ENR 1.3 INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES

1.3.1 Rules applicable to all IFR flights

1.3.1.1 Aircraft equipment

Aircraft shall be equipped with suitable instruments and with navigation equipment appropriate to the route to be flown.

1.3.1.2 Minimum levels

Except when necessary for take off or landing or when specifically authorized by the appropriate authority, an IFR flight shall be flown at a level which is not below the minimum flight altitude  established by the State whose territory is overflown, or, where no such minimum flight altitude has been established:
  1. over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 600 M (2 000 FT) above the highest obstacle located within 8 KM of the estimated position of the aircraft;
  2. elsewhere than as specified in(a), at a level which is at least 300 M (1 000 FT) above the highest obstacle located within 8 KM of the estimated position of the aircraft.

Note : The estimated position of the aircraft will take account of the navigational accuracy which can be achieved on the relevant route segment, having regard to the navigational facilities available on the ground and in the aircraft.

1.3.1.3 Change from IFR flight to VFR flight

1.3.1.3.1. An aircraft electing to change the conduct of its flight from compliance with the instrument flight rules to compliance with the visual flight rules shall, if a flight plan was submitted, notify the appropriate air traffic services unit specifically that the IFR flight is cancelled and communicate thereto the changes to be made to its current flight plan.
 
1.3.1.3.2. When an aircraft operating under the instrument flight rules is flown in or encounters visual meteorological conditions, it shall not cancel its IFR flight unless it is anticipated, and intended, that the flight will be continued for a reasonable period of time in uninterrupted visual meteorological conditions.

1.3.2 Rules applicable to IFR flights within controlled airspace

1.3.2.1. IFR flights shall comply with the provisions of 3.6 of ICAO Annex 2 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation when operated in controlled airspace.
1.3.2.2. An IFR flight operating in cruising flight in controlled airspace shall be flown at a cruising level, or, if authorized to employ cruise climb techniques, between two levels or above a level, selected from:
  1. the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3 of ICAO Annex 2, or
  2. a modified table of cruising levels, when so prescribed in accordance with Appendix 3 of ICAO Annex 2 for flight above FL 410,

except that the correlation of levels to track prescribed therein shall not apply whenever otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the appropriate ATS authority in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
1.3.2.3. All flights are required to carry a functioning Mode C SSR 4096 transponder when operating in class A, B or class C airspace.
1.3.2.4. Non-functioning SSR transponder equipment must be reported to ATC immediately. ATC radar procedures are based on the carriage of this equipment and may require certain restrictions in the case of non-functioning equipment.
1.3.2.5. An aircraft, intending to depart from an aerodrome or landing site without an ATS unit which will subsequently require an IFR clearance but has been unable to obtain the clearance by means of the aircraft radio communications or available land lines may, as a last resort and if weather conditions permit, depart VFR and, while remaining in VMC, attempt to contact the appropriate ATS unit and obtain the necessary IFR clearance prior to entering the relevant controlled airspace. Aircraft should neither:
  1. Enter controlled airspace; nor
  2. Climb above altitude 12 500 FT in any controlled airspace; without a valid IFR clearance, except in cases of emergency.

1.3.3 Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

1.3.3.1 Cruising levels

An IFR flight operating in level cruising flight outside of controlled airspace shall be flown at a cruising level appropriate to its track as specified in:
  1. the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3 of ICAO Annex 2, except when otherwise specified by the appropriate ATS authority for flight at or below 900 M (3 000 FT) above mean sea level; or
  2. a modified table of cruising levels, when so prescribed in accordance with Appendix 3 of ICAO Annex 2 for flight above FL 410.

Note : This provision does not preclude the use of cruise climb techniques by aircraft in supersonic flight.

1.3.3.2 Communications

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace but within or into areas, or along routes, designated by the appropriate ATS authority in accordance with 3.3.1.2 c) or d) of ICAO Annex 2 shall maintain a listening watch on the appropriate radio frequency and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the air traffic services unit providing flight information service.

1.3.3.3 Position reports

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace and required by the appropriate ATS authority to:
  • submit a flight plan, and
  • maintain a listening watch on the appropriate radio frequency and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the air traffic services unit providing flight information service,

shall report position as specified in 3.6.3 of ICAO Annex 2 for controlled flights.

Note : Aircraft electing to use the air traffic advisory service whilst operating IFR within specified advisory airspace are expected to comply with the provisions of 3.6 of ICAO Annex 2, except that the flight plan and changes thereto are not subjected to clearances and that two-way communication will be maintained with the unit providing the air traffic advisory service.

1.3.4 ATC Special Procedures:

1.3.4.1 Parallel Offset Procedures

1.3.4.1.1. ATC may require RNAV equipped aircraft to perform a parallel offset from an assigned route in order to facilitate an uninterrupted climb or descend instead of radar vectoring. This maneuver and subsequent navigation is the responsibility of the pilot. When requested to offset or to regain the assigned route, the pilot should change heading by 30 or 45 degrees and report when the offset or the assigned route is reached.
1.3.4.1.2. Parallel offset procedures will only be initiated in areas of radar coverage and ATC will provide radar monitoring and the required separation.
1.3.4.1.3. The following phraseology will normally be used for parallel offset procedures:

"(Aircraft identification) PROCEED OFFSET (NUMBER) MILES (right/left) OF CENTER LINE (track/route) AT (point/now) UNTIL (point/time)".

1.3.4.2 Adherence to Mach Number

1.3.4.2.1. Aircraft shall adhere to the Mach number assigned by ATC unless approval is obtained from ATC to make a change or until the pilot received the initial descent clearance approaching destination. If it is necessary to make an immediate temporary change in the Mach number (due to turbulence. etc), ATC shall be notified as soon as possible that such a change has been made.
1.3.4.2.2. If it is not possible, due to aircraft performance, to maintain the last assigned Mach number during enroute climbs and/ or descents, pilots shall advise ATC at the time of climb/descent request.

1.3.5 SEPARATION STANDARDS

1.3.5.1 General

The separation minima prescribed in PANS-ATM (Doc 4444) are fully applied in the Jeddah FIR. There are, at present, no reduced enroute separations applied in accordance with these criteria in JEDDAH FIR; however, see Holding Approach and Departure Procedures (ENR 1.5) for simultaneous parallel ILS approach separation reduction.

1.3.5.2 Special VFR (SVFR)

1.3.5.2.1. SVFR operations will not be authorized if IFR operations will be adversely affected, unless an emergency situation exists.
1.3.5.2.2. Normally, separation between SVFR flights is not a consideration since only one SVFR flight at a time will be authorized unless conditions permit the application of the reduced separation prescribed for operations conducted within an aerodrome traffic circuit, i.e. when all concerned aircraft are continuously visible to the controller.
1.3.5.2.3. When there is a requirement to provide separation between SVFR FLIGHT and a CONTROLLED FLIGHT, this is accomplished either:
  1. Vertically, by applying an altitude restriction, above which the SVFR FLIGHT may not operate, to ensure a minimum of 1,000 FT below the CONTROLLED FLIGHT concerned; or
  2. Geographically, using SVFR exit / entry routes which, when in force, will be promulgated for the appropriate CTR in ENR 1.5 / AD 2.1.

1.3.5.3 VFR flight operations in Class B and C airspace

1.3.5.3.1. In Class B airspace a VFR flight is regarded as a CONTROLLED FLIGHT and requires an ATC clearance which will provide it with IFR separation minima from both VFR and IFR flights.
1.3.5.3.2. In Class C airspace a VFR flight is regarded as a CONTROLLED FLIGHT and requires an ATC clearance which will provide it with IFR separation minima from only IFR flights.
1.3.5.3.3. Pilots intending to fly VFR in Class B or Class C airspace shall:
  1. Obtain an ATC clearance prior to entering the Class B or Class C airspace concerned;
  2. Be able to conduct the flight in accordance with procedures prescribed for use by IFR flights, except that when IFR weather conditions are encountered, the pilot of a VFR flight must avoid such weather conditions by either:
    1. Requesting an amended ATC clearance which will enable the aircraft to remain in VFR weather conditions;
    2. Requesting an IFR clearance if the pilot has a valid instrument rating and the aircraft is equipped for IFR flight;
    3. Requesting special VFR if within a control zone.

If unable to comply with the preceding, ensure that the aircraft remains in VFR weather conditions at all times. If in Class B airspace, leave it horizontally or by descending to at least 2,500 FT AGL. If in Class C airspace, leave it horizontally or land at a suitable aerodrome in the control zone. In both cases, inform ATC as soon as possible of the action taken.