Kneeboard Tips

Tip

Description

Links Verified

Checking NOTAMs is a fundamental responsibility for every pilot. NOTAMs warn of various hazards and changes which may affect your flight on a particular day - including changes which, if ignored, could actually endanger either the pilot or other aviators. Most pilots find the the 'NARROW ROUTE BRIEF' section of the official website official UK AIS Website (link here) is the most efficient. There is a a very good booklet (link here)describing use of the whole AIS site which takes you through NOTAM checking with screenshots to help you navigate. Access to the UK AIS Website is free but requires simple and rapid one off registration

Sept 2006

All the airspace upgrades, planned in advance - for example, temporary restricted areas due to Red Arrows Displays - and sudden unplanned upgrades - for example a police incident or major accident or fire - are there for you to access via a freephone number 0500-354802.
The planned items will also be 'NOTAMed'. Where-as NOTAMs themselves will identify items of all levels of 'seriousness' there may be some NOTAMS which an individual pilot may not be concerned about (for example, a pilot flying visually in good daytime visibility may not be interested that light on a mast is not working), the freephone number contains information which would cause major problems if the pilot ignored the warnings. Airspace is only 'upgraded' for serious reasons. Why not check everything with a free NOTAM narrow route brief before flying (even the night before) and then prior to your flight and before your return flight, check for any further incidents and upgrades with the freephone number 0500-354802? You can get all the contact phone numbers and web links on this AIS Information Sheet (link here)

Sept 2006

Because a transponder is an active transmission, radar units can pick up an aircraft much easier if it is transponding that if it isn't. However, if you are transponding it is so much more useful to a radar unit and other, perhaps commercial, aircraft fitted with TCAS to have some idea of your altitude and this is provided by setting the switch on the unit to ALT rather than just ON. It's not just others who benefit - this could easily save you from an airspace infringements. There have been many cases where a radar unit spotted a problem about to happen due to the altitude of the aircraft, and a message has been passed in time. You can't depend on this happening, but it happens a lot, and can only happen if you are squawking and set to ALT
If the TCAS system of another aircraft or a controller just sees a squawk with no altitude information, it just gives a two dimensional picture of where you are. Airline pilots many miles above you may be bothered with constant warnings from TCAS as your altitude cannot be resolved. If you have a transponder, use it to be visible after you have set 7000 or any assigned code, and don't just set the switch to the ON position, help everyone by setting it to ALT as your default setting.
If you are asked to SQUAWK CHARLIE, that's what the ALT position is, but do not WAIT to be told to use ALT, use if as you normal setting. A section of the CAA Radio Safety Sense Leaflet (link here) covers transponder use

Sept 2006

If you have a moving map GPS there is absolutely no guarantee that even the latest database and airspace upgrades contain all boundaries that you need to know about. And do you always fly with the very latest upgrades? Many pilots don't. If you have a moving map database, it's worth one little test. In Demo Mode, 'fly' down to the airspace in central southern England and over the sea as if travelling from Southampton to Jersey. This takes you out beyong the Isle of Wight (with the Solent CTA) and heads you towards Jersey Zone.
QUESTION: Is there a Class A airway between Solent CTA and Jersey Zone, or is there a 'gap'?
MOST G.A. hand held traditional GPS units have a gap. Have a look at the official CAA chart, and you'll find a Class A airway N866 down to FL035 in that gap. Even if your unit does have this particular airway, there could easily be other features missing from it. If your unit does not show this airway, there will definitely be other features missing.
Always use a current chart - airspace boundaries are now changing regularly. Have a look at a very readable booklet on GPS, the CAA GPS Safety Sense Leaflet (link here)

Sept 2006

If you are trained to use radio navigation such as VORs or DMEs, you can perhaps fix your own position, but if you are a bit overworked and feel pressured due to this unfamilar situation, all the work can be done for you simply and quickly. If you are not sure of your position, tell the unit you are speaking with at the time. They might be able to help you if they have radar , but if they cannot help you, (maybe they are just an air/ground unit), tell them that you are contacting D and D on 121.5 and squawk 0030. This dedicated unit is waiting to help, and they are very good at it! Why wait? If you stray into any airspace you shouldn't just because you were reluctant to admit you were unsure, you'll wish afterwards that you'd done it early.
If you have never spoken as a practice on 121.5, why not make a point of doing a practice unsure of position next time you have a JAA instructor hour or club check? - or just get a brief from an instructor on what to do, and do it yourself next time airborne. Have a look at a very readable booklet, the CAA Radio Safety Sense Leaflet (link here) and an information sheet (link here) produced to encourage practices which provides the terminology and coverage.

Sept 2006

	NOTAM Checking
Link	Description	Link Verified
AIS Summary	A summary guide by NATS of all the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) available to pilots, including contact numbers and web addresses.	July 2007
The official AIS Site Guide	The official NATS/AIS user guide to the use of the AIS Website - 32 page pdf. A pictorial (screenshot) and text guide to take you through the ais website	July 2007
NOTAM CHECKING	A GASCo Magazine article by Nigel Everett on practical NOTAM checking.	July 2007
AIS NOTAM/AIP/AICs	The official live NATS/AIS site for checking Notams, the UK AIP and AICs. Free registration.	July 2007
Danger Areas Activity	The NATS operational page providing Danger Area activity status and back up FIR summaries of NOTAMs in case the normal AIS site server is down.	July 2007
	Specific (Named) Airspace Guides
Link	Description	Link Verified
The Manchester Low Level Corridor	A pictorial and text guide to visually flying the Manchester Low Level Corridor, with photos of features en-route, written by a 'local'.	July 2007
The East Midlands (pictorial pdf) The East Midlands (Website for local pilots)	A pictorial and text guide (pdf) to visually flying in the East Midlands around an in the controlled airspace en-route, written by a 'local'. NEW:There is now a whole website too dedicated to the VFR pilot in the East Midlands area, giving all sorts of useful information and allowing 'feedback' - for example, photos of what each VRP looks like from the air.	July 2007
Glasgow	A pictorial and text guide to visually flying in and around Glasgow airspace written by a 'local'.	July 2007
Other Guides	IN ADDITION from the locally written guides above, the CAA produce 'standardised format' guides to flying near and through airspace in (at least) SEVEN areas of the country (maybe more - check the link). These include: SOUTHAMPTON/BOURNEMOUTH, EDINBURGH, HEATHROW/GATWICK, MANCHESTER/LIVERPOOL, NEWCASTLE, STANSTED/LUTON, and EAST MIDLANDS. There could be more added at any time so if your local airspace is not in thist list, try the 'other guides' link to see the very latest.	July 2007
	General Navigation Advice
Link	Description	Link Verified
VFR Navigation Safety Sense	A pictorial and text guide to visual navigation - part of the Safety Sense series by the CAA.	Sep 2007
Radio Safety Sense	A pictorial and text guide to the radio, including typical calls to Air Traffic Units en-route. One thing not included yet is the London D and D phone number - 01895 followed by 426150 which you can put in your mobile phone in case you are flying and have a complete radio failure and want to communicate with them. (NB: mobile phone signals can affect GPS and Nav equipment.)	Sep 2007
FIS/RIS/RAS	Safety Sense leaflet on ATC Services Outside Controlled Airspace (FIS, RIS, RAS)	Sep 2007
GPS Use	A pictorial and text guide to sensible GPS use, part of the CAA Safety Sense series	Sep 2007
	"Easy Digest" CAA Advice
Link	Description	Link Verified
Reminder Kneeboard	An A5 sized kneeboard insert giving pre-flight reminders and also a 'mask' for better zone transit radio calls.	Sep 2007
Safety Evenings	Timetable for coming CAA Safety Evenings. Dates/Locations	Sep 2007
VFR Guide	A comprehensive look at all the topics for simply VFR flying in the UK. All those things that have been puzzling you about symbols on the VFR chart, rules and regulations, explained in one VFR Guide. On the same link, you will also find links to various CAA advice posters, free to download.	Sep 2007
VFR Supplement (CTR/CTA) Guides	A great way of looking at a guide including pictures and advice if you happen to be flying near one of the UK's CTR/CTA combinations - i.e. near one of the UK's main provincial or London airports. The readable guides include photos of VRPs so you know what you are looking for, and suggestions of any VFR routes through or nearby. These guides form a great library for the VFR pilot flying near controlled airspace around any main airport around the country. Well worth reading the one nearest to you to see what information it contains.	May 2007
Safety Sense	All CAA Safety Sense Leaflets and Safety Posters. The index to a free comprehensive library of easy to read advice - something for all aviators. Also available: Posters on 'hot topics', free to download.	Sep 2007
Infringement Poster	Poster giving basics of Airspace Infringement - what it means, what it leads to, what it costs and why you should KNOW YOUR AIRSPACE.	Sep 2007
Air Traffic Services	Poster giving basics of Service Outside Controlled Airspace - Flight Information Service, Radar Information Service and Radar Advisory Service. For all other posters see item above.	Sep 2007
Airspace VFR/IFR	The well-known one sheet poster diagram giving all the legal minimum visibility and cloud separations for VFR at various levels, and if/how ATC separate traffic, in each classification of airspace and Radar Advisory Service.	Sep 2007
Chart Questions	The CAA Frequently Asked Questions about CHARTS - with further CAA links on the subject.	Sep 2007
1:500000 VFR Charts Amendments	The CAA usually issues a new edition of charts once per year, but things change during that 12 months. You can update your own VFR half-million scale chart with these simple amendments that happened AFTER your current chart was published. The link on the left takes you directly to the CAA page for half-million scale (10 nm to the inch) VFR chart recent amendments.	Sep 2007
1:250000 VFR Charts Amendments	The CAA usually issues a new edition of charts once per year, but things change during that 12 months. You can update your own VFR quarter-million scale chart with these simple amendments that happened AFTER your current chart was published. The link on the left takes you directly to the CAA page for quarter million scale (5 nm to the inch) VFR chart recent amendments.	Sep 2007
	Official Reporting Processes
Link	Description	Link Verified
UKAB	UK Airprox Board (Airprox is the official term for the old 'Air Miss'	Sep 2007
MOR	CAA Mandatory Occurence Reporting System - for bringing serious incidents formally to the attention of the CAA.	Sep 2007
AAIB	Air Accident Investigation Board - Reports of previoous accidents, how to report one.	Sep 2007
Bird Strike Reporting	Report a Bird Strike. (Important to prevent future ones)	Sep 2007
CHIRP	UK Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme - Report a human factors incident confidentially	Sep 2007
	Official Documents, Studies
Link	Description	Link Verified
LASORS	UK CAA Interpretation of rules and regulations (large pdf)	Sep 2007
ANO	UK Air Navigation Order - the official law (large pdf)	Sep 2007
JAA States	JAA States - Current List of 'Recognition Countries' for JAA Licences (FCL-1), medicals (FCL-3), etc.	Sep 2007
LARS South East	Official Report (2002) on Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS) in the South East	Sep 2007
Funding LARS	Dept of Transport review of funding for Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS)	Sep 2007

Other Sites There are a large number of organisations and magazines in the UK who may be able to help you with your flying. Here is just a straight list of well known ones: AOPA Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association AVBRIEF AVBRIEF - Commercial Pre-flight Briefing for Pilots BAeA British Aerobatics Association BBAC British Balloon & Airship Club BBGA British Business and General Aviation Association. The successor group to GAMTA and BAUA, BGAA is the UK's national trade body representing General and Business Aviation. BGA British Gliding Association BHAB British Helicopter Advisory Board. The civil helicopter industry's trade association. BHPA British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association BMAA British Microlight Aircraft Association BMFA British Model Flying Association BPA British Parachute Association. Check drop zone details here. Flyer Magazine Flyer Magazine Air Portal. GAPAN The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators GATCO Guild of Air Traffic Officers Helicopter Safety Site dedicated to Helicopter Safety Historical Aircraft Association Historical Aircraft Association, furthering the restoration, preservation and safe flying of historic aircraft in the UK LAA Link to the Light Aviation Association’s website (was the PFA, pre-2008) The Met Office Link to the Met Office’s aviation weather pages PPL/IR Europe For pilots interested in the operation of light aircraft under IFR in Europe Pilot Magazine Pilot Magazine Web Site. RIN Royal Institute of Navigation RAeS Royal Aeronautical Society Skybook Skybook - Commercial Pre-flight Briefing for Pilots Today's Pilot Today's Pilot Website UK Airport News Site for news/info on UK Airports. UK Flight Safety Committee Dedicated to the improvement of commercial aviation safety.

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