Changes to FAA and ICAO call sign requirements has required a revamp of the way volunteer pilots use the COMPASSION call sign.
The original filing process, which used a portion of the aircraft’s tail number, is no longer valid, according to officials with the Air Care Alliance (ACA).
ACA now assigns discrete COMPASSION call signs to verified pilots of authorized organizations through its website.
“ACA has worked with the FAA on behalf of volunteer pilot organizations to develop a process that meets the new requirements and allows the pilots to continue using the COMPASSION call sign,” says Rol Murrow, chairman and founder of the ACA. “We are happy to announce that pilots of authorized volunteer pilot groups may continue using the call sign by registering for a discrete COMPASSION call sign through our website.”
ACA officials report that hundreds of volunteer pilots have registered for their call signs already. They add they expect that number to grow as more pilots learn of the process and more groups become authorized for its use.
The COMPASSION call sign allows volunteer pilots to clearly identify to ATC that their operations are bona fide public benefit flights. This provides a measure of safety and security for passengers with special needs, and may result in better routing and special handling for the pilot, according to ACA officials.
The COMPASSION call sign and its three-letter designator CMF was assigned to ACA as its authorized administrator in 1999. Until now ACA has permitted volunteer pilots use of the call sign through a specific filing procedure using a portion of the pilot’s aircraft registration number. However, due to these FAA changes, that procedure was no longer authorized as of Dec. 15, 2019.
Volunteer pilots are encourage to become familiar with the new procedures for use and to take measures to avoid Call Sign Mismatch, ACA officials said. A pilot-programmable ADS-B Out transponder is required for use of the call sign in designated airspace.
“To avoid Call Sign Mismatch, pilots will need to ensure that their broadcasted flight ID exactly matches what’s filed in the flight plan. This requires the pilot to be able to edit the flight ID on their ADS-B Out unit,” Murrow explained. “The good news is that most units can be edited by the pilot. They may just require the feature to be enabled by an avionics shop.”
ACA encourages pilots to check with their avionics shops for information on programming their transponders.
“It may be easier to do than many pilots think,” he added.