Local Instructions

Altimetry

Transition Altitude

In the New Caledonia sector the transition altitude is 11,000 ft (A110).

Transition Level

QNH (hPa)	Transition Level
Less than 978	F140
Between 978 to 1012	F130
Between 1013 to 1048	F120
Greater than 1048	F110

Airspace

Classes of Airspace

Within the New Caledonia sector, only three classes of airspace are used.

New Caledonia Sector Airspace Structure

Class	Flight Rules	Separation provided	Service Provided	Airspace Speed Limitation	Radio Communication Requirements	Subject to ATC Clearance
A	IFR	All aircraft	ATC Service	N/A	Continuous two-way	Yes
	VFR not permitted
D	IFR	IFR from IFR	ATC Service IFR/VFR Traffic Info	250KT IAS below 10,000FT AMSL	Continuous two-way	Yes
	VFR	Nil	ATC Service VFR/VFR Traffic Info	As above	Continuous two-way	Yes
	SVFR	SVFR from IFR	ATC Service SVFR/VFR Traffic Info	As above	Continuous two-way	Yes
G	IFR	Nil	FIS upon request	250KT IAS below 10,000FT AMSL	Continuous two-way	No
	VFR	Nil	FIS upon request	As Above	VHF radio required at aerodromes where carriage and use of radio is required.	No

Phraseology

New Caledonia is a French territory, and the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) is the governing civil aviation authority. French aviation rules and ATS terminology can differ significantly from that of other VATPAC areas.

A non-comprehensive list of noteworthy differences is detailed below. Pilots and controllers interested in extending their learning can refer to the Manuel de phraséologie.

Callsigns

Some of the callsigns used in New Caledonia may be unfamiliar to controllers used to Australian airspace.

ICAO	Callsign
ACI	AIRCALIN
CTM	COTAM
FAF	FRENCH AIR FORCE
FDO	FRENCH CUSTOM
FMY	FRENCH ARMY
FNY	FRENCH NAVY
RLY	LOYAUTE
TPC	AIRCAL

Group Form

Group Form of callsigns is not used within the New Caledonia sector. Numbers in callsigns must be spoken individually, rather than grouped together.

Phraseology

NWWW_CTR: "Aussie Five Three Seven, climb flight level 220." ASY537: "Climb flight level 220, Aussie Five Three Seven."

Aircraft Registration

All aircraft will use their full callsign on first contact, and the abbreviated form thereafter. Locally registered aircraft (in the form F-Oxxx) will include the leading 'F'.

Examples

Registration	Full Callsign	Abbreviated Form
F-OABC	FOABC	FBC
VH-X8N	VHX8N	V8N
N98765	N98765	N65

Altitude

When referring to an altitude below the transition level, the word 'FEET' is included.

Phraseology

NWWWA: "VBC, descend 7000 feet"
VHABC: "Descend 7000 feet, VBC"

Phraseology

NWWW CTR: "N45, climb 11000 feet"
N12345: "Climb 11000 feet, N45"

ACD/SMC Phraseology Differences

Airways Clearance

When requesting airways clearance, aircraft will state their aircraft type and gate, while confirming receipt of ATIS.

The structure of the airways clearance is broadly similar to Australian phraseology, though with some subtle wording changes. Notably, aircraft will be explicitly told that their readback is "correct".

Phraseology

QFA92: "Tontouta Ground, QFA92, Boeing 737-800, gate P2, request clearance to Sydney, information F on board."
NWWW SMC: "QFA92, Tontouta Ground, Cleared to Sydney via flight planned route, POXAK3E departure, runway 11, inital climb 6000 feet, squawk 1234.
QFA92: "Cleared to Sydney via flight planned route, POXAK3E departure, runway 11, initial climb 6000 feet, squawk 1234, QFA92."
NWWW SMC: "QFA92, correct, report ready for push and start."

Omnidirectional Departures

IFR aircraft that cannot accept a Procedural SID must be assigned an omnidirectional departure. Aircraft cleared for an omnidirectional departure will be given either tracking instructions, or a heading and initial altitude, in accordance with the published omnidirectional departure procedure.

Phraseology

NWWW SMC: "KIW780, Tontouta Ground, Cleared to Whenuapai via flight planned route, omnidirectional departure runway 11 then direct VIRAR, inital climb 6000 feet, squawk 1234.

VFR Operations

Waypoints

VFR waypoints in and around CTR in New Caledonia are given one or two letter codes that are used for reference in communications. The SOPs page for each airport contain a list of relevant waypoints and their names in English and French, for reference.

VFR Waypoints in New Caledonia

Departures

VFR Departures will be told to expect to depart the CTR via a VFR waypoint when given taxi clearance.

Phraseology

FOXYZ: "Tontouta Ground, FOXYZ, Cessna 152, parking P2, information A, request taxi VFR to Koumac, via WA."
NWWW SMC: "FOXYZ, Tontouta Ground, squawk 7001, expect to exit control zone via WA. Taxi holding point C, Runway 29. Report ready for departure.
FOXYZ: "Squawk 7001, expect WA exit. Taxi holding point C, Runway 29. FOXYZ"

Note

Both NWWW and NWWM sit within Class D airspace. As in Australian airspace, a clearance to takeoff is a clearance to operate within a Class D control zone, so an explicit airways clearance is not given.

ADC Phraseology Differences

Intersection Departures

When departing from an intermediate taxiway intersection, the taxiway identifier is included in the line up/takeoff clearance.

Phraseology

NWWM TWR: "FOLMN, line up and wait runway 17, intersection Z1."

Takeoff Clearance

Aicraft must be cleared to line-up before being given take off clearance. This can be achieved through separate transmissions, or by being issued together.

Phraseology

NWWM ADC: "TPC117, backtrack runway 35, line up and wait."
TPC117: "Backtrack Runway 35, line up and wait, TPC117."
...
NWWM ADC: "TPC117, Runway 35, cleared for takeoff."
TPC117: "Cleared for takeoff Runway 35, TPC117."

Phraseology

NWWW ADC: "TPC915, line up runway 29, intersection C, cleared for takeoff."
TPC915: "Lining up runway 29, intersection C and taking off, TPC117."

Note

French pilots may also readback an instruction in verb form ie, "lining up and waiting", or "taking off". This phraseology is accepted in the New Caledonia sector.

Charts

Reference

Charts can be found on the French AIS page, available under AIP > eAIP PAC N.