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Cook Islands

Positions

Position Name Shortcode Callsign Frequency Login ID Usage
Rarotonga Tower TRA Rarotonga (Raro) Tower 118.100 NCRG_APP Primary
Rarotonga Control RAR Rarotonga (Raro) Control 118.900 NCRG_CTR Primary
Auckland Radio ARO Auckland Radio 129.000 NZZO_FSS Primary

Event Only Positions

Important

The following position may only be staffed during a VATNZ event where approved, or if explicitly authorised by the Operations Director.

Position Name Shortcode Callsign Frequency Login ID Usage
Rarotonga Delivery DRA Rarotonga (Raro) Delivery 121.900 NCRG_DEL Event only

Rarotonga Control

Rarotonga Control

NCRG_CTR "Rarotonga Control" on 118.900 provides an enroute radar service within the Rarotonga CTA from A055 to FL245.

Rarotonga Control:

  • Provides the enroute interface between Rarotonga Tower and Auckland Radio.
  • Provides a top-down service to NCRG when Rarotonga Tower is offline.
  • Shall transfer aircraft climbing above FL245 to ARO before the common airspace boundary.
  • Shall accept arrivals from ARO and descend them into the Rarotonga CTA.

ARO is responsible above FL245. Aircraft operating above FL245 should be transferred to ARO on 129.000.

Rarotonga Tower

Why is the login ID NCRG_APP?

Rarotonga Tower uses an _APP suffix because the FSD restricts _TWR callsigns to a visibility range of 50nm.

NCRG_APP "Rarotonga Tower" on 118.100 provides a combined procedural approach, tower and ground service for NCRG.

Limits: There are three layers to Rarotonga Tower's area of responsibility:

  • A circle 30nm in diameter, centred on RG VOR from SFC to A055.
  • A circle 50nm in diameter, centred on RG VOR from A055 to A095.
  • A circle 70nm in diameter, centred on RG VOR from A095 to A145.

Rarotonga Tower may conduct auto-release to RAR provided the aircraft is departing via a nominated runway and SID. Any departure requiring a heading, non-standard track or amended level shall be coordinated with RAR before departure.

Aircraft climbing above RAR's upper limit shall be instructed to contact RAR after departure. RAR will transfer the aircraft to ARO when required.

Rarotonga Delivery

NCRG_DEL "Rarotonga Delivery" on 121.900 is an Event Only position.

DRA provides clearance delivery only. When DRA is online:

  • DRA shall issue IFR clearances and weather information to departing aircraft.
  • TRA remains responsible for runway, taxi, start and pushback operations.
  • DRA shall coordinate non-standard clearances, amended levels or routing changes with TRA before issuing the clearance.

When DRA is offline, TRA shall issue IFR clearances and weather information.

Weather Information

There is no ATIS at Rarotonga.

Controllers shall not create an NCRG ATIS connection. The current weather information shall be passed by voice:

  • DRA shall provide weather information with the IFR clearance when DRA is online.
  • TRA shall provide weather information to departures when DRA is offline.
  • TRA shall provide weather information to arrivals before issuing an approach or landing clearance if the aircraft has not already received it.

Weather information should include the runway in use, surface wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, QNH and any relevant operational remarks.

Coordination

Any requests for a non-nominated approach shall be coordinated with TRA.

TRA shall coordinate IFR departures with RAR unless auto-release conditions are met.

RAR shall provide a 10-minute warning to ARO before an aircraft crosses the common airspace boundary. ARO shall provide the same warning to RAR for arriving aircraft.

RAR shall coordinate with ARO if an aircraft is unable to cross the common airspace boundary at the cleared level, or if an amended route or level is required.