News

Latest Airspace Changes and Restrictions of Flying published

25 November 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 9 November 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here

 

Significant changes to AIS website

25 September 2009

Significant changes to the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) website have been made including automated login and date and time validity checks. More information can be found here

 

Advance copy of Stansted TMZ AIC published

03 September 2009

The AIC detailing the new Stansted TMZ is now available from the download section or by clicking here. Full distribution will take place through the normal AIC publication process on 10 September.

 

Latest Airspace Changes and Restrictions of Flying published

02 September 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 3 September 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here.

 

Transponder mandatory zones for Stansted area

11 August 2009

Plans to establish transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZ) in the vicinity of London Stansted Airport with effect from 24 September 2009 have been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority. The move follows an application for an airspace change from UK air traffic service provider, NATS.

In January 2009, NATS consulted with the aviation community and local authorities on its proposal to establish a TMZ in accordance with the CAA’s Airspace Change Process.

The proposal was designed to solely enhance safety and the airspace classification (Class G) will remain unchanged. NATS states that the change will provide a more informed ATC environment allowing controllers to see the altitudes of aircraft, which will help reduce the impact of airspace infringements.

TMZs will extend from surface level to the base of controlled airspace (1,500 feet) beneath the Stansted Control Areas (CTAs) to thenortheast and southwest of the airport. A map of the new transponder mandatory zones can be found here.

This proposal includes arrangements under which the requirements of local airspace users will be accommodated. In addition, access is permitted to any aircraft which is operating a fully functioning pressure altitude reporting transponder in accordance with the CAA’s TMZ Policy Statement or to those aircraft which the aircraft commander has obtained permission from the air traffic control unit at Stansted Airport, Farnborough Radar, or Essex Radar, as may be appropriate, to enter the restricted airspace.

The TMZs are implemented through The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (London Stansted Airport) (No. 2)Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2020) which apply from 24 September 2009 and can be found here

Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC)
Details of the Stansted TMZs are contained in AIC No: Y 076/2009 due for distribution on 10 September 2009, which will be available at: www.ais.org.uk

Aeronautical Charts
Pilots should note that the 1:250 000 ‘Sheet 6 England East’, due for scheduled update on 24 September 2009 will reflect the change. However, the 1:250 000 ‘England South’ and1:500 000 Aeronautical Charts ‘Southern England’ will not reflect these changes until the scheduled update planned for 8 April 2010 and 11 March 2010 respectively.

 

Latest Airspace Changes and Restrictions of Flying published

29 July 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 27 July 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here

 

London LARS update

09 July 2009

General aviation pilots can now get an update on the London LARS service provided by NATS at Farnborough. The update shows that the service was used by 85,000 pilots in 2008 and the the new sectors, LARS North and LARS East are becoming more widely used. The update is in the downloads section or click here

 

Latest Airspace Changes and Restrictions of Flying published

26 June 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 26 June 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here

 

Safely flying through the South Coast Danger Areas

16 June 2009

The MoD has updated its advice to pilots who wish to fly across the Channel in the area from Cornwall in the West to Selsey Bill in the East where there are a significant number of military danger areas. Full details of the services that can help you fly safey through these areas, including the Danger Area Crossing Service and the Danger Area Activity Information Service, can be found here

 

Report published on Military Civil Air Safety Day at RAF Shawbury 20 May 2009

11 June 2009

The military civil air safety day at RAF Shawbury on 20 May proved to be a great success with well over 100 civilian GA pilots attending the event. A report on the day can be found here and the presentations made on the day will be available shortly.

 

Every pilot is involved with airshow safety

01 June 2009

With the airshow season about to get into full swing the importance of being aware of what's going on in the area in which you intend to fly is even more important.

It is essential that pilots get the latest preflight briefing information and the CAA says the best way to do that is:

· check on airspace restrictions (including temporary restrictions such as Red Arrows displays) by calling the dedicated Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) information freephone facility on 020 8750 3773/3774.

· check NOTAMs (available free of charge on the AIS website or contact the NOTAM Office on 020 8745 3451 or 3450 (24-hour facility)).

· NOTAMs are available in the form of Pre-Flight Information Bulletins (PIB) using a live database. PIBs may also be accessed through the NATS website should the AIS website be unavailable.

· check the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), AIP Supplements and AICs (also available free of charge at the AIS website

Useful information on avoiding airspace infringements is also available online at www.flyontrack.co.uk

Last year there were six infringements of temporary restricted airspace four of which involved disruption to displays by the Red Arrows – in each case the display was abandoned.

Officer Commanding and Red Arrows team leader, Wing Commander Jas Hawker,said: “We hope to inspire, enthrall and captivate many thousands of people with this year’s display, and are looking forward to meeting fans of the team at airshows around the country. To do this we need tobe able tooperate in a safe environment and infringements of the restricted airspace can cause us to cancel a display and disappoint many people.”

Earlier this year the pilot of a light aircraft was fined £600 for straying into the restricted airspace set up for a Red Arrows display. After missing a number of warnings the pilot came within half a mile of the Arrows’ display site before being spotted by a police helicopter.

And don't forget, it is not just the Red Arrows, there are many other display aircraft including fast jets transiting from their home bases to the airshows (both on the airshow days and before) as well as larger formations of light aircraft so check out the restrictions and airshow locations every time you fly.

 

Latest Airspace Changes and Restrictions of Flying published

01 June 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 27 May 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here

 

Latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying published

05 May 2009

The latest Airspace Changes and Restriction of Flying, effective from 5 May 2009, have been published. They are available in the download section or click here