Introduction

The enroute documentation on this site is a web-hosted version of the Manual of Air Traffic Services (vMATS) Part 2 and Agreed Levels Diagrams that were previously only available through the VATSIM UK Forum.

Validity of Procedures

Controllers must ensure they are using the most recent version of documentation when controlling and mentoring.

Variations to the procedures and information published in the vMATS and Agreed Levels Diagrams are handled as described below.

Permanent Changes to Procedures

Amendments to existing procedures and the introduction of new procedures will be notified through the publication of an ATC Procedure Changes Forum post. These shall have precedence over procedures published on this site.

Significant changes will also be highlighted to controllers via a UK Controller Plugin notification, but controllers are expected to check the forum and Discord for relevant changes.

AIP-Published Data

Some information included in the vMATS documentation is aeronautical data published in the UK AIP, e.g., the inbound course/axis for holds. Where there are differences, the information published in the AIP shall take precedence.

The Operations Department aims to notify controllers of the differences between this document and the AIP by means of an ATC Procedure Changes forum post (see above).

Temporary Instructions (TIs)

A TI is a mandatory ATC instruction which is a temporary change to local ATC procedures. These will most often be published in advance of events for the purpose of opening non-standard sector splits but may also be used in case of vRAF military activity, or to set out VATSIM UK’s operational response to a temporary change to real world procedures.

All published instructions in the ATC Temporary Instructions Forum shall have precedence over procedures published on this site for the period of their validity.

Letters of Agreement (LoAs)

Letters of Agreement between VATSIM UK and adjacent FIRs/vACCs are published separately. Where there are conflicts between information, the LoA shall have precedence over this document, except where instructions are otherwise notified to the ATC Procedure Changes forum.