2023-01-18 - Use of Regional Pressure Setting (RPS)

[VATSIM UK Operations]

Effective 18 January 2023

Ref: CAP 493 SI 2022/09

 

Investigations into infringements of controlled airspace have identified pilots using the regional pressure setting (RPS) when below controlled airspace as a contributing factor.

The RPS is a conservative forecast of the lowest QNH within an altimeter setting region which provides a mitigation against the risk of controlled flight into terrain. However, use of RPS below controlled airspace can increase the risk of vertical airspace infringement.

As such, the RPS shall not be volunteered by controllers to aircraft flight planned to operate below controlled airspace.

Specifically, airspace below TMAs and CTAs does not form part of the Altimeter Setting Region (ASR) RPS system and a QNH from an adjacent aerodrome should be used for aircraft operating under this type of airspace.

 

Additional References

ENR 1.7 ALTIMETER SETTING PROCEDURES

ENR 6-18 (chart) UNITED KINGDOM ALTIMETER SETTING AND FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS