Sequencing
It's all well and good maintaining separation standards in your airspace, but if you handoff 2 aircraft to ML_APP overhead LIZZI at the same speed, 1000ft apart, you're not going to make any friends. By default, aircraft must be sequenced 2 minutes apart at the Feeder Fix (generally the first waypoint of the STAR).
It's important to remember that aircraft aren't just arriving from your sector, they can be coming in from all directions at similar times. MAESTRO is a tool used to help aid with sequencing (what time do YOU need to get the aircraft to the feeder fix to avoid TCU congestion). You can find more info here
In real life, controllers have the luxury of putting a fair bit of the onus of forming the sequence on the pilots, by issuing instructions like "Adjust speed to cross RIVET at time 52 at 250kts in to published speeds". On VATSIM, every pilot may be using a different clock, potentially even different weather, and the pilot may simply not be proficient enough to meet a FF time. As such, all sequencing is best left in the hands of you, the controller.
There are multiple tools a controller can use to create and maintain a sequence.
Speed Control
Speed Control is simply slowing aircraft down and speeding aircraft up as required. As a general rule of thumb, Speed Control is most useful to achieve anywhere between a 1 minute expedition, to a 2 minute delay (depending on how far out from the FF).
Tip
Prior to implementing speed control, get yourself the best possible picture of what the pilots are doing. Asking questions like:
"QFA123, report planned cruise Mach number"
"VOZ456, report speed on descent"
"QJE1781, report top of descent point"*
to give you maximum awareness of the traffic picture, and help plan restrictions, sequences, etc.
Tip
When in doubt, start with speed control and use other sequencing techniques as required. Reducing an aircraft to minimum speed in the cruise and applying a short delaying vector may produce the same delay as a hold, but greatly reduce controller and pilot workload.
General Flow Speeds
For information only, the following approximate time gains and losses achieved by speed control during descent.
| IAS Restriction | JET Gain / Loss | Others |
|---|---|---|
| 320+ | - 2 MIN | |
| 300 | - 1 MIN | |
| 280 | - 0 MIN | |
| 270 | + 1 MIN | |
| 250 | + 2 MIN | |
| 230 | + 3 MIN | |
| 210 | +1 MIN | |
| 190 | +2 MIN | |
| 180 | +3 MIN |
Tip
Refer to Annotations for info regarding Label data pertaining to speed control sequencing.
Relative speeds
When using speed control for aircraft on climb with similar climb profiles, using the same speed as an instruction to both pilots is a good rule of thumb to ensure the speeds will open at all times (Eg, Lead aircraft: 280kts or Greater, Following aircraft: 280kts or Less).
When using speed control for aircraft on descent with similar descent profiles, giving the following aircraft 20KIAS less than the following aircraft is a good rule of thumb to maintain the current distance between the aircraft (Eg, Lead aircraft: Maintain 300kts, Following aircraft: Maintain 280kts).
Descending early
Levels can also be used to help facilitate sequencing where required. Aircraft will naturally have a slower ground speed at lower levels, so to assist with any delaying action, you can give the instruction: "BNZ148, for sequencing, descend now to F130"
This method is not the best for planning purposes, and will only help to achieve 1-4 mins delay, depending on how far out from the destination. This method is more suited to adjusting the sequence if things haven't quite worked out as planned, or an aircraft that despite all efforts, just will not slow down.
Vectoring
Vectoring aircraft is best to achieve anywhere between a 2 minute and a 6 minute delay (again, depending on how far out from the FF). Vectoring aircraft for sequencing involves pointing aircraft away from their route (somewhere between 30° and 60°) for as long as necessary to achieve the delay. Whilst vectoring, you can anchor a BRL between the aircraft and the Feeder Fix to monitor how much time needs to be lost, then turn the aircraft back on route once the required delay has been achieved.
Note
The times shown at waypoints when displaying an aircraft's route are not completely accurate. They are calculated based on a combination of the aircraft's planned TAS, Forecast GRIB winds, and estimated climb/descent profiles. Times shown on the BRL anchored from an aircraft to a waypoint are based on the aircraft's current ground speed. As a general rule of thumb, a jet aircraft will tend to add approximately 1-2 minutes to a BRL time on descent. A propeller aircraft will not add any time on descent. Both the route time and the BRL time can provide situational awareness and more info, but use whatever is appropriate for the situation.
Holding
Holding is the final delaying action, useful for when a delay of 6 minutes or more is required. Published Holds exist on common useful holding fixes all around Australia, usually either at the Feeder Fix, or a waypoint before the Feeder Fix. Locations of Published Holds can be found on ERC Charts.
Typically 1 standard holding pattern takes 6 minutes.
Example
YWE: "BNZ135, hold at APPLE, maintain FL200."
BNZ135: "Hold at APPLE, maintain FL200, BNZ135"
...
YWE: "BNZ135, cancel hold, cleared APPLE, ARBEY, to rejoin the STAR, when ready, descend via STAR to A090, QNH 1013"
BNZ135: "Cancel hold, cleared APPLE, ARBEY, to rejoin the STAR, when ready, descend via STAR to A090, QNH 1013, BNZ135"
Although the phraseology "Hold at (waypoint)" is standardised from the AIP AIP GEN 3.4, it could mean pilots who are not familiar with published holding patterns do not fly the hold you were expecting them to. In this case, use specific instructions which gives more detail about the holding pattern. This is also applicable to holding at fixes where there is no published hold.
Example
ELW: "VOZ888, hold at NABBA, inbound track 224 degrees, left hand pattern, outbound time 2 minutes, maintain FL200."
VOZ888: "Hold at NABBA, inbound track 224 degrees, left hand pattern, outbound time 2 minutes, maintain FL200,VOZ888"
...
ELW: "VOZ888, Cancel hold, cleared NABBA, BULLA, TAREX, LIZZI, to rejoin the STAR, maintain F300"
VOZ888: "Cancel hold, cleared NABBA, BULLA, TAREX, LIZZI, to rejoin the STAR, maintain F300, VOZ888"
It may be prudent to use another form of delaying action, other than holding, with aircraft that appear to be unable to fly a hold (use vectors).