Hi, I planned a flight from DUB - KEF, today, using simbrief. The routing took us via the Shanwick oceanic FIR at FL360. Entry point GOMUP inbound BEKI (Reykjavik FIR). The simbrief generated FPL didnt produce a predicted oceanic clearance message.
Although we cut a corner through the NAT HLA, we should still have a predicted clearance, and during the flight an actual oceanic clearance, as far as i know. Any thoughts ?
Thanks
Toon
Hello,
Just to clarify, SimBrief is a planning tool, it doesn’t process or predict oceanic clearances. The OFP gives you the planned oceanic routing, entry at GOMUP into EGGX Shanwick Oceanic, then across into BIRD, but the clearance itself is an ATC product. That requires pilot request in flight 30-90 mins before the entry point.
Two points on this specific EIDW - BIRD flight,
Its not on an organised track. The NAT OTS runs east-west between EU and NA. EIDW-BIRD tracks north and only clicps the south eastern corner of Shanwick before entering Reykjavik so there is no NAT track designator to include. The random routing SimBrief created (GOMUP - Reykjavik (439nm/326°) is correct. The corner cut through the NAT HLA is right but the HLA volume is not the same as flying the OTS.
Also, for the route, you may not actually get a separate oceanic clearance at all. For a flight terminating in Iceland, procedurally it is RCL where required (request for clearance), otherwise continue on the domestic clearance with no oceanic. Shanwick is still the one issuing them, however clipping a corner depends on the controlling unit/whether VATSIM accepts the route.
Hi Gordon,
Thanks for you reply. I still try to understand why there is a predicted oceanic clearance for a flight from DUB - BGSF (Kangerlussuaq), see attachment 1, using the same routing compared to the DUB- KEF flight. I have no real world experience with NAT HLA flights but trying to understand the differences or the (few and minor) shortcomings of simbrief. The RCL is not applicable to Shanwick yet but that doesn’t make a real difference as to the predicted oceanic clearance section on the FPL.
I might have found the possible cause: there are specific instructions for arrivals into KEF. This is only for planning purposes and you still need to send a RCL and (at this moment) still an actual oceanic clearance will be provided by Shanwick to cross their NAT HLA part. Please correct me if I am wrong and or if anyone has operational experience.
Hello,
I checked in with our SimBrief lead, Derek. The reason why the clearance wasn’t showing was that the check only added an OCL preview when your departure and arrival airports were on opposite side of 30° West. Ireland and Iceland are both on the same side of that line so the flight was getting skipped. Thats why the DUB - BGSF plan showed one but DUB - KEF didn’t.
A fix has been made so DUB - KEF flights will show the OCL preview from now on, as long as the route crosses into the ocean airspace, not just clipping the very edge of it.
In real world operations, you’re thinking is correct. Flying DUB - KEF would still get an oceanic clearance from Shanwick, since that is where you cross into the ocean. Going the other way, however, you would not need one because you pass through Iceland’s airspace first and they no longer require it (NATOPS Ch6 - 6.3.24 - Mar 19 2026)
By the way, thank you very much for the detail, thats very much so appreciated!
Thank you very much for the follow-up and the quick fix!
