FLY ON TRACK

Outlook on Airspace News, Changes and Restrictions known 1st Aug

01-08-2010
The news-sheet giving news, changes and future 2010 planned restrictions known about as of August 1st is now available. More restrictions can spring up, check NOTAMs and just before flight, & don't forget, the temporary restrictions are updated daily on freephone 0500-354802 (+44 20 8750 3939 from abroad or mobiles with 'free minutes'.). It really is a huge list of events, mainly August or September, but goes further - well worth a browse, there is so much in there. Be warned, there is so much that it is nearly 3 megabytes as a pdf, so worthwhile using broadband -click here to see:- Restrictions of Flying Outlook from Aug 2010 To go directly to the AIS Index of all "Mauve" AICs (which cover Restrictions of Flying) click here
Additional: Also, not in the list, and no AIC, is Shoreham Air Show 21st & 22nd August, 10:00 to 16:00 hours UTC, 3.5nm radius, surface to FL055, (see NOTAM J5800/10), plus bigger restrictions during Red Arrows displays - details coming by NOTAM. Also Portrush 4th/5th September, formal restriction at least 6 nm radius and 8100' most of days, details coming by NOTAM

"Listening Squawks" (graphic now available)

02-08-2010

Latest: There is now a pdf of a graphic to print, cut and keep on your kneeboard -Listening Squawk Graphic. The current list of listening squawks around the UK is:

0010 Birmingham 118.050 MHz
0011 Solent / Bournemouth 120.225 MHz / 119.475 MHz respectively
0012 Thames Radar/Gatwick 132.7 MHz / 126.825 MHz respectively
0013 Luton / Stansted 129.550 MHz / 120.625 MHz respectively
6170 Doncaster Approach 126.225 MHz
7045 Belfast Approach 128.5 MHz
7366 Manchester 118.575 MHz

Remember usual rules apply, you are not in receipt of a service and you must stay in Class G airspace, you cannot enter the CTA or CTR. Go back to another suitable squawk (eg: 7000-C) when you move away from the area or stop monitoring.

Glasgow go 'electronic strips' July 14th - effects for GA

02-06-2010
July 14th Glasgow ATC start using 'Electronic' flight strips instead of paper. This may produce a temporary reduction in usual levels of service to VFR traffic requiring zone transits or ATSOCAS nearby for an estimated 10 days whilst the system beds in. Pilots requiring zone transit may experience short delays in obtaining them during that period. Flight Plans via AFPEx are encouraged for any planned transits. Read more detail: A letter explaining the changes at Glasgow

CAA Survey on "Class G" Usage

15-06-2010
The CAA have announce a project to assess how Class G is used in the UK. All pilots are encouraged to respond. See CAA Class G Survey for further explanation and the survey itself.

Video Clip Help for Flying near London / Luton / Stansted

24-03-2010
Video Clip help from NATS for visual flying around London, plus the pictorial airspace guides around the UK. There's a new resource from NATS for anyone flying visually in the London area - http://www.airspacesafety.com/guides/

Just pick the leg or legs encircling London and up between Stansted and Luton which interest you, and you get a short video brief and see the flight itself and specific landmarks on the way. So if you were thinking of flying (say) Oxfordshire to Kent, you could link legs from Thame through to Sevenoaks via Henley and Guildford. Also, you can click on specific airspace areas around the UK and view picture pdf guides written by local controllers who are usually pilots themselves. And don't forget the NATS endorsement of an airspace warning device - moving map CAA chart, free airspace data downloads, warnings of airspace, and 'locator' information, all for around £150. See http://www.airspaceaware.com/

Belfast temporary TMZ starts 22/4/2010

25-3-2010
Due to work on the primary radar, a new but temporary Transponder Mandatory Zone comes in around Belfast on 22/4/2010 for approx 4 months. See Belfast TMZ Graphic and it is also included in Restrictions Known as of 27th March 2010 in this hot news section, but until the AIC is available, further information is on the CAA News page

Changes to Cross Channel VFR Route + New VRPs

15-03-2010 (update of earlier News)
In order to reduce the number of infringements controlled airspace and danger areas in the Solent area, the cross channel VFR recommended route to/from the Cherbourg Peninsula will be depicted on charts as commencing/terminating abeam St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight. To help navigation, 6 new VRPs will be established beneath the Solent CTA: New VRPs at SPINNAKER TOWER BUTSER HILL MAST, BEAULIEU DISUSED, NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE, ST CATHERINE'S POINT, HURST CASTLE. Please note - D036, on the route, is the most infringed danger area in the UK. Please remember to call Plymouth Military for a crossing, or if no answer, London Information to find out if D036 is active or not.

Now Get FlyOnTrack HOTNEWS Alerts via Twitter

27-05-09 onwards
Hot News Alerts - flyontrack on twitter

Faxing Flight Plans? New Contact Details

24-01-2009
Faxing flightplans? The Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre manage flightplans now. AFPEx gives your own online filing system (registration required). Pilots who do not have an AFPEx account should fax FPL and associated messages to 01489 61 2793 ensuring that they are correctly addressed - and they must contain a fax number too which SWanwick can use to reply to you by fax.There is a 24 hour Helpdesk for all enquiries 0845 601 0483 or 01489 612792. The Helpdesk AFTN address is EGGGYFAJ. Useful links: www.flightplanningonline.co.uk for AFPEx registration and use

Stansted TMZ (Mode C Mandatory) from 24/9/2009

24-07-2009
Stansted will have a mandatory Mode C area in the Class 'G' airspace under the current 'CTA end stubs' from 24.09.2009, with local agreements for airfields and strips - see the document for full details of area and arrangements, and contact any destinations in the TMZ for more info - for example, North Weald. See the news item above on 'known restrictions' for a schematic of the relevant airspace.