5.3 Coordination between ACC units

5.3.1 Transfer of responsibility from one ACC to another shall take place:-

  1. at an agreed AWYs/RNAVs reporting point; or
  2. or the FIR/sector boundary.

5.3.2 Transfer of control must not be confused with transfer of communication which may be permitted before the point at which control is transferred, on request of the ACC unit whose area the aircraft will be entering when he considers it necessary to issue a clearance which will become effective when the aircraft passes the transfer of control point.

5.3.3 Although flights operating in uncontrolled airspace are not under control and it is therefore not necessary to transfer control of them, ACC should pass any available information on such flights to the next ACC unit in the same manner as for controlled flights. ACC must also transfer communication.

5.3.4 Any changes to the intended/filed flight plan routing; that will affect the next ACC unit, due weather or other traffic must be coordinated with that controller.

5.3.5 Any altitude/level change within 10 minutes from the transfer of control point, must be coordinated with the next ACC unit before executing that change.

LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS AT TRANSFER POINTS

5.3.6 The accepting ACC shall be responsible for initiating action to re-establish communication if the aircraft has not contacted him within 3 minutes after crossing the Transfer of control point or within 3 minutes after the contact time as advised by the preceding ACC control unit when an early contact was requested.