta
EFSA, Savonlinna
 
3.2. PBN contingency procedures
3.2.1. For airports having only PBN based operational environment, it is not possible to operate at the airport without appropriate PBN capability and qualification.
3.2.2. In RNAV failure situations making an aircraft incapable for RNAV navigation, the flight must be redirected to an airport having conventional procedures available or where the aircraft can be radar vectored to the ILS approach.

4 COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

An aircraft operated as a controlled VFR flight shall be equipped at least with one radio receiver and transmitter unit suitable for two-way radio communication with the appropriate ATS unit when:
  1. the flight or part thereof will be operated within airspace classes B, C, D or
  2. radio mandatory zone (RMZ) or
  3. ADIZ (see ENR 5.2).
For VFR flights in the aforementioned airspace, an exemption may be granted by the ATS unit for aircraft without the possibility of double-sided radio communications with the ATS unit.
4.1. The use of certain radio equipment on board aircraft
According to the regulation directed by the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority FICORA under the Act of radio frequencies and transmitters the use of certain radio license-exempt radio operating in the air in the aircraft, in whole or in part, forbidden to prevent interference. Such devices are, e.g. various mobile devices, such as GSM and UMTS Phones.
Regulation 15 regulation on collective frequencies for licence- exempt radio transmitters and on their use contains conditions for use for such radio transmitters whose use does not require a separate radio licence. The regulation is available from www.traficom.fi or e-mail kirjaamo@traficom.fi

or address

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
PL 320
FI-00059 TRAFICOM
 
Provisions on the use of licensed radio transmitter are given in the radio licence of the transmitter.
4.2. Requirement for 8.33 KHZ channel spacing radio equipment
This requirement has been published in the series of National aviation regulations and is available in Finnish only.
The ICAO Annex 10 and Doc 7030 are applied in HELSINKI FIR where carriage of 8.33 KHZ channel spacing radio equipment is required for aircraft operating as general air traffic above FL 195. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may grant an exemption for a single VFR flight.
According to the European commission regulation (EU) 1079/2012 the radio equipment in the aircraft shall be capable to operate in 8.33 KHZ channel spacing channels. Transition period to implement 8.33 KHZ channel spacing is 10 years due to the exemption permitted by the European commission. Same transition period is used for radio equipment operating in 25 KHZ channel spacing only. Exemption is valid only in Finland, in the neighbouring states 8.33 KHZ channel spacing may be required at the beginning of 2018.
Fintraffic ANS is using 25 KHZ channel spacing during the transition time. For more information, see ENR 1.8.

5 REDUCED VERTICAL SEPARATION MINIMUM (RVSM)

Only RVSM approved aircraft and non-RVSM approved State aircraft shall be permitted to operate within the EUR RVSM airspace.
Except for State aircraft, RVSM approval is required for aircraft to operate in the RVSM airspace within the HELSINKI FIR above FL 290.
Note: The provisions applicable to non-RVSM approved civil operations in EUR RVSM airspace where RVSM transition tasks are carried out are as specified in the ICAO EUR Regional Supplementary Procedures (Doc 7030/4 - EUR).
RVSM approved aircraft are those aircraft for which the Operator has obtained an RVSM approval, either from the State in which the operator is based, or from the State in which the aircraft is registered.

6 EMERGENCY LOCATION BEACON - AIRCRAFT

Aircraft must have an ELT emergency transmitter operating at FREQ 406 MHZ. However, on private operations, other than complex motor-powered aircraft, the crew member or the passenger may use personal locator beacon (PLB) when the maximum approved passenger seating configuration does not exceed six.
6.1. Emergency Location Beacon registry
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency maintains a registry of the Emergency Locator Beacons for Finnish aircraft. The register is kept on emergency transmitter on the aircraft and their life rafts operating at 406 MHZ including aircraft-specific PLB emergency transmitters.
6.2. ELT testing
In the operation tests of the ELT, in addition to the manufacturer's instructions, the following instructions must be followed:
6.2.1. Self Test
To check the ELT operation, the user may run the self-test of the device. In this mode of operation, the test signal transmitted by the device will not cause an alarm via satellites. Air traffic control units will not respond to the short signal transmitted in the frequency of 121.500 MHZ in this mode either. The test may be carried out at any time, and need not be notified e.g. to the air traffic control.
6.2.2. Operational test
The ELT manufacturer may require an operational test after installation, in which the device is switched ON (for 5 seconds at maximum) in the same way as in an actual emergency. This test may only be performed by staff members authorized for the maintenance or installation of ELT devices. Any operational tests must be notified to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre before the test is started. The test must be made during the first 5 minutes of any full hour. The maximum duration of the test is limited to 5 seconds. If the device is on for a significantly longer time, it will activate an emergency alarm to the satellites, which is strictly forbidden.
6.3. False alarms
False ELT alarms can be detected by monitoring the frequency 121.500 MHZ. This should always be done after a rough landing or similar ground movements. The maintenance work of the aircraft may also cause false ELT alarms. If a false ELT alarm is observed, the ELT transmitter shall be turned off immediately and the appropriate ATS unit shall be informed without delay.
6.4. Listening watch on 121.500 MHZ during the flight
Listening watch on the frequency 121.500 MHZ during the flight is recommended other radio communication permitting. If an ELT alarm is received during the flight, it shall be reported to the appropriate ATS unit, which gives further instructions for listening to and for locating the transmission.
6.5. ACAS II requirement for flights in Finnish airspace
ACAS II requirement is based on EU decree 1332/2011.
All civil fixed-wing turbine-engined aircraft having a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 KG, or a maximum approved passenger seating configuration of more than 19, shall be equipped with an ACAS II.
State aircraft and military aircraft are granted exemption from this requirement.
For all other than the above mentioned aircraft a permission for exemption shall be applied from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. The free format written application shall reach the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency at least 7 days prior to the intended flight
Contact information:

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
PL 320
FI-00059 TRAFICOM
   
TEL +358 29 534 5000
kirjaamo@traficom.fi

7 ACCOMMODATION OF STATE AIRCRAFT OPERATING WITHOUT MODE S ELS, MODE S EHS AND ADS-B OUT

State aircraft that are operating IFR flights as general air traffic (GAT) without Mode S ELS, Mode S EHS or ADS-B out for technical or operational reasons, will be accommodated by Finnish ANSPs through traditional surveillance methods where available according to AIP ENR 1.6, such as Mode 3/A/C/S. The flight plan shall include in item 18 the indicators SUR/EUADSBX, SUR/EUEHSX, SUR/EUELSX or a combination thereof.