FLY ON TRACK

Outlook on Airspace News, Changes and Restrictions

03-02-2010
The first news-sheet of 2010 giving future Airspace related news, changes and planned restrictions known about at Feb 1st is now available. (More restrictions can spring up, check NOTAMs). The pdf contains notification of "RA(T)s" for Red Arrows displays in March, restrictions for the Cheltenham festival (also March), new VRPs for London City and the Solent Area, changes to the recommended VFR cross channel route towards Cherbourg, improvement tweaks to NOTAM checking via the AIS site, new contact details for 'charts', and the new Solent listening squawk scheme along with reminders of old favourites- the West Wales airport restriction and the TMZ under the Stansted CTA 'stubs'. See Latest Airspace News and Known Restrictions

Changes to Cross Channel VFR Route + New VRPs

02-02-2010
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, for detail see the pdf on 'Outlook on Airspace News, etc., above. More information will follow when an AIC is published in March.

"Listening Squawks" - Solent to Join In

11-01-2010

Solent set to join the 'listening squawk' trial from 28th January 2010.
The Solent area will be introducing a listening Squawk from 06:30 on Thursday 28th January 2010. Solent is the second most infringed airspace in the UK. The current list of listening squawks (with Solent from 28/1/2010) around England is:

0010 Birmingham 118.050 MHz
0011 Solent / Bournemouth 120.225 MHz / 119.475 MHz - more details shortly
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
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 teh area or stop monitoring.

New Cap413 & Interactive R/T Guide

15-12-09
A new version of CAP413 has been released, (www.caa.co.uk/cap413) and if you want some practice, don't forget the new shorter CAA interactive guide for G.A. radio users - see/read/hear: http://www.caa.co.uk/cap413supplement3

Two "New from NATS" ideas

29-11-2009
Two 'announcements' from NATS:

NATS have announced an 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/
There's a new DVD released this weekend from NATS. It's free, being distributed up at the The Flying Show, also on a magazine cover this month, available in various other ways soon, including the ability to access it (for free) on a NATS site. Details to follow when it is available onlone. It's 'VFR around the LTMA'. You'll get the London area split into about 6 'legs' and you can download a short video clip 'briefing' on the leg including things to look for and mistakes people make, and 'video fly' the route seeing the chart, good video of the route, and cockpit discussion 'interlaced' as it progresses

Now Get FlyOnTrack HOTNEWS Alerts via Twitter

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

Summary of Future Restrictions - As of 9th November '09

16-11-2009
There is list of relevant information of all types of events which produce airspace restrictions – RAT(s), CAS(T)s, and more – any that produce some sort of temporary restriction – including 'schematics' of the airspace changes where appropriate and available. NEW: Read about the GPS jamming trials around the country, the new Stansted TMZ, Durham-Tees small changes, Honnington ATZ now 'by notam', etc Obviously, more than these listed could exist as the year goes by – this list was compiled for restrictions known at 9th November 2009 for the rest of the year – you must check your NOTAMs on the day, but this is an early 'heads up' on significant events. Click here:Known Airspace Restrictions

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.

Kneeboard Sized Help for Manchester Low Level Route

14-07-2009
There are a number of guides for VFR pilots operating close to controlled airspace around provincial airports around the country, the most famous and perhaps the first was the guide to the Manchester Low Level Route. (The list of guides is on the LINKS page on this site.) Manchester have now another initiative along the same lines - a double sided kneepad 'insert' to help the pilot with the low level route, plenty of advice and photos of what you should be seeing as you progress.
The two sides to the kneeboard insert are here, thanks to the Barton airfield site:
side one
side two

Faxing Flight Plans? New Contact Details

24-01-2009
Faxing flightplans after noon on 28/1/2009? The UK Parent AFTN Facility will move to the Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre as of 28 January 2009 at 1200utc meaning a new number where-ever you are in the UK.Parent AFTN Units at the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre and at Heathrow Flight Briefing Unit will close at this time.

The Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre will manage the Parent AFTN function alongside the ‘flightplanningonline’ facility which uses AFPEx to give you your own online filing system (registration required). Pilots who do not have a ‘flightplanningonline’ account should fax FPL and associated messages to 01489 61 2793 ensuring that they are correctly addressed.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