Prior to initiating the Descent, clearance from Air Traffic Control must be obtained. This section provides a brief summary of the communication content from the cruise phase to the Descent phase.

Continuing with the example of Air System 115 flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

As the aircraft enters the Sapporo Misawa West Area Control Center sector, Tokyo ATC needs to hand over control of the flight to the Sapporo Misawa West sector. Therefore, the controller issues the instruction: “Air System 115, Contact Sapporo Control 133.3” This means “Air System 115, contact Sapporo Misawa West Control on 133.3”. The pilot replies: “133.3 Air System 115” Then adjusts the radio communication frequency to 133.3 MHz and contacts ATC: “Sapporo Control, Air System 115, FL410” This means “Sapporo Control, this is Air System 115, current flight level is 41000 feet”. If the Sapporo Misawa West controller receives the report and confirms on radar, they will reply: “Air System 115, Sapporo Control, Roger” This means “Air System 115, this is Sapporo Misawa West Control, Roger”.

After the aircraft flies through the Sapporo Misawa West control area, it will enter the Sapporo Hokkaido South Area Control Center. At this point, the handoff communication is completed again.

Controller: Air System 115, Contact Sapporo Control 119.3 (Air System 115, contact Sapporo Hokkaido South Control on 119.3) Pilot: 119.3, Air System 115 Pilot: Sapporo Control, Air System 115, FL410 Controller: Air System 115, Sapporo Control, Roger

At this point, the aircraft is not far from the Top of Descent (TOD). The pilots have completed the approach briefing and the Descent checklist. ATC will then issue a Descent instruction, requiring the pilots to Descend from the current altitude to 15000 feet. The communication is as follows:

“Air System 115, Descent at pilot’s discretion, Maintain FL150” This means “Air System 115, Descend at your discretion to maintain FL150”.

“Descent at pilot’s discretion” indicates that the pilot may decide when to start the Descent based on the aircraft’s current status. However, if traffic volume is high and the controller needs to manage spacing between aircraft, they may require the pilot to start descending immediately by issuing an instruction such as: “Descend and maintain FL150, traffic, 50 miles ahead, opposite direction at FL330” This means “Descend and maintain flight level 150, traffic 50 miles ahead, opposite direction at FL330”. If an immediate Descent is required, the controller may state “Start descent now”.

Upon receiving the Descent instruction, the pilot replies: “Clear 150 Standby, Leaving 410, Air System 115” This means “Preparing to start Descent”.

When the aircraft reaches the Top of Descent (TOD), the pilot will report to ATC: “Air System 115, Sapporo Control, Leaving FL410” This means “Sapporo Control, this is Air System 115, Leaving 41000 feet for Descent”. ATC will reply: “Air System 115, Roger”.

During the Descent, the aircraft enters the Chitose Airport Approach Radar Control area. Before reaching the initial approach fix, the pilots complete the Approach checklist. The Sapporo Hokkaido South controller initiates the handoff to Approach Control and issues the instruction: “Air System 115, Contact Chitose Radar, 120.1” This means “Air System 115, contact Chitose Approach Radar Control”. The pilot replies “120.1 Air System 115” And adjusts the radio communication frequency to 120.1 MHz again to notify the airport radar control: “Chitose Approach, Air System 115, Leaving 321 with R” This means “Chitose Approach, this is Air System 115, leaving 32100 feet, with information Romeo”.

Upon receiving the pilot’s report, the Approach Controller usually replies: “Air System 115, Chitose Radar, Roger, Expect Runway VOR/DME Final, Runway 19L, Standby Radar Vector 35 Miles” This means “Air System 115, Chitose Approach Radar, Roger. Expect VOR/DME approach procedure, Runway 19L, standby for radar vector in 35 miles”. The pilot replies “Standby, Air System 115” This means “Standing by, Air System 115”.

Shortly after, ATC will issue an instruction to continue Descent to 12000 feet, such as: “Air System 115, Descend and Maintain 12000, 2998” This means “Air System 115, Descend and Maintain 12000 feet, QNH 29.98”. The pilot needs to reply “12000, 2998, Air System 115” This means “12000 feet, 2998, Air System 115”. Therefore, the pilot should set the Altimeter setting to 29.98 and the target altitude on the MCP (Mode Control Panel) to 12000 feet.

As the aircraft continues to approach the airport, ATC issues another Descent instruction, requiring the aircraft to continue Descent to 4000 feet. ATC: “Air System 115, Descend and Maintain 4000” Pilot: “4000, Air System 115” And set the target altitude on the MCP (Mode Control Panel) to 4000 feet.

On the ND (Navigation Display), the estimated position for reaching the target Descent (or Climb) altitude is displayed as a green arc, helping the pilot better judge the distance from the current position to that altitude.

Next is the handoff to Approach Control: ATC: “Air System 115, Contact Radar 119.1” Pilot: “119.1, Air System 115”

The pilot sets the communication frequency to 119.1 MHz and contacts Approach: Pilot: “Chitose Radar, Air System 115, Leaving 10900, Heading 090” ATC: “Air System 115, Roger, Turn Left Heading 040” Pilot: “Sorry, Say again, Heading 040?” ATC: “115, Affirmative Heading 040” Pilot: “Roger, 040, Air System 115”

The Chinese meaning of the previous dialogue is: Pilot: “Chitose Radar, this is Air System 115, leaving 10900 feet, Heading 090” ATC: “115, Roger. Turn Left Heading 040” Pilot: “Sorry, say again, Heading 040?” ATC: “115, Affirmative Heading 040” Pilot: “Roger, turn left 040, Air System 115”

Immediately afterwards, ATC issues an instruction to continue Descent to 3000 feet and to report the aircraft position: ATC: “Air System 115, Turn Left Heading 360, Descend and Maintain 3000” Pilot: “360, 3000, Air System 115”

ATC: “Air System 115, Position 20 Miles South South East Airport, Report Airport In Sight” Pilot: “Air System 115, Standby” This means ATC: “Air System 115, position is 20 miles South South East of the airport, report airfield in sight” Pilot: “Standby, will report airfield in sight”

End

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