Virtual Royal Air Force 2010 v1.1.

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Virtual Royal Air Force

Letter of Agreement between VATSIM United Kingdom (VATUK) and virtual Royal Air
Force to establish operating policies and procedures

This document is to be adhered to at all times by all members of the vRAF while carrying out their duties either for, or
in concert with the vRAF. Not for Real World Flight Operations.
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Purpose

This Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlines standard operating policies and procedures to be
utilized by the virtual Royal Air Force (vRAF) and VATSIM - United Kingdom (VATUK).

Establishes

Provision for performance of Operational Air Traffic and General Air Traffic flying within
VATSIM-UK, including establishment of Special Use Airspace via NOTAM within the United
Kingdom FIRs. In addition it establishes procedures for the undertaking of specialist
operational support functions, including Forward Air Control and Fighter Control.

Introduction

vRAF has been granted VATSIM vSOA status within the network. To enhance operational
training vRAF will be conducting day to day training within the UKFIR.

This LOA has been developed to establish procedures for this training

Cancellation

This LOA will remain in effect until replaced by a revision that has been mutually agreed
upon by both parties, or until it is cancelled by either party, with a minimum of thirty (30)
days notice provided.

Distribution

vRAF Staff
vRAF Pilots
VATSIM UK
VP VSOA For Reference

Policies

Neither party can dictate or strike to change either parties policies and guidelines set forth
within their charters. Additions, modifications and deletions to this LOA shall be done per
mutual agreement by both VATSIM UK and the vRAF.

This document is to be adhered to at all times by all members of the vRAF while carrying out their duties either for, or
in concert with the vRAF. Not for Real World Flight Operations.
All RAF crests are Crown Copyright
Virtual Royal Air Force 2010 v1.1.0

www.vraf.org 3

LOA Detail

General Operations - GAT

All GAT operations will be performed within the Rules of the Air as per the Air Navigation
Order, with appropriate reference to the VATUK Military Flying Order Order Book (MFOB)
/*REM - Or Mil AIP when renamed*/

General Operations - OAT

All OAT operations will be performed within the military flying regulations as dictated by the
VATUK MFOB.

General Operations - All

During the operation of any military flying within VATSIM-UK, aircraft are to squawk
appropriately. This will be either a squawk from their home base's squawk range or a low
flying, range or other suitable conspicuity squawk.

All aircraft will contact Air Traffic Control agencies as appropriate.

Airfield Usage

vRAF is granted unrestricted access to all current military airfields within the UK. The only
exception to this is RAF Fairford.

Any aircraft wishing to utilise RAF Fairford must NOTAM the airfield open a minimum of 24
hours prior to the usage.

Utilising of Special Use Airspace

The term Special Use Airspace refers to all airspace which is reserved for military activity
within the UK FIRs. This includes Danger Areas, Air to Air Refueling Areas and any other
appropriate airspace.

vRAF pilots may utilise any SUA within the UK providing that sufficient notice is provided by
NOTAM on the VATSIM-UK forum. Whilst no set time limit has been established, it is
suggested that a minimum of 30 minutes notice ahead of the airspace becoming populated
is provided.

Fighter Control

Currently, the provision of Fighter Control is not permitted. However, the vRAF does
operate E-3 Sentry aircraft which may provide informative information to aircraft about the

This document is to be adhered to at all times by all members of the vRAF while carrying out their duties either for, or
in concert with the vRAF. Not for Real World Flight Operations.
All RAF crests are Crown Copyright
Virtual Royal Air Force 2010 v1.1.0

www.vraf.org 4

locations of friendly, hostile and neutral aircraft. AWACS aircraft do not have authority to
issue instructions or provide any form of ATC service to aircraft.

Any aircraft receiving information from AWACS aircraft must prioritise communications with
ATC and respond to all reasonable ATC requests/instructions.

Forward Air Control

FAC will be a vRAF only activity within the UK unless being used during exercises where both
vRAF and Vatsim-UK agree other orgs can provide this service.

FAC can only be provided within designated airspace NOTAMed (and approved if required)
prior to any activities taking place.

The overall control of aircraft & airspace falls under the responsibility of Vatsim-UK & its
controllers. This includes the Stoppage of all activities within the Active airspace when
necessary.

If ATC is online (Military & Civil) it is the responsibility of FAC to make the controllers aware
of their presence & set up communication. It is advised you provide Military controllers with
the Area in use, Block of airspace activated, Expected Assets, voice channel for controller
monitoring purposes & FAC Callsign.

FAC Can only be performed by Approved vRAF Members, A list will be maintained by
VATUK8 on the Vatsim-UK Website & Forum of approved members. It is the responsibility of
vRAF to keep VATUK8 updated with a list of approved members.

The callsign it is advised you use when logging on to the network for all FAC activities is
VRAF_FAC. If this is taken for any reason you may use any of the following as a substitute:

VRAF_OBS
VRAF_JTAC
FAC_OBS
JTAC_OBS

Airborne FAC can be provided by any vRAF assets as they see fit, this airborne Asset is to
stay within the Active airspace during FAC operations unless otherwise instructed by Vatsim-
UK Controllers.

Ground Based FAC can be provided by any vRAF asset as they see fit. The asset is to be a
stationary aircraft within the Active Airspace.

Use of Radar Corridors

This document is to be adhered to at all times by all members of the vRAF while carrying out their duties either for, or
in concert with the vRAF. Not for Real World Flight Operations.
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In the event that an OAT aircraft wishes to transit an area of high density controlled
airspace, a series of Radar Corridors has been established within the UK. These are detailed
in the UK Military AIP and reproduced in the vRAF Pilot Handbook.

Where possible, Radar Corridors are to be utilised for airway transit. Due to the nature of
airspace that is being transited, prior co-ordination with ATC is imperative.

In the event of a military area controller being online, the controller will provide co-
ordination and corridor radar services.

If military area control is not online, then the appropriate civil controller must be contacted
with at least 5 minutes to the corridor entry point for clearance and radar service.

Major Exercises

All Major Exercises within the UK that are planned by the vRAF are to be notified to VATUK
with a minimum of thirty (30) days notice.

Notification will take place in the form of an Airspace Co-ordination Notice (ACN) and will
include full operational details, including dates and times of projected sorties.

Contacts

The primary contacts relating to this LOA are:

vRAF Deputy Commander In Chief (Operations) [Operational Contact]

dcinc_ops@vraf.org

vRAF Air Officer Commanding [Document Signatory] aoc@vraf.org

London, 08 September 2010 Glasgow, 08 September 2010

Alec Walker
Craig Workman VATUK8
Air Commanding Officer
Virtual Royal Air Force Vatsim-UK Military Operations Manager
aoc@vraf.org military@vatsim-uk.co.uk

This document is to be adhered to at all times by all members of the vRAF while carrying out their duties either for, or
in concert with the vRAF. Not for Real World Flight Operations.
All RAF crests are Crown Copyright