Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
#1592221
I am not sure if I have missed this as a thread topic, but I have just received an email reminder as below and thought it worth bringing to the attention of those here with unlicensed airstrips that might wish to take part in the NATS survey:

A survey to validate the list of various unlicensed airfields and aerial sporting activity locations published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and depicted on CAA VFR charts is being conducted. The reason for this survey is to establish whether existing published sites in the AIP are still current, operating, accurately reflected in AIS products, and to identify a principal point of contact for each site. Upon closure of this survey (planned) 28/02/2018, the CAA will establish criteria for what constitutes a ‘significant’ activity at unlicensed sites, and subsequently arrange for the revision of all future AIS products based on that criteria. All site owners or landowners where established aircraft and/or aerial sporting activities at unlicensed sites are requested to take part in this survey by completing the UK Unlicensed and Uncertificated Aeronautical Sites form. (link below):

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/vfrch ... 0Sites.pdf

Unlicensed sites which fail to complete this survey by 28/02/2018 may result in a location that is currently published in the AIP, and depicted on CAA VFR charts, being removed from future AIS products, including CAA VFR charts.
User avatar
By T67M
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1592266
CloudHound wrote:Now extended deadline to 7th March 2018. We're still not replying!


Would you care to explain why? The implication is that those unlicensed airfields, microlight bases, balloon launch sites and glider sites who don't reply will "disappear" from the official sources of information, and thus they will have even less protection for their aerial activities, and even greater chance of causing an avoidable airprox or worse.
User avatar
By Dave W
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1592343
Pete, FPLs from/to strips not on charts or in a CAA database are common; that's not something to be concerned about. "ZZZZ" and the strip name in Field 18 works fine.

Sometimes the foreign air trafficker queries the destination due to the lack of an ICAO code, but that's not the same issue and anyway my experience is that replying "...a private strip near EGHA" satisfies them.
By johnm
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1592358
mmcp42 wrote:just as well this came up (thanks to OP!)
out local strip wasn't aware
typical CAA - your problem! :evil:



Well yes, if they aren't issuing a licence they have no idea whether it's still in use or not. Moreover they will not necessarily have any access to contact details that are up to date.

A survey is a reasonable way of getting that data up to date and reliable, and positively offered by the data subject which it needs to be in order to comply with GDPR.
#1592359
johnm wrote:
mmcp42 wrote:just as well this came up (thanks to OP!)
out local strip wasn't aware
typical CAA - your problem! :evil:



Well yes, if they aren't issuing a licence they have no idea whether it's still in use or not. Moreover they will not necessarily have any access to contact details that are up to date.

A survey is a reasonable way of getting that data up to date and reliable, and positively offered by the data subject which it needs to be in order to comply with GDPR.


strips only been there 30 years
same owner
on the CAA charts all that time
yet they don't have contact info?
or are trying to save the cost of an (e)stamp!
#1592365
mmcp42 wrote:
johnm wrote:
mmcp42 wrote:just as well this came up (thanks to OP!)
out local strip wasn't aware
typical CAA - your problem! :evil:



Well yes, if they aren't issuing a licence they have no idea whether it's still in use or not. Moreover they will not necessarily have any access to contact details that are up to date.

A survey is a reasonable way of getting that data up to date and reliable, and positively offered by the data subject which it needs to be in order to comply with GDPR.


strips only been there 30 years
same owner
on the CAA charts all that time
yet they don't have contact info?
or are trying to save the cost of an (e)stamp!


In their defence we had a diversion last year after a declared emergency through D&D. The follow up phone call to the airfield to check all ok went to the previous owners contact details. That has since been corrected but to my mind it makes it justified in them undertaking the survey.

Link to CAA Statement on the survey.

All the small airfields are listed in UK IAIP Section ENR 5.5