1.10.1.1 For flights within the EMIRATES FIR a flight plan shall be submitted as per the requirements specified in ICAO Annex 2 paragraph 3.3. The format and content of the FPL shall be as per ICAO Doc 4444.
Note 1: ATC shall refuse a flight without a valid flight plan from entering UAE Airspace until such time as a flight plan has been filed.
Note 2: In exceptional circumstances a flight plan may be filed with Emirates ACC via telephone +971 2 599 6851. However operators may expect delays in such instances.
Note 3: A foreign aircraft which has landed at any airport within EMIRATES FIR following a declared emergency after a rejected flight plan, is not allowed to depart, embark or disembark passengers or crew members unless approved by Foreign Operator Affairs. Contact: FOA@gcaa.gov.ae
1.10.1.2 Turbo - jet aircraft intending to operate within UAE airspace and on air routes to which longitudinal separation minima utilising Mach number technique will be applied, shall include the Mach number planned to be used in item 15 of the flight plan.
1.10.1.3 For westbound traffic departing or overflying the EMIRATES FIR and then transiting the Bahrain FIR, the FPL shall include the ATS route and the exit point at the western boundary of the Bahrain FIR / UIR.
1.10.1.4 ATS route segment ATUDO - MUXIT on ATS route M318, only available to operators with special approval issued by GCAA Assistant Director General Air Navigation Services. ATS route M550 only available to operators with the same special approval that is issued for ATS route M318.
Contact airspace@szc.gcaa.ae.
1.10.1.5 The following additional flight planning requirements apply for Airports with published SID and STAR procedures:
Departing aircraft - following the arrow in item 15 of flight plan, insert 'DCT' then the waypoint for joining the ATS route followed by the first ATS route. Then as per ICAO Doc 4444 standard requirements.
Arriving aircraft - item 15 of flight plan shall terminate with the ATS route waypoint from which the STAR commences.
Note: Do not include SID, STAR or its coded designator in flight plan, as it is runway dependant. ATC will advise.
1.10.1.6 Non-Scheduled, Charter and Private flights operating in EMIRATES FIR (Landing/Departing/Overflying) shall insert their contact details (Contact number and Email address) in item 18 of the flight plan following ORGN/. If operator/owner/flight planner is unable to insert the required contacts details in item 18 following ORGN/, the valid phone number or email address of the billing contact shall be inserted following RMK/.
1.10.1.7 ATS route in the FPL shall be in accordance with the preferred Standard routings as defined in
ENR 1.9.
1.10.1.8 For flights intending to operate within
FRA FRA entry/exit points and other significant points shall be used as defined in ENR 1.9.10.
Connecting segments between waypoints shall be indicated by means of DCT.
Any published FRA significant point may be used for indicating changes of level and speed.
1.10.1.9 Additional requirements related to
RVSM airspace are specified in
GEN 1.5.2. 1.10.1.9.1 FL 290 to FL 410 is for exclusive use of
RVSM approved aircraft. Non -
RVSM certified aircraft, shall flight plan accordingly.
1.10.1.9.2 Acceptance of non -
RVSM certified State aircraft for flight at
RVSM levels is subject to prevailing traffic conditions.
RVSM certified aircraft will be afforded priority in order to make maximum use of airspace capacity.
Note: Consequently, operators of State aircraft intending to navigate within EMIRATES FIR are advised to dispatch RVSM certified aircraft or flight plan at non - RVSM levels.
1.10.4.2.1 The following additional flight plan requirements apply to test and training flights that operate to or from, or are conducted at OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ.
1.10.4.2.1.1 Separate Flight Plans
1.10.4.2.1.1.1 A separate flight plan shall be filed and activated for each segment of test or training flights involving OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ under the following circumstances:
- For each flight segment departing from or arriving at OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ, that crosses the Emirates FIR boundary.
- For each flight segment departing from or arriving at OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ, except when the segment departs from and returns directly to the same aerodrome (OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ), remains entirely within the Emirates FIR, and does not involve test or training activities at any intermediate aerodrome.
- For test or training flights conducting manoeuvres at OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ, a separate flight plan must be filed for the portion of the flight involving these operations. An exception applies only when the manoeuvres begin immediately upon arrival and do not exceed 60 minutes in duration, in which case the manoeuvres may be included in the flight plan of the preceding arrival segment.
Note: Subsequent flight segments following the completion of test or training activities at OMDB, OMDW, or OMSJ require the submission of separate flight plans.
1.10.4.2.1.2 Filing and Activation
- Each flight plan must include a unique Estimated Off-Block Time (EOBT) in Item 13.
- Operators may pre-file subsequent flight plans using estimated EOBTs corresponding to the anticipated commencement of the next flight segment or local test or training operations at an intermediate aerodrome.
- Closure of the preceding flight plan and activation of the next flight plan may be initiated by the pilot via radio communication with the appropriate ATS unit.
- Any modification to the training sequence, route, direction, or duration requires cancellation or amendment of the affected flight plan(s) and the filing of new flight plan(s).
Notes:
i. Standard flight plan submission requirements apply.
ii. The DOF/ field in Item 18 of the flight plan is mandatory.
iii. CHG, DLA, and CNL messages must match the EOBT and DOF of the originally filed flight plan.
iv. Including RMK/TEST or RMK/TRAINING in Item 18 of the flight plan will help facilitate handling of the flights.
1.10.4.2.1.3.1 In the context of these additional requirements, the following definitions apply:
a. Intermediate Aerodrome - any aerodrome other than the original departure aerodrome where test or training operations are conducted.
b. Test Flight - a flight conducted to verify aircraft performance, calibration, or maintenance procedures, including calibration flights authorised by the aerodrome authority.
Note: This definition applies only to this section and does not affect GEN 1.2.13
c. Training Flight - a flight conducted for flight crew training purposes, including but not limited to approach practice, circuit training, procedure turns, low approaches, landings, and touch-and-go operations.
1.10.4.2.1.4 Exemptions
1.10.4.2.1.4.1 These additional flight plan requirements do not apply to:
- Flights without test or training activity.
- State or military flights, including those involving test or training operations, when conducted under specific ATS coordination.
- Aircraft classified as ICAO Wake Turbulence Category Light, conducting VFR training flights entirely within the Emirates FIR and remaining under VFR for the entire duration of the flight.