General - SOPs

Rev 1.2 - September 12, 2004 22:00
General SOPs - contents:

Visiting ATC - non-Chicago Roster Personnel
Checking in BEFORE taking a position
Coordinating within the ARTCC
Coordinating between ARTCCs

Visiting ATC - non-Chicago Roster Personnel
Any visiting ATC can expect to be requested they vacate ATC positions in favour of Chicago roster staff by the Chief/Assistant/Instructors if there are Chicago roster staff wishing to work the area, especially in the following circumstances;
1) During the hours when higher traffic volumes occur - typically US evening times, and weekends/national holidays.
2) If there are Chicago staff that are available to be trained or tested.
3) If it's apparent the individual at the position isn't familiar with the procedures/SOPs or capable of handling the traffic present.
While at present there are no specific tests/requirements for visiting ATC, anyone taking a position within the ARTCC is expected to have read ALL THE SOPs, and have available ANY and ALL charts they may need if performing duties requiring such charts.
This ESPECIALLY holds true for anyone taking any Approach position within the ARTCC.
DO NOT work those positions without having the available charts to hand.

Checking in BEFORE taking a position

Before you take ANY position in the Chicago ARTCC, you should log in as an observer, check if the ARTCC Chief, Assistant Chief or ARTCC Instructor(s) are online, and obtain approval from THEM to take the position you are interested in staffing.
There are MANY reasons for this, the primary being that they may have already approved another individual to take the position.
IF you DO NOT check in first, you are likely to be asked to vacate a position if another individual has followed the procedure and been approved to take it.
The ARTCC staff have the final say in determining your eligibility and ability to staff/run a position, and if you are obviously, in their opinion, in over your head, they may request you relinquish a position to a more senior/capable individual.

Coordinating within the ARTCC
Standard requirements within the ARTCC are to have an active chat box open between ALL positions within the ARTCC that you need to coordinate with.
Prior agreements notwithstanding (e.g. APP approves TWR to release departures without confirmations), you should still provide basic notification/acceptance of all aircraft transfers between adjacent positions.

Coordinating between ARTCCs
All transfers of aircraft to adjacent ARTCCs MUST BE COORDINATED with the position(s) in question. The standard notification/acceptance process should be used in all cases between the Chicago ARTCC and adjacent airspace.