SkyDemon Forums

Switzerland: VFR Reporting Points and ICAO Map Locations Missing

http://forums.skydemon.aero/Topic28183.aspx

By Tim Dawson - 4/1/2019 12:17:07 PM

Yes, we include all official VRPs in our charts. If an ATS unit is asking pilots to report somewhere which isn't actually a VRP, please let us know so that we can attempt to sort it out with Swiss authorities. Are there any others you're aware of?
By airborne - 4/1/2019 12:25:57 PM

 
Tim Dawson - 4/1/2019 12:17:07 PM
Yes, we include all official VRPs in our charts. If an ATS unit is asking pilots to report somewhere which isn't actually a VRP, please let us know so that we can attempt to sort it out with Swiss authorities. Are there any others you're aware of?

Most controlled Swiss airfields / airspaces have what I would call unofficial reporting points. There are two categories:
  • mentioned / shown in approach / departures procedures and an VACs but not official VRPs in terms of aeronautical data
  • completely unofficial (for Rosenlaui for LSMM / Meiringen).
It would help if Skyguide in Switzerland would either add such points to the official Swiss aeronautical data or could ask their ATCOs to use official VRPs only.
By Tim Dawson - 4/2/2019 9:29:16 AM

We have entered discussions with Swiss authorities on this topic.
By airborne - 3/30/2019 10:03:02 AM

For Switzerland, many VFR reporting points and VAC map locations used by ATC are missing. Just two examples:

When flying to Locarno, Arbedo is an important VFR reporting point. Mezzo too. ATC will ask you to report Arbedo or Mezzo all the time.





When flying to Lugano, for example after a crossing of the Locarno airspace, there is Mezzo again. M. Ceneri is also popular to be used by ATC.

There is of course an easy workaround: 'Locarno Tower, Mezzo is not on my map, request different reporting point.' It has been a problem for a long time that local ATCOs expect pilots to have the same level of familiarity with their ATC area.





I assume that these reporting points and map locations are not actual aeronautical data. Is that correct?