| Time Keeps on Slipping... | |||||||||
| Most Center controllers don't think twice
about approving a pilot request for 4x. However, this can't be the case in
the Oceanic FIR. For one thing, you can't mix time-compressed
flights and real-time flight, because the result would be something like
an experiment with Einstein's Relativity Theory, as the airplanes' clocks
and sense of Zulu time would not be equal.
For those weary travelers, tho, we have developed a special set of Time-Compression (TC) Procedures. The basic concept is that a portion of each route is set aside for multiple-X flight, on certain flight levels, as follows:
Therefore, these altitudes can not be assigned for 1x flight. In addition to filing for these altitudes, pilots shall put an appropriate comment in their Flight Plan Comments, such as "R464 2X". ATC may decline access to the TC altitude, if the route becomes too congested. You will be descended to a lower altitude. The TC routes have "buffer zones" at either end, that must be flown at 1x. This is to allow initial and final sequencing of aircraft to insure proper intervals. The TC switchover points are can be identified by examining the route details from the route page. When you are cleared to start multiple-x flight, you may be given a speed restriction. You should reduce your throttles to match the speed restriction, but don't wait to long to achieve the speed before changing your simulation rate. If using an autothrottle, dial in the Mach number, then switch sim-rates. When aircraft are operating at multiple-x speed, they shall not transmit position reports (as the times would be "bogus"). Pilots will not be able to change altitudes or sim-rates unless the altitude you wish to go to has no aircraft on the TC segment. This is because ATC looses track of positions on the TC segments. Upon resuming 1x speed, the pilot must set his simulator clock back to real-time, and resume position reporting. Unless using these specific procedures, aircraft may not operate with time-compression on the oceanic routes. Controllers may approve time compression for "off-route" and for VFR aircraft. Lets review an example of using a TC route. To fly from Seattle (KSEA) to Honolulu (PHNL) at 2x, use route A331 at FL390. In your flight plan comments, state "A331 2x". Examine the route details page for A331 and you will note ZEFRE, ZIBUD, ZOLTR, and ZAALE should be flown under time-compression. When you report ZEFER, you will be cleared to proceed at 2x, as follows: AAL1028: "San Francisco Radio, AAL1028. Position on 131.95." ZAK_FSS: "AAL1028, San Francisco Radio. Go ahead." AAL1028: "AAL1028 is position ZEFER at 17:15 Zulu, FL390. Estimating ZIBUD at 17:55 Zulu, ZOLTR next. Mach point 84, ground speed 510. Over. ZAK_FSS: "AAL1028, San Francisco Radio, copy position. ZEFER ay 1715 Zulu, FL390, estimating ZIBUD at 1755 Zulu, ZOLTR next. Mach point 84, ground speed 510 knots. Reduce speed to and maintain mach point 80. Proceed 2X now to ZAALE."
AAL1028 should now:
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