Transiting from one sector to another is a little more complicated then is probably should be as neither Nicosia nor Ankara provide traffic relay information between each other, and aircraft must call 10 minutes before FIR boundary entry.
Also somewhat complicating is that both Nicosia and Ankara claim portions the same airspace, so crews must politely either ignore one of the authorities, or relay information to both. At the end of the day talk to who's ever land mass you are over - Turks to the North, Greek to the South.
Another simple rule when flying thru the disputed boundary is simply operate per plan, and avoid any request for heading or altitude changes which could end up complicating things.
NICOSIA FIR/UIR
IATA COMMUNICATIONS / CONTROL PROCEDURES
(extract from IATA Information Bulletin)
A. General
Authority for Air Traffic Control within Nicosia FIR/UIR, rests solely with Nicosia ACC. Boundary
between Ankara - Nicosia FIRs/UIRs, runs from N3605 E03000 to N3558 E03230 to N3555
E03333 to N3555 E03540. ATC instructions must ONLY be accepted from Nicosia ACC, including
allocation of SSR codes.
Most of the northern part of Nicosia FIR/UIR, inclusive of a wide area of the high seas, has been
identified by Ercan Control, a station based in northern Cyprus, falling under Turkish Cypriot
administration, as a zone under its control. The authority of Ercan Control over this zone for Air
Traffic Control purposes is NOT recognized by ICAO.
Contrary to ICAO requirements, no contact is effected between Ankara and Nicosia ACCs. Nicosia
ACC requires that aircraft approaching Nicosia FIR/UIR from Ankara FIR make pre-entry contact
at least 10 minutes before the FIR boundary. It is essential that crews comply with this
requirement: only then will Nicosia ACC be in a position to assume control and provide
appropriate traffic separation.
B. Southbound Procedures
While in Ankara FIR comply with control instructions issued by Ankara ACC (either directly or by
relay through any other station designated by Ankara, e.g. Ercan Control on 126.70 MHZ) up to
point VESAR (B545) or point TOMBI (VA16).
Establish contact with Nicosia ACC at least 10 minutes before FIR BDY. Once contact
established and flight details including Flight Level (FL) information passed, avoid making
requests to Ankara ACC for FL changes for the rest of the flight through Ankara FIR,
unless climbing from or descending to aerodromes in the immediate vicinity of the FIR
boundary. If for any reason, it becomes absolutely necessary to make such level changes
after initial contact with Nicosia while still in Ankara FIR, it is important for safety reasons that
Nicosia ACC be advised at once of the change.
At VESAR or TOMBI, flights will come under the sole control of Nicosia, change automatically
to Nicosia ACC. Although no formal transfer of control procedures is affected between Ankara
and Nicosia ACCs and no changeover instructions are issued on crossing the FIR boundary,
flights should thereafter ONLY accept control instructions issued by Nicosia ACC until hand
over to the next ATC Unit or FIR/UIR. Any invitation to change to another station (e.g. Ercan
control) should be politely acknowledged but disregarded. In case of insistence a check
should be made with Nicosia ACC.
For aircraft planning to continue the flight into Damascus FIR, additional communications
requirements exist. Refer to para. D.) below, under "Eastbound/Westbound Procedures".
On completion of ATC formalities with Nicosia ACC after entry into the FIR and of position
reporting requirements for Damascus FIR, establish communications with Ercan Control and
pass on relevant flight details. This should be regarded as a purely courtesy call - under NO
circumstances should any ATC instruction be accepted from Ercan.
C. Northbound Procedures
Due to lack of contact between the two centers, advance flight information can ONLY be
provided to Ankara by relay. Provide flight information at least 10 minutes prior to entering
Ankara FIR, along UL619, W/UW10, B/UB15, A/UA16 OR A/UA28 to Ercan Control on
126.70 for relay to Ankara.
Control authority of Nicosia ACC remains absolute up to the point of entry into Ankara FIR.
continued
FRA 99-A2
12 MAR 99 © JEPPESEN SANDERSON, INC., 1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NICOSIA FIR/UIR
IATA COMMUNICATIONS / CONTROL PROCEDURES
(extract from IATA Information Bulletin)
D. Eastbound / Westbound Procedures
Eastbound aircraft entering Damascus FIR via routes UL619, W/UW10, R/UR78 or W/UW17
are required to establish contact with Damascus ACC 10 minutes before ETA position NIKAS.
If for any reason this is not possible, aircraft must provide, a position report to Latakia Radio,
a relay station for Damascus ACC, at position VESAR, ALSUS or BALMA for relay to
Damascus.
Even if a position report and flight details have been communicated to Latakia Radio, two-way
communications with Damascus ACC must be completed as early as possible before passing
Banias NDB.
Nicosia ACC remains primary station for listening watch until NIKAS, where change to
Damascus shall be effected.
Westbound aircraft from Damascus FIR establish communications with Nicosia ACC at the
FIR BDRY (NIKAS), unless requested by Damascus ACC to call Nicosia earlier.
A courtesy call may be made to Ercan Control. If flight continues into Ankara FIR, provide
advance flight information to Ankara ACC via Ercan Control at least 10 minutes before
passing the Nicosia/Ankara FIR boundary.
Control authority rests firmly with Nicosia ACC until the FIR BDY (VESAR); thereafter it
changes to Ankara. Further calls to Ercan may be made as requested to the extent other
commitments permit.
Special Communications and Control Procedures applying to aircraft Enroute
Mut - VESAR - NIKAS - Banias or vice versa
A. SOUTHBOUND, continuing eastward into Damascus FIR
1. 10 minutes before ETA VESAR:
a. Primary station is Ankara ACC.
b. Call Nicosia ACC and communicate essential flight details [FL, ETA FIR (VESAR), ROUTE,
etc.].
Note: Avoid Flight Level changes from this point until FIR boundary and control transferred
to Nicosia ACC. If change absolutely necessary, obtain clearance from Ankara ACC
and keep Nicosia ACC informed.
2. At VESAR:
a. Transfer control to Nicosia ACC. Do NOT accept ATC clearances from any other station.
From now on until next FIR BDRY, primary listening watch must remain with Nicosia ACC,
which is also the authority for SSR codes.
b. Establish contact with Damascus ACC. If no contact, call Latakia Radio, transmit essential
flight details for relay to Damascus ACC.
c. Call Ercan, pass essential flight details (ATO VESAR, FL, ETA NIKAS).
3. Before Banias:
Continue to contact Damascus ACC if communications have not been established yet,
because it is a requirement to establish contact well before passing Banias.
4. At NIKAS:
Transfer control to Damascus ACC.
B. WESTBOUND, continuing northwards into Ankara FIR
1. In Damascus FIR, before passing NIKAS:
Primary station is Damascus ACC. No need for advance call to Nicosia FIR unless request
to that effect received from Damascus ACC.
2. At NIKAS:
a. Transfer control to Nicosia ACC.
Control authority remains with Nicosia ACC until point VESAR.
b. Call Ercan on 126.70, pass essential flight details for relay to Ankara ACC.
Note: Any Flight Level changes made thereafter under instructions from Nicosia ACC
must be communicated at once to Ercan Control for relay to Ankara ACC.
3. At VESAR:
Transfer to Ankara ACC.
RETAIN THIS BULLETIN UNTIL ADVISED TO DESTROY.
http://www.jeppesen.com/download/briefbull/fra99-a.pdf
by Expatkiwi » Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:21 pm 
