1. PURPOSE.
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the procedures to be used by controllers when conducting position relief briefings. By following the checklist outlined in this SOP, controllers can ensure that required information can be transferred between relieving and relieved controllers without loss of information.

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
The Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for this Policy is the ZLA Facility Advisory Board. This Policy was originally drafted by Jeff Clark, ZLA Facility Chief, on June 19, 2001, and approved by Ian Elchitz, VATUSA Western Regional Director. This policy was substantially updated by Shawn Goldsworthy, ZLA Air Traffic Manager, on November 19, 2008. This Policy shall be maintained, revised, updated or cancelled by the ZLA Facility Advisory Board or any organization that supersedes, replaces or assumes the FAB responsibilities. Any suggestions for modification/amendment to this Policy should be sent to the FAB for review.

3. DISTRIBUTION.
This SOP is intended for use by controllers staffing any ATC position within ZLA.

4. BACKGROUND.
Research has found that most operational errors occur in the time 5 minutes prior, to 5 minutes after a change of controller. Information that should have been transferred between controllers is often forgotten, and a need for a methodical transfer of control has been identified. Use of the checklist below is mandatory in order to reduce these errors, and ensure an orderly transfer of control authority.

5. REQUIREMENTS.

The Checklist

A. Preview the Position(Relieving Controller):

1. Observe position equipment, operational situation, and the work environment. Familiarize yourself with the weather, any NOTAMS and other pertinent information.
2. Listen to voice communications and observe current and pending traffic and correlate with flight movement information. Observe any other operational actions.
3. Advise the specialist being relieved that your preview is complete and that the briefing may begin by completing the following steps:

a. Set your primary frequency to that of the position you are about to take over.

b. Advise the specialist being relieved that you have completed the above steps by saying that you have "1-3a".

B. The Briefing(Controlled Being Relieved/Relieving Controller):

1. The controller being relieved, shall brief the relieving controller, once the latter has indicated that the briefing may begin, per 5.A.(3) of this SOP.
2. The controller being relieved, shall brief the relieving controller on the following:
   • Traffic and details about traffic operations(Current flows, aircraft in holding, aircraft waiting for release, aircraft receiving flight following etc)
   • Any pilot/special requests
   • Any agreed coordination with adjacent facilities(eg Pointouts, control agreements, special in-trail sequencing agreements etc)
   • Any coordination requests
   • Runway configurations the controller being relieved deems pertinent
   • Weather Trends, PIREPs and any other pertinent information(NOTAMs etc)
3. The relieving controller shall ask any questions he may have, to ensure smooth and efficient transfer of control. The controller being relieved shall completely answer any questions the relieving controller may have.

C. Assumption of Position Responsibility(Controlled Being Relieved/Relieving Controller):

1. In order to assume control of a position, the relieving controller shall state his operating initials with statement "My control". This shall indicate to the controller being relieved that the control has successfully been assumed. The controller being relieved, shall reply with statement "Your control" and his operating initials, to confirm to the relieving controller that the control has successfully been transferred.

D. Post-Transfer Review(Controlled Being Relieved):

1. After the brief is complete, the controller being relieved, shall continue to observe the position/s and monitor the appropriate frequencies, to ensure that nothing has been forgotten. In case something has been forgotten or needs amending, the controller being relieved shall pass the information to the relieving controller at a rate he deems necessary to ensure a speedy solution to the problem at hand. The controller being relieved may sign off once the relieving controller clearly has the required information to control the position.

Notes

1. Position relief briefing may be done on either text(eg Chat on ASRC/VRC) or voice(eg Teamspeak, Skype, Ventrillo).
2. The relieving controller and the controller being relieved shall share equal responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the position relief briefing.
3. The relieving controller shall be responsible for ensuring that, prior to accepting responsibility for the position, any unresolved questions pertaining to the operation of the position are resolved.