New Listening Squawks

Posted by flysynergy on May 22, 2012 in Flight Safety, GA News | Comments Off on New Listening Squawks Information below correct at time of publishing. For the latest information on listening squawks please visit www.flyontrack.co.uk New Codes For Leeds Bradford & East Midlands Frequency Monitoring Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) codes (often referred to as ‘listening out’ squawks) are soon to be allocated for use in the vicinity of Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced. The codes will become effective from 28 May 2012 for Leeds Bradford, and 30 June 2012 for East Midlands.  The two new codes will take the total number of frequency monitoring codes across the UK to nine. The code for Leeds Bradford will be 2677 and the radio frequency to monitor is 133.125 MHz, while for East Midlands the code will be 4572 and the radio frequency 134.175 MHz.  An Information Notice (2012/082) with more details has been published by the CAA. How To Use Listening Squawks Frequency monitoring codes have played a vital role in reducing infringements of controlled airspace (CAS) by enabling air traffic controllers to alert pilots if their aircraft appears to be going to infringe CAS. Any aircraft fitted with a Mode A/C or Mode S SSR transponder can use these codes. The listening squawks are designed to enable pilots flying near the boundary of controlled airspace, who are not in two-way communication with an ATSU, to listen out on the controlling frequency of the airspace. By entering the relevant four-digit SSR code into the transponder and listening to the published radio frequency, a pilot signifies to air traffic control that he/she is actively monitoring radio transmissions. If it looks likely an aircraft will infringe controlled airspace, ATC know that they can contact the pilot on the relevant frequency and pass further information as appropriate to the pilot. The Current List Belfast Aldergrove / 7045 / 128.500 MHz Leeds Bradford / 2672 / 133.125 MHz Doncaster Sheffield / 6170 / 126.225 MHz Manchester / 7366 / 118.575 MHz East Midlands / 4572 / 134.175 MHz Birmingham / 0010 / 118.050 MHz Luton & Stansted / 0013 / 129.550 MHz (LTN) & 120.635 MHz (STD) Gatwick & London City / 0012 / 126.825 MHz (LGW) & 132.700 MHz (LCY) Southampton & Bournemouth / 0011 / 120.225 MHz (SOU) & 119.475 MHz (BOH) Olympic Squawk For Farnborough The CAA also announced that a code is being introduced for use by Farnborough Airport for the duration of the London 2012 Olympics.  From...
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‘Centre of excellence’ at Cambridge.

Posted by flysynergy on May 15, 2012 in GA News | 0 comments The owners of Cambridge airport, the Marshall Group, are investing £20 million to expand the airport by developing on the green field site to the south side of the runway, aiming to transform the airport into a vibrant business hub.   Included in the plans are a construction of a new taxiway and major rehabilitation of the runway, in conjunction with improved drainage to deliver additional environmental benefits. The positioning of the airport is a key ingredient to its planned success. With Cambridgeshire and Suffolk both leading the UK research and development industry, there is demand for quick and easy access to key financial and industry cities in Europe. Archie Garden, airport director of Cambridge explains how he is keen to attract new businesses to the airport, "All our buildings are currently full but we'd like to entice new tenants to the airport which will support the on-going development of Cambridge Airport as a leading centre of excellence for aviation. We have the land available to the south side of the airport and this is driving the next phase of our strategy to develop new buildings in the area." The large runway, complete with full ATC and airport services, makes it suitable for jets up to B757 and ACT/A320 size and therefore offers itself as an uncongested gateway for business and commercial aviation. From May, the airport also welcomes Saturday services to Jersey with ATR42 aircraft and from September, flights to Burgundy (France) are scheduled to operate twice-weekly. There are also high hopes for Cambridge during the Olympic period as it is one of only five regional airports in the UK capable of accepting business and passenger services with a 24/7 slot...
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CAA Approves Cranfield Instrument Approach

Posted by flysynergy on May 10, 2012 in GA News | Comments Off on CAA Approves Cranfield Instrument Approach The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a proposal from Cranfield Airport to introduce Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPs) to Runway 03 at the airport. The IAPs will consist of a NDB/DME and a RNAV (Global Navigation Satellite System) procedure. The CAA has made the change in order to provide a full instrument approach capability to Runway 03. The current arrangement requires that, when the runway is in use, aircraft must make an instrument approach to Runway 21 followed by a visual circling manoeuvre to land on Runway 03. In comparison, the new procedures will make landing at Cranfield easier and safer. Stuart Lindsey, Head of the Controlled Airspace Section at the CAA, said: “The new procedures at Cranfield will significantly improve the airport’s ability to carry out operations in poor weather conditions.” The airspace change approval follows an extensive consultation carried out by the airport. The CAA considers that the introduction of the IAPs is likely to have a negligible impact on local airspace users and the non-aviation community in the area, but nonetheless the change will be subject to a review after the IAPs have been in place for a year. The NDB/DME procedure is planned to implemented on 28 June 2012 and the RNAV (GNSS) procedures on 26 July 2012. Charts showing the new IAPs will be available on the Aeronautical Information Service website www.ais.org.uk 28 days before the implementation dates. The CAA has also published its official decision letter explaining the change. Source: CAA...
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Farnborough Airshow

Posted by flysynergy on May 3, 2012 in GA News | Comments Off on Farnborough Airshow While understandably most people’s focus this summer will be on the Olympics and its associated airspace restrictions and changes, the UK is also hosting the world’s biggest trade airshow, which has its own airspace changes and restrictions. Although the organisers moved the date to deconflict with the Olympics, the security airspace does overlap with the show and then runs consecutively into the temporary CAS supporting the Games. The Important Part From 1 July onwards be sure to keep a close eye on the NOTAMs. These will indicate the periods of time when the Temporary Restricted Airspace RA(T) that is being put in place to protect Farnborough airshow traffic will be active. This airspace will either take the form of the 'Small RA(T)' or the 'Large RA(T)'. The smaller restriction is designed to protect the arrivals and departure of airshow traffic with the larger airspace reserved for the flying displays themselves. Graphical charts depicting these two RA(T)s can be found by clicking on the links above. These are currently draft versions until published in Statutory Instrument. The Finer Details So, what will be in place at Farnborough? ATC briefs as follows: Firstly, on 2 July, the airshow validation week (2 July – 7 July) starts. Every aircraft flying as part of the show must demonstrate their displays, including good weather (High) and bad weather (Low) versions, and the transition between the two, in front of a rigorous approval committee called the Flying Control Committee. Pilots must prove they can fly their selected display safely and that the displays are suitable for the difficult flying restrictions imposed by the geography of Farnborough, the neighbouring airfields and the presence of large amounts of permanent Class A controlled airspace. If they fail any element they will be either asked to modify the routine, demonstrate it again or have their invitation to display revoked. This process is obviously extremely important and to protect the operation a Restricted Airspace (Temporary) RA (T) will be put in place, but the WOD-OCK corridor is opened to allow GA transit access, subject to ATC workload. The nature of validation means that inadvertent infringement of the airspace will normally involve stopping the display. With over 50 aircraft required to demonstrate over 100 displays, the effects can be catastrophic for timetabling even to the extent of cancelling parts of the display. So we really need people to be briefed and alert if you are...
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Southend & EasyJet Ops

Posted by flysynergy on Apr 28, 2012 in GA News | Comments Off on Southend & EasyJet Ops EasyJet operations from Southend began during the first week in April with three Airbus A-319s operating about 70 departures and 70 arrivals per week. Southend has installed radar and SSR and it would be sensible to give them a call if you are flying locally or passing through their area. There is no new controlled airspace so these aircraft will be operating in Class G on arrival and departure but you can make the area safer by just letting them know you are there. This map shows the approaches and departures from Southend. Although routing will depend on clearance into CAS, departures are likely to follow the blue lines on the chart and arrivals the brown dashed lines. The final approaches on the runway centrelines are marked on the VFR charts and are an area you may want to take particular care in.  As ever the first wave of the day is likely to leave Southend before 0800 local and return around 1000.  Depart again before 1100, returning and leaving again between 1530 and 1700 and finally returning after dark. So there are some specifically busy windows during the day; mid morning and mid to late afternoon. To help you, easyJet aircraft will minimise the time spent in Class G airspace by holding on the ground until they expect to be given a clearance to enter controlled airspace and they will limit their speed to 220 kts in Class G. If they are held below CAS they will maintain altitude 3000ft. Arrivals will stay in CAS as long as possible but they will have to descend before reaching final, either for an ILS or visual approach. And they have helpfully painted their aircraft bright orange so they are easier for you to see. They want to stay clear of us so let’s help them by talking to Southend whenever we are in that corner of the country. They are waiting for your call on 130.775 ….. Give them a try. Source: Light Aircraft...
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Diamond Jubilee Flypast

Posted by flysynergy on Apr 23, 2012 in GA News | 0 comments The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a request from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to impose a Temporary Airspace Restriction around a large military flypast over Windsor on Saturday 19 May 2012 to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The flypast will comprise two separate aircraft formations – nine Typhoon fighter jets open the event, followed later by a large mixed formation which will include two formations of Tucano and Hawk aircraft; The Red Arrows; and aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. In all there will be a total of 85 aircraft taking part in the flypasts. Two Temporary Airspace Restrictions or RA(T)s will be in force from 09:30 to 11:30 hours (UTC) and from 09:50 to 11:50 hours (UTC) on 19 May and affect a broad corridor of airspace from the South Coast to west London, corresponding to the route the formation will fly to reach Windsor, and then to the north and northwest of Windsor to facilitate the dispersal of the aircraft. The RA(T) can be viewed and downloaded from this chart. The CAA said the RA(T)s would be necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft involved in the formation as well as that of other airspace users. The MoD will be carrying out practice runs over the west coast of North Wales between 10:00 and 12:00 on 15 and 16 May. Impact On Fairoaks Part of the RA(T) consists of Area C which is located immediately south of the Fairoaks ATZ and is active from 09:30 to 11:30 UTC. It extends from SFC-2500 AMSL and will result in all operations from Fairoaks being subject to clearance from Swanwick Military. Recent discussions with the CAA Airspace Utilisation Section have indicated that such a clearance is extremely unlikely and as a result, unless there is any further change, the airfield management has little choice but to temporarily close the ATZ to traffic for the period 09:30 - 11:30 UTC on Saturday 19 May. Operations will still be running as normal either side of these times. Extra pre-flight planning should be taken by those intending to depart Fairoaks before the 09:30 UTC closure, to ensure their planned route does not pass through any of the RA(T) which stretches south of Fairoaks towards Goodwood and also north of the Heathrow CTR towards Oxford. Full information on the flypast is available from the following Aeronautical Information Circulars. AIC M 041/2012: "Restriction of...
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