GEN 3.4 COMMUNICATION SERVICES

3.4.1 Responsible service

3.4.1.1. The service responsible for the provision of telecommunication and navigation facility services in Saudi Arabia is the General Authority of Civil Aviation ( GACA ).
Saudi Air Navigation Services / General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA )
Air Navigation Services
Air Traffic Management
Aeronautical Telecommunication Supervisor
P.O.Box 15441
Jeddah 21444
Saudi Arabia
TEL:    +966 12 6848111(24 h)
            +966 12 6855611 (From 8 am to 4 pm)
            +966 12 6854014 (From 8 am to 4 pm)
FAX:    +966 12 6854016
AFTN: OEJNYFYX
3.4.1.2. The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in the following ICAO documents:
 
Annex 10 - Aeronautical Telecommunications
Doc 8400 - Procedures for Air Navigation Services - ICAO Abbreviations and Codes (PANS-ABC)
Doc 8585 - Designators for Aircraft Operating - Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services
Doc 7030 - Regional Supplementary Procedures
Doc 7910 - Location Indicators
 
Note: Radio talephony procedures and phraseology shall be in accordance with the ICAO Manual of Radiotelephony, Doc 9432 AN/ 925 and supporting sections of the current ICAO Doc 4444.

3.4.2 Area of responsibility

3.4.2.1. The Head of ATM is the authority responsible for the provision of all telecommunication services.
3.4.2.2. The Head of ESD and MED is responsible for the technical specifications, design, installation and maintenance of communication and radio navigation equipment and circuits.
3.4.2.3. Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the telecommunication services is vested in the communication centres/ units , and the air traffic control units at various locations and aerodrome throughout Saudi Arabia.
3.4.2.4. Enquiries, suggestions or complaints regarding any telecommunication service should be referred to the Director General, ATM.

3.4.3 Types of services

3.4.3.1 Radio navigation services

3.4.3.1.1. The following types of radio aids to navigation are available:
 
VHF omni-directional radio range (VOR)
Instrument landing system (ILS)
Distance-measuring equipment (DME)
Tactical air navigation (TACAN)
3.4.3.1.2. The coordinates listed refer to the transmitting antennas.

3.4.3.2 Mobile/fixed service

3.4.3.2.1 Mobile service

Air traffic control units maintain continuous watch on their stated frequencies during the published hours of service, unless otherwise noted. It is advised to check NOTAM for current information regarding this service. An aircraft should normally communicate with the air traffic control unit which that exercises control in the area in which the aircraft is flying. Aircraft should maintain continuous listening and watch on the appropriate frequency of the ATC unit, and should not cease listening, except for reasons of safety, without informing the ATC unit.

3.4.3.2.2 Fixed service

The messages to be transmitted over the Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS) are accepted only if:
  1. they satisfy the requirements of ICAO Annex 10, Vol. II, Chapter 3, 3.3;
  2. they are prepared in the form specified in ICAO Annex 10, Volume II.

3.4.3.3 Broadcasting service

ATIS broadcasts in Saudi Arabia are made on VOR voice channels on VHF frequencies and should be satisfactorily received at a maximum range of 100 NM at FL 300, reducing accordingly at lower altitudes to 60 NM at FL 100. Beyond these ranges, ATIS broadcast may be received, but not necessarily satisfactorily.
3.4.3.4. Language used : English
3.4.3.5. Where detailed information can be obtained
3.4.3.5.1. Details of the various facilities available for the enroute traffic can be found in Part 2, ENR 4 .
3.4.3.5.2. Details of the facilities available at the individual aerodromes can be found in the relevant sections of Part 3 (AD). In cases where a facility is serving both the enroute traffic and the aerodromes, details are given in the relevant sections of Part 2 (ENR) and Part 3 (AD).

3.4.4 Requirements and conditions

3.4.4.1. The requirements and the general conditions under which the telecommunication services are available for international use are contained in section GEN 1.7 of this publication. The requirements for the carriage of radio equipment are contained in section GEN 1.5 of this publication. The following conditions should be noted and complied with and/or considered, as appropriate.

3.4.4.2 TIBA frequency in uncontrolled airspace and at uncontrolled aerodromes

The published TIBA frequency is the designated air-to-air frequency to be used by aircraft when flying in uncontrolled airspace (Class G) and is also the designated ground-to-air frequency for use between authorized ground agencies and aircraft operating within aerodrome traffic zones as listed in the AIP. The TIBA procedures are specified in ENR 1.1.

3.4.4.3 Fire rescue services frequency at uncontrolled aerodromes

All fire rescue services units at uncontrolled aerodromes monitor and transmit on frequency 133.5 MHZ.

3.4.4.4 Aerodrome ground control frequency

VHF Frequency 121.9 is aerodrome ground control. Pilots are urgently requested to refrain from using it on the air. The misuse of this frequency will cause interference to users at other aerodroms.

3.4.4.5 Prohibition of non-emergency transmission on emergency frequencies

121.500 MHZ and 243.000 MHZ are reserved for emergency use only. Non-emergency transmission on these frequencies is strictly prohibited. Any person/agency making test or inadvertent transmission on these frequencies shall immediately inform JEDDAH ACC (Tel. +966 12 6855006) of the following:
  1. time and duration of transmission;
  2. frequency used;
  3. exact location;
  4. reason; and
  5. person or agency concerned.

3.4.5 Miscellaneous

3.4.5.1 Communication watch

During flight, Pilots shall continuously guard the emergency channel 121.500 and /or 243.000 MHZ, except for those periods when they are carrying out communications on other VHF channels.

3.4.5.2 D-ATIS services

GACA started the operation of the D-ATIS CATS system located in Jeddah ACC. All airlines with ACFT whose avionics are AEEC-623 and ED89A compliant, and equipped with datalink facilities (ACARS, VDL), and that have passed the VAQ (validation, assessment and qualification) requirements to use SITA aircom datalink network, are authorized to use the D-ATIS CATS system.
No participation requirements are identified. The D-ATIS system will automatically handle the acquisition of the meteorological information from the ATIS equipment systems located in (OEJN, OERK, OEDF, OEMA , OETF, OEGN, OEYN, OEGS, OEAB and OEAH) and the distribution of the ATIS information via air - ground datalink to ACFT which have requested an ATIS information.