FAA Mandate Changes Usage for NGF Call Sign – Effective January 1, 2015

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL ANGEL FLIGHT WEST PILOTS:

We apologize for the delayed announcement on this change. Please contact our office if you have any questions/concerns after reading the following information.

Effective January 1, 2015; all volunteer pilots who use the NGF call sign while flying passengers on behalf of Angel Flight West MUST use NGF in conjunction with the AFW designated organization number (6 and 7) and a designated pilot number that will be assigned to you by Angel Flight West.  This change affects all Air Charity Network organizations across the country. AFW is a member of the Air Charity Network.  This mandate will eventually impact all public benefit flying organizations. The “ANGEL FLIGHT” telephony will continue to be used when flying AFW passengers; in conjunction with the new NGF call sign usage.

The present FAA order and usage of the NGF call sign will expire on December 31.2014.

Pilots must NOT use NGF plus the last digits of their tail number after 12.31.2014.

This change is the result of issues identified by ATC and FAA. Which include, but are not limited to:

• ATC unable to establish communications with an unidentified aircraft/pilot
• Use of the call sign when a pilot was NOT on an angel flight
• Use of the call sign in airspace outside the U.S. or flying 3^rd party foreign registered aircraft
• A problem with the algorithm of the current usage (when a letter follows NGF it does not show up on Flight Aware)
• Pilots without a flight plan or flight following; flying into secure airspace.

The FAA supports the use of the call sign for charitable flights and worked jointly with the organizations of Air Charity Network towards a suitable solution.

Although some angel flight organizations require the use of the NGF call sign on their angel flights; Angel Flight West will continue to request that pilots use the call sign on a voluntary basis. AFW encourages pilots to consider the safety advantages while transporting ill and injured people. There are specific benefits to using the call sign:

• To give pilots access to special handling by ATC. This provides a measure of safety and security for passengers who may be having difficulty on the flight due to medical reasons and gives pilots the opportunity to identify those needs to ATC.
• To encourage pilots to file a flight plan or flight following when flying a charitable flight for ground and inflight operations in U.S. airspace.
• For authorization of flight operations by pilots during disaster response flights.
• To increase the value and awareness of public benefit flying and ANGEL FLIGHT within the aviation community.

NEW CALL SIGN USAGE EFFECTIVE 1.1.2015 

1. Review the Flight plan example attached to this email.

• Angel Flight West’s unique ID is #6 and 7 (due to the size of our membership we     needed 2 numbers) (NGF6 or 7).
• Each pilot will be issued a 4 digit number starting with #6 or 7. (For example: NGF6133 or NGF7122)
• Pilot numbers will currently show up on your Mission Assignment Form and in the future will be found in your pilot record. You can send an email to [email protected] to receive your number, or just wait until your next mission assignment and it will be on the form.  

2. Using the NGF call sign when flying passengers on behalf of Angel Flight West.

• Filing a flight plan or flight following is strongly encouraged by AFW.
• In Box #2 write NGF followed by your unique NGF number issued to you by AFW.
• In Box #11-Remarks- write ANGEL FLIGHT and the tail number of the aircraft.
• Use ANGEL FLIGHT and your NGF# when identifying your flight to ATC.

Angel Flight West will NOT disclose a list of pilot NGF numbers to the FAA; however, AFW is required to maintain a 24/7 telephone access for ATC and FAA should they need to identify a pilot/aircraft using an NGF call sign and any relationship to an AFW mission.

The letter from the FAA and other supporting documentation can be requested from Angel Flight West at [email protected]. The FAA Advisory Circular, outlining the change is AC- #120-26K (available in 2015); which is based on FAA order 7340.2 (Revised November, 2014). 

TIP: Your NGF number will be in your AFIDS pilot account. We will announce when this change happens. When you have your number, write it on a sticky note and put it on the dashboard of your aircraft. (This is what commercial and military pilots do when their flight is identified by a unique flight number). 

TIP: Flight plan. Although pilots may be inclined to write their tail number in Box#2 (and not use their NGF number) while placing “ANGEL FLIGHT” in the Remarks section; FAA does not recognize this as appropriate use for the ANGEL FLIGHT telephony to identify a charitable flight. ATC may NOT give the pilot special handling without their unique NGF number in Box #2 along with the ANGEL FLIGHT and their tail number in the Remarks box. 

This FAA change for NGF call sign is effective January 1, 2015. 

*Attachments* – PLEASE READ

• Flight-Plan-Example-of-NGF-Change_Effective-1-1-2015