Eurocontrol Level Bust toolkit

Eurocontrol began raising awareness of the Level Bust issue in 2001 and established a cross-industry task force to formulate an action plan to reduce level busts. The Level Bust Task Force has recently published an action plan and a Level Bust Toolkit, the Eurocontrol Level Bust Toolkit can be accessed here

To request hard copies of the disk and/or briefing pack please email Tzvetomir Blajev

The Toolkit contains Level Bust Briefing Notes, the 14 Briefing Notes are divided into 3 groups-General (GEN), Aircraft Operators (OPS), and Air Navigation Service Providers (ATM). The briefing papers can be downloaded by clicking the appropriate link below. They are in Adobe Acrobat format which you can download here or by clicking the image below:

Note: The Eurocontrol Level Bust toolkit and briefing papers are provided free of charge by Eurocontrol. Interested parties such as Air Navigation Service Providers, Aircraft Operators and National Aviation Safety Authorities are encouraged to implement the Briefing Papers as soon as possible When using the briefing papers, Operators, Air Navigation Service Providers and other users should confirm the suitability of the recommendations for the area of intended use because there are local differences in operation. For example, the UK CAA has adopted certain non-standard phraseology designed to reduce the chance of mishearing or misunderstanding RTF communications. The phraseology is not in accordance with ICAO standards but is based on careful study of the breakdown of pilot/controller communications. The following paragraphs taken from UK CAA CAP 413 Radiotelephony Manual summarises the main differences.

a) The word 'to' is to be omitted from messages relating to FLIGHT LEVELS

b) All messages relating to an aircraft's climb or descent to a HEIGHT or ALTITUDE employ the word 'to' followed immediately by the word HEIGHT or ALTITUDE. Furthermore, the initial message in any such RTF exchange will also include the appropriate QFE or QNH.

c) When transmitting messages containing flight levels each digit shall be transmitted separately. However, in an endeavour to reduce 'level busts' caused by the confusion between some levels (100/110, 200/220, 300/330 etc.), levels which are whole hundreds e.g. FL100, 200, 300 shall be spoken as 'Flight level (number) HUNDRED', for example 'G-BC climb flight level wun hundred'. The word hundred must not be used for headings.