Required Position Reporting

Required Position Reports
Tom DiCecco

The subject of required position reports has come up three times within the last week, so here's the scoop:

First, let's revisit my girlfriend Frada.

Fix (the nav facility or location from which you will issue your position)
RAdial (the radial from the fix) Remember that radials and magnetic bearings emanate only from fixes no matter what direction you are going)
Distance (in nautical miles from the fix)
Altitude

Here's an example: Phl approach, Mooney N772DF, DuPont 270, 20 miles, 2,500 ft, heading 180, request practice ILS at Wilmington, low approach only.
After you have made initial contact, this organized report allows the controller to immediately see your blip on his screen. You may also include the direction of flight and transponder code if it's an initial call.

The format in the A.I.M. for enroute reports still remains as IPTATEN.

Identification
Position
Time
Altitude
Type of flight plan (not required on IFR reports)
ETA & name of next reporting point
Next reporting point subsequent to above ETA report

Charts show compulsory reports as solid triangles, and on-request reporting points as open (or clear) triangles.
When a controller states "Radar Contact", normal position reports should be discontinued. Once "radar contact" is established, you can assume that it's continued in "hand-offs."

There is no discretion in the following reports which must be made at all times.

1. Leaving an assigned altitude for a newly assigned altitude
2. Altitude changes on a VFR-ON-TOP clearance
3. When unable to climb or descend at a rate of at least 500 FPM
4. Missed approach (state your request or intentions of your alternate, hold, missed approach procedure, or another approach)
5. Change in TAS (from filed flight plan) by 5% or 10 knots, whichever is greater
6. Clearance limit & hold entry (state fix, time, altitude, hold entry)
7. Leaving a hold
8. Equipment failure
9. Any other information pertinent to flight safety
10. Unforcast WX or other hazardous conditions; When you are not in radar contact you must include these reports
11. Final approach fix
12. Flight plan ETA in error in excess of three (3) minutes Library Menu
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This page last updated 10-27-0