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What is difference between European and US

Last post 02-17-2008, 1:28 PM by VPCargo. 2 replies.
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  •  02-16-2008, 3:18 PM 11371

    What is difference between European and US

    Can anyone plese tell me what is difference between European and US way to fly?

     

    Erik

  •  02-17-2008, 11:34 AM 11399 in reply to 11371

    Re: What is difference between European and US

    Certainly, and I'll try to sum it up quickly.

         1) In the US, your transition altitude is FL180, in Europe it ranges by country and can be as low as FL040 (4000ft)
         2) SIDS and STARS in Europe explain everything and you fly it exactly the way it's written, in the US you are often radar vectored in/out from a fix off the arrival or departure. ATC will assign the altitude in the US, in Europe its written on your charts.
         3) Some countries in Europe, such as Russia, measure altitude in Meters.
         4) METARs and TAFs are different, such as the use of QNH, measuring visibility in meters as opposed to statute miles, etc, etc.
         5) IFR clearances are extremely short in Europe. "Westwind 752, cleared to London-Heathrow via the BIBO7S departure, departure with Frankfurt Radar 123.456, sqwk 1234" In the US, you get the whole clearance read out: "Westwind 752 cleared to Chicago O'Hare via the Oberlin1 departure, Waterville transition, radar vectors to Dreyer then as filed. Climb and maintain 5,000, expect FL260 10 minutes after departure. Departure on 124.00, sqwk 0701"
         6) In the US, you have approach, Centers, etc, etc. for ATC position. In Europe, its controls, radar, etc. for station names. They get upset if you refer to them as US ATC.

     

           Thats a short list for you.... its a few differences but its not difficult to pick up or learn, and I highly suggest flying in both places!



     


    Ian S. Crawford
    WWA 752, CYYZ
    VP Director of Cargo Operations, Europe
    AOPA # 05034673
  •  02-17-2008, 1:28 PM 11403 in reply to 11399

    Re: What is difference between European and US

    Hey Ian, good list.  I would say that here in the US when it comes to clearances it depends on the controller.  I have had several read the SID to me while I just the other day the guy at ORD said cleared to Cincinnati Lunken, O'Hare1 as filed squak 6632........some guys do it the hard way, others the short way.........I'm also starting to hear a lot more of descend via the xyz arrival also (SEA has been that way for at least 3 years now, and LAS is bosoming that way too......).  I think the big reason clearance controllers are verbose is that routes are being filed the wrong or non-preferred way, and now the controller is having to read you the new routing up to where it meats your filed route.


    EHAM-YSSY B772LR
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