The air traffic rules and procedures applicable to air traffic in the territory of the Dutch Caribbean conform to ICAO Annexes 2 and 11 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to those portions of the Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Air Traffic Management applicable to aircraft and of the Regional Supplementary Procedures applicable to the CAR/SAM Region, except for the differences listed in GEN 1.7.

1.1.1 Minimum safe height

Aircraft shall not be flown below the minimum safe height except when necessary for take-off and landing. The minimum safe height is the height at which neither an unnecessary noise disturbance nor unnecessary hazards to persons and property in the event of an emergency landing are to be feared; however, over cities, other densely populated areas and assemblies of persons, this height shall be at least 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m, and elsewhere at least 150 m (500 ft) above ground or water. Gliders and balloons may be operated below a height of 150 m if necessary for the kind of operation and if danger to persons and property is not to be feared. Aircraft shall not be flown below bridges and similar constructions nor below overhead lines and antennas. For flights conducted for special purposes, the local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions.

1.1.2 Dropping of objects

The dropping or spraying of objects or other substances out of or from aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel, tow ropes, tow banners and similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to persons or property exists. The local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions to the interdiction if no danger to persons or property exists.

1.1.3 Acrobatic flying

Acrobatic flights are not permitted, unless a permission is granted by the designated Civil Aviation Authority.

1.1.4 Towing and advertising flights

Assigned banner pick up and dropping area is situated north of the RWY at HATO Curaçao International Airport between intersection Delta and Alpha east. Banner flights shall only be executed between sunrise and sunset times under VFR flight rules. A direct pick-up is not allowed, after take off the aircraft should fly circuit at 500ft. A NOTAM shall be issued for every Banner Flight.

The above does not apply to the towing of objects for other than advertising purposes. Aerial work of rotorcraft and Towing of gliders is not permitted, for reasons of public safety or order, and in particular for noise abatement. The authority granting permission may impose conditions. This authority may assign higher minimum safe heights and impose time limitations.

1.1.5 Times and units of measurement

Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the prescribed units of measurement shall be applied to flight operations. The Minister of Transport will establish the units of measurement to be used and they will be published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

1.1.6 Airspace structure

For the performance of the flight information service and the alerting service, the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning establishes flight information regions which are published in the AIP. Within the flight information regions, the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning establishes the controlled and uncontrolled airspace according to the extent of the air traffic services maintained there, on the basis of the classification described in Chapter ENR 1.4. Within controlled airspace, VFR flights may be prohibited completely or partly by the air traffic services with regard to limitation of space and time if urgently required by the degree of intensity of air traffic subject to air traffic control.

1.1.7 Prohibited areas and flight restrictions

The Minister of Transport and Communications establishes prohibited and restricted areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic. The areas are published in the AIP. Ref AIP page ENR 5.1 and ENR 5.2.

1.1.8 Cloud flights with gliders

Cloud flights with gliders may be permitted by the air traffic services if the safety of air traffic can be maintained by appropriate measures. Conditions may be attached to the permission. An IFR rating is required.

1.1.9 Take-offs and landings of aeroplanes, rotorcraft, airships, powered gliders, gliders and parachutists outside aerodromes admitted for them

Take-offs and landings of aeroplanes are only permitted at an aerodrome. Rotorcraft are permitted to take off and land only at an aerodrome and/or a state approved exemption for outside the aerodrome. Operations of Airships, powered gliders and gliders on and off the aerodrome is not permitted.

1.1.10 Ascents of balloons, kites, self-propelled flying models and flying bodies

It is prohibited under Article 1, paragraph b, of the Aviation Ordinance to operate designated devices that are no aircraft in Curaçao Airspace.

Rules are set for the following devices by the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning:

- Model aircraft

- Hanggliders

- Parachute gliders

- Kites

- Small balloons

- Target airplanes

The provisions in the first paragraph shall not apply if an exemption has been granted by the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning. An exemption may be granted subject to restrictions.

1.1.11 Special Flights

MEDICAL FLIGHTS

General

The following medical flights (also called Ambulance flight) are handled at Hato Airport:

· Emergency Medical flights Departing / Arriving

· Non-Emergency Medical flights Departing / Arriving

· Local Helicopter Emergency Flights

Medical Flight Urgency Categories

Medical Flights are subdivided in the following three categories:

1. Simple life support: for patients with somewhat mild medical conditions, possibly needing breathable air or for supplementing.

2. Advanced life support: patients in need of this category of treatment require higher amounts of consideration. There may be need for multiplied checking of the issue on a continual schedule together with the means to access arterial amenities and medicine dispensaries.

3. Critical care support: a injured or ill person in need of this kind of specific assistance will need continuous inspection, typical drug maintenance, utilization of highly specialized equipment and various specialized instruments that help to preserve life in a crisis.

Note: It should be taken into account that a Medical Flights should receive a higher priority

by ATC for Departure and/or landing. Depending on the urgency category the

controller determines the priority.

Medical Flight Operators

Operators should file a flight plan with the relevant authorities or agencies depending on the type of flight (VFR or IFR) as prescribed in the:

· At the ARO, or

· ACC units

Note: To enable proper handling based on URGENCY Levels air traffic controller may

request the urgency condition.

Medical Flights

General

The following medical flights (also called Ambulance flight) are handled at Hato Airport:

· Emergency Medical flights Departing / Arriving;

· Non-Emergency Medical flights Departing / Arriving;

· Local Helicopter Emergency Flights .

Medical Flights are classified as follow:

1. HOSP: for a medical flight declared by medical authorities;

2. MEDEVAC: for a life critical emergency evacuation.

To declare the status of the medical flight, the standard abbreviation STS/HOSP or MEDEVAC should be used in field 18 of the flight plan (FPL).

It should be taken into account that a Medical Flight should receive a higher priority by ATC for Departure and/or landing. The "Medevac status" should only be assumed, when a flight requires extra expeditious handling from ATC. The Medevac status is only intended for those missions of an urgent medical nature and to be utilized only for that portion of the flight requiring expeditious handling.

Request for additional handling for medical flights:

Operators handling the flight have the responsibility to notify the airport authorities in advance, for special handling and /or discharging of the patient. If not possible, the pilot may request the ATCO to coordinate with the airport authorities.

Depending on the condition of the patient the pilot may request to fly at lower levels or execute approaches or departure manoeuvres to minimize inconvenience to the patient. The Hato Tower shall allow the pilot to fly the requested level and to take course with no or little restrictions.

Medical Flight execution and - handling:

Flights should adhere to the published ICAO Document 4444 - Procedures. Air Navigation Services, Depending on the condition of the patient the pilot may require to fly at lower levels. The Hato Tower shall allow the pilot to fly the requested level and to take course with no or little restrictions.

SPECIAL VFR

Special VFR flights are only authorized subject to the approval of the unit providing approach control service (Hato TWR or RADAR approach control) to enter the control zone for the purpose of landing or to take off and depart directly from the control zone provided that:

1. The ground visibility is not less 1500 m;

2. Separation shall be effected between all IFR flights and special VFR flights;

3. Separation shall be effective between special VFR flights.

Note: Special VFR Flights are not allowed between Sunset or Sunrise. (See table Times of

sunrise and sunset for Curaçao at sea level - GEN 2.7)

CALIBRATION FLIGHTS

The ILS and VOR / DME equipment are checked periodically by measurement flights. They may be performed below the VFR minimum altitude and outside the aerodrome control zone. During ILS calibration flights no airplanes should be flying between the measurement plane and the LOC antenna. The Air traffic Controller should cancel all requests for training fights during test periods.

SURVEY FLIGHTS

The term survey flights is used as a collective name for photographic, topographical, and film
laser scan flights . There are two types of survey flights distinguished:

1. Manned;

2. Unmanned.

The air traffic controller may at any time decide to postpone , cancel or abort the survey flight when the traffic situation so warrant .

POLICE FLIGHTS

Police Flights are performed to detect suspects of crimes . The Air Traffic Controller should give these types of flights as much priority as possible. There are two types of police flights:

1. Manned;

2. Unmanned.

ad 1. Manned Police Flight:

The police flight can originate on the movement area at the airport or at a heliport situated elsewhere on the island. The flight plan can be provided via phone or RTF during flight preparations.

Flight execution and -handling

Police flights are mainly executed with helicopters and under VFR flight rules at altitudes below 1000ft. The controller shall instruct the pilot to report when approaching the aerodrome traffic zone for proper traffic information and separation.

ad 2. Unmanned Police Flight :

To Be Developed.

SAR FLIGHTS

Is a flight executed to search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. These flights are executed over land and water.

General

Applicable ICAO documents:

· ICAO Annex 12 Search and Rescue

· ICAO Annex 13 Aircraft Accident Investigation

· ICAO Doc 7030 Regional Supplementary Procedures for Altering and Search and Rescue services applicable in the CAR Region

AIP sections:

· GEN 3.6.4

· ENR 1.2 - Paragraphs 10, 11, 12

MILITARY & COAST GUARD FLIGHTS

Military air traffic shall adhere to rules and regulations for general aviation traffic as laid down in this AIP however, due to operational necessity exceptions have been made for Operational military Air Traffic. Since coast guard operations is mainly executed by military, the same ATS shall apply to them.

AIP section:

· ENR 1.2 - Paragraphs 10, 11, 12

HELICOPTER OPERATIONS

Helicopter Military Flights, SAM Flights, Police Flights and Medical flights can operate (depart or land) directly from the Platform or Taxiway. The aerodromeTower shall separate these flights from all aerodrome traffic (Traffic on the maneuvering area of the aerodrome and all aircraft flying in the vicinity of the aerodrome).

In addition the aerodrome Tower will provide traffic information for operations outside the aerodrome traffic zone. When air taxiing is required the aerodrome Tower provides clearance and provides separation from all traffic on the maneuvering area.

Helicopter private or civil flights shall maintain to the ICAO Annex 2 - Rules of the air and ICAO SARP’s. These flights shall be cleared for landing on or departure from the RWY in use and cleared for air taxiing via the taxiways to the parking positions assigned.

UNAUTORISED FLIGHTS

Unauthorised flights

A flight with a destination in the Curaçao FIR or St. Maarten TMA, politically or otherwise undesirable , may be rejected at governmental level. Meaning, that the aircraft must get permission t o land on Dutch Caribbean territory.

Decision-making

An aircraft shall, exclusively by order of the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Curaçao, St. Maarten or the BES islands, or an authorised representative, be refused landing in the event that the Minister of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning deems it so necessary.

SECURITY FLIGHTS

Definitions

A security flight is a flight operated by one or more aircraft of the Royal Air Force to guarantee national safety and/or to maintain national airspace integrity.

VIP FLIGHTS

As the Head of State or Government on board a flight , a number safety measures and procedures apply. These measures are usually pre- arranged by state security and Civil Aviation Authorities.

Formation flights

No aircraft shall be flown in formation except by pre-arrangement among the pilots-in-command of the aircraft taking part in the flight and, for formation flight in controlled airspace, in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority. These conditions shall include the following:

a. the formation operates as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position reporting;

b. separation between aircraft in the flight shall be the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots-in-command of the other aircraft in the flight and shall include periods of transition when aircraft are manoeuvring to attain their own separation within the formation and during join-up and breakaway; and

c. a distance not exceeding 1 km (0.5 NM) laterally and longitudinally and 30 m (100 ft) vertically from the flight leader shall be maintained by each aircraft.

Formation flights along ATS routes within the Curaçao FIR, will be accepted, provided that:

a. Aircraft are not carrying passengers for compensation or for hire.

b. Prior to the execution of such formation flights pilots have received permission from all the ATS unit(s) concerned.

c. The formation leader shall squawk the assigned transponder code.

d. A proper ICAO flight plan has been submitted.

e. A formation flight must be coordinated at least 24 hours in advance with the ATS unit(s) concerned.

A formation flight will be handled by the ATS unit(s) as a single aircraft, with increased radar separation (1 NM). When individual control is requested, advisory information will be issued to assist pilots in attaining standard ATC separation.

Note 1: separation responsibility between the aircraft within the formation during the formation flight and during transition to individual flight rests with the pilots concerned until standard separation has been obtained.

Note 2: formation join-up and breakaway will only be conducted when authorization has been obtained from ATC.