LFV Annual report 2018 1
L F V 2018 LFV IS WITH YOU ON THE JOURNEY LFV’s a
ir traffic controllers manage more than 2,000 flights in Swedish airspace every day. Their task is to guide the pilots and separate aircraft from each other vertically and horizontally. They also ensure that flights are as efficient as possible by allowing them to take the shortest possible routes and avoid having on hold in the air. Here, we follow Eva as she travels from Stockholm to Luleå. 1. THE DAY BEFORE DEPARTURE The Flight Planning Centre (FPC) receives the route plan from the airline and sends it to Eurocontrol’s Central Flow Management Unit. From there, it is forwarded to the relevant control towers and control centres. LFV’s control centre in Stockholm makes sure that we have the right personnel working on the next day’s shift and checks what effect the weather and technology may have on capacity. 20 hours before the estimated start, the route plan arrives at the FPC, which checks to see if the airline has requested weather information. Eva packs her bag for the trip to Luleå. Eva travels to Arlanda. 2. THREE HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE Three hours before the trip begins, the route plan (with facts about the type of aircraft, the route, altitudes etc.) arrives in the air traffic management system. Time to go to the gate. 5. 30 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE LFV’s controller has managed the previous flight and the aircraft has landed and taxied to its gate. Right away, the process begins to get the plane ready for take-off again. Airport staff unload, clean and refuel the aircraft. 6. Boarding time for Eva and her fellow passengers. 15 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE. BOARDING The pilot requests clearance to Luleå from the controller in the tower at Arlanda over the radio or via data link. This clearance consists of the destination, route, altitude, transponder code and a departure time. Eva enjoys the view across Sweden and the Baltic Sea. 9. DEPARTURE AND CRUISING ALTITUDE The air traffic controller in the tower at Arlanda monitors the departure and verifies the altitude for the flight. When separation is no longer a factor to consider, the flight is transferred to the controller at the control centre. The flight appears on the radar screen at the control centre and is given clearance to continue rising to its cruising altitude. 8 10. APPROACH Once roughly level with Skellefteå, air traffic controllers in Stockholm transfer the flight to controllers at the approach control in Luleå, who monitor the flight on their radar screens. The pilot is given clearance to reduce altitude, provided with information about the current air pressure, weather and which course the aircraft should keep. The controllers make sure that all aircraft are sufficiently separated from each other. The weather is beautiful, and Eva can see Piteå – and is that Älvsbyn over there?