2023-07-28 - Phraseology for Climbing Traffic on Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs)

[VATSIM UK Operations]

Effective 28 July 2023

Reference: Aeronautical Information Circular AIC Y 039/2020

Within UK airspace, and in accordance with MATS Part 1 (CAP 493) Section 1, Chapter 4, 7.1, any instruction to climb or descend cancels any previous restrictions, unless the restrictions are restated as part of the new clearance.

This means that for aircraft on a SID, the vertical profile is automatically cancelled with any instruction to climb. This is a difference from the procedures published in ICAO Doc 4444 (PANS-ATM).

In order to highlight to pilots that the SID vertical profile is cancelled, the word “now” shall be added to climb clearances above the SID profile:

“BIG JET 347, climb now FL120”

Controllers shall use the word “now” for the first climb given above the SID’s vertical profile while an aircraft remains on the SID’s lateral track. Optionally, controllers may also use the word “now” when taking an aircraft off the SID.

Finally, when vectoring an aircraft off a SID, controllers must confirm the level profile to be followed:

“BIG JET 347, fly heading 095, maintain altitude 5000 feet”

or     “BIG JET 347, fly heading 095, climb (now) FL80”