Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeATC
With VFR/OTP once the acft gets OTP and is VFR I ask them, "Report cancelling IFR", I want no confusion about whether the pilot is IFR or VFR once he reaches VFR on Top.
As for seperation, until the acft reports VFR/OTP I provide IFR seperation, once the acft reports VFR/OTP and has cancelled IFR, but wants flight following to someplace outside my airspace, I leave them on the discrete code so that I can hand them off, and I provide VFR seperation standards.
If the acft wants to stay within my airspace but wants to be VFR/OTP if the pilots wants VFR advisories I will leave them tagged up, if they don't want advisory services I will terminate VFR and tell them to squawk VFR, I've found that most pilots want to retain advisory services.
|
Just because VFR/OTP has VFR there does not mean they are VFR, THEY ARE IFR plain and simple, don't over think this.
The book also says: "1. When an aircraft has been cleared to maintain 'VFR-on-top,' the pilot is responsible to fly at an appropriate VFR altitude, comply with VFR visibility and distance from cloud criteria, and to be vigilant so as to see and avoid other aircraft. <b>The pilot is also responsible to comply with instrument flight rules applicable to the flight (e.g., adherence to ATC clearances)." </B>
Lastly, it states: "2. Although standard IFR separation is not applied, controllers shall continue to provide traffic advisories and safety alerts, and apply merging target procedures to aircraft operating VFR-on-top."
You are soliciting cancelation on an IRF clearance, a big no no.
You allow a VFR/OTP to fly below MEAs or not follow other IFR procedures (clear of MOAs, ect) after that fact then you have had an ops error (Other than IFR separation FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT, after they say they are on top and you tell them to maintain VFR/OTP) .
Like I said don't over think this, This is a seldom used rule that can get you in big trouble. Misapplication can easily lead to an error. Force a cancelation on an AC then let them have an accident later that is totally unrelated and see if the NTSB won't want to talk to you about it later.