Letter of Agreement (LOA) Between People's Republic of China Division (VATPRC) and Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos vACC, Southeast Asia Division (VATSEA)

Revision 1

Date Issued: Jul 11, 2024

VATPRC Document Number: VATPRC-LOA-4-R1-EN

VCL vACC Document Number: PRCVCL_2024

1. Purpose

This Letter of Agreement (LOA) establishes standard procedures and coordination responsibilities of air traffic control between Guangzhou FIR (ZGZU), Kunming FIR (ZPKM), Sanya FIR (ZJSA) of the People's Republic of China Division (VATPRC) and Ho Chi Minh FIR (VVHM), Hanoi FIR (VVHN), Vientiene FIR (VLVT) of Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos vACC, Southeast Asia Division (VATSEA).

2. Cancellation

This document supersedes any agreements previously established in verbal or written form between VATSEA and VATPRC.

3. Scope

3.1

The information contained herein is supplementary to the rules established under VATSIM regulations, Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam published by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, AIP of Lao People's Democratic Republic published by the Department of Civil Aviation (Laos) and the AIP of the People's Republic of China published by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

3.2

While such regulations shall generally be strictly followed on the VATSIM network, in some circumstances exemptions or modifications to the real-world regulations are necessary due to operational needs in an online environment. Such deviation shall be discussed in this document.

4. Disclosure

Both parties shall make this Letter of Agreement available for public access on their respective official websites. The information contained herein is for the exclusive use on the Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (VATSIM) only. Under no circumstances shall such information be used in the real world, including but not limited to, real-world air navigation or real-world air traffic control.

5. Language

This Letter of Agreement is officially and originally prepared and documented in the English language. Both parties are encouraged to translate this LOA into Vietnamese and/or Simplified Chinese for reference purposes, but this is optional. The English version of this LOA shall always prevail, and future revisions to this LOA shall be based upon the English version.

6. General Procedures

6.1

Unless otherwise stated or coordinated, all transfers must be completed 10NM before the FIR boundary.

6.2

The separations between handovers need to be in accordance with the horizontal and vertical separations specified in ICAO Doc 4444.

6.3

There are differences between China's flight levels and international flight levels. To avoid this difference affecting traffic, all handovers must be in feet and completed within China.

6.4

All handoffs between VATPRC and VCL vACC adopt silent transfer. Controllers will only accept radar tags if two-way communication is established.

7. Control Airspace definitions

7.1 Mainland China ATC

7.1.1 Sanya ACC

• Position: ZJSA_CTR; Callsign: Sanya Control
• There are 2 split sectors in Sanya ACC. Sanya ACC Land sector (ZJSY_L_CTR) and Sanya ACC Oceanic sector (ZJSY_O_CTR).
• The Sanya ACC Land sector covers the whole of Hainan Island and the upper airspace (S0780/F256 and above) of Zhanjiang TMA. This sector uses fully metric operations.
• The Sanya ACC Oceanic sector covers the oceanic area and uses fully imperial operations from F140 up to F410. The airspace below F140 is uncontrolled.
• PRC_FSS (Callsign: Beijing Control) shall be responsible for Sanya ACC above S0780 (F256) (not incl.) when none of the Sanya ACC controllers are online.
• PRC_FSS can accept the handover on coordination, but only if their cruising level is higher than S0780 (F256).
• The horizontal boundary of Sanya ACC is shown in Figure 7.1
• Handoffs to Sanya ACC shall be made in the following order:
  • ZJSY_L_CTR/ZJSY_O_CTR -> ZJSA_CTR -> PRC_FSS (Above S0780/F256)

Figure 7.1: Sanya ACC Sector

7.1.2 Nanning ACC

• Position: ZGNN_CTR; Callsign: Nanning Control
• In the absence of ZGNN_CTR, the Guangzhou FIR controller (ZGZU_CTR) shall be responsible for this sector.
• The vertical airspace constraints of Nanning ACC in the area of TEBAK is GND-S1250(FL411).
• The horizontal boundary of Nanning ACC is shown in Figure 7.2
• Handoffs to Nanning ACC shall be made in the following order:
  • ZGNN_CTR -> ZGZU_CTR -> PRC_FSS (Above S0780/F256)

Figure 7.2: Nanning ACC Sector

7.1.3 Kunming ACC

• Position: ZPPP_CTR; Callsign: Kunming Control
• In the absence of ZPPP_CTR, the Guangzhou FIR controller (ZPKM_CTR) shall be responsible for this sector.
• The vertical airspace constraints of Kunming ACC in the area of TEBAK is GND-S1250(FL411).
• The horizontal boundary of Kunming ACC is shown in Figure 7.3
• Handoffs to Kunming ACC shall be made in the following order:
  • ZPPP_CTR -> ZPKM_CTR -> PRC_FSS (Above S0780/F256)

Figure 7.3: Kunming ACC Sector

7.2 VCL ATC

7.2.1 Hanoi ACC

7.2.2 Ho Chi Minh ACC

7.2.3 Vientiane ACC

7.2.4 Da Nang APP

8. Routing Requirement

8.1

Mainland China has stricter flight planning requirements. Generally shall not contain DCTs. Unless coordinated, VCL ATC shall make sure that all flight segments shall be connected via valid airways.

8.2

All cross-border VFR must be coordinated in advance.

9. Handoff altitude at transfer of control points (TCP)

9.1 Hanoi ACC - Sanya ACC

9.2 Ho Chi Minh ACC - Sanya ACC

9.3 Hanoi ACC - Nanning ACC

9.4 Hanoi ACC - Kunming ACC

9.5 Vientiane ACC - Kunming ACC

10. Special agreement on FIR boundary

10.1

According to the description of AIP China, the MIGUG-MONBO segment of N892 is delegated to Ho Chi Minh ACC. In order to follow real-life procedures, both VATPRC and vACC VCL, VATSEA in VATSIM agree to follow this description.

11. Validity, Review, and amendment

11.1

This Letter of Agreement becomes valid and takes immediate effect upon the approval of the Division Director (VATPRC1) of the People’s Republic of China Division (VATPRC), the Division Director (VATSEA1) of the Southeast Asia Division (VATSEA), and the Director of Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos Virtual Area Control Centre (VCL vACC).

11.2

Should there be any changes to real-world procedures made by the local authorities, both parties shall decide whether an amendment to this LOA is necessary.

11.3

A content review of this LOA shall take at most six (6) months after this LOA takes effect. During the review, both parties shall convene to discuss the implementation of this LOA and make proper amendments to it if necessary. Subsequent content review shall take place at most every six (6) months henceforth.

11.4

Any parties wishing to amend this LOA (by adding, omitting or changing any clauses) shall contact the other party to call for an immediate review of the LOA. Both parties must reach a consensus on any amendments before they take effect. Subsequent content review shall take place at most every six (6) months henceforth.

This Letter of Agreement is approved on 11 Jul, year 2024:

VATPRC Division Director - Chang Ma

VATSEA Division Director - Eugene Lee

vACC VCL Director - Phuong Vu

Appendix A: References

Aeronautical Information Publication of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, published by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Aeronautical Information Publication of the People’s Republic of China, published by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Aeronautical Information Publication of Lao People's Democratic Republic by the Department of Civil Aviation (Laos).

ICAO Doc 4444

Appendix B: Quick Reference Table