FLYER Forums

skydriller wrote:I am a big believer that Airspace should be Class G when ATC are not there to manage it. NO ATC, NO controlled airspace.

Regards, SD..

I am pretty sure that Airspace Regulation would agree with you and this is actively enforced in the UK.

James Chan wrote:

I am a big believer that Airspace should be Class G when ATC are not there to manage it. NO ATC, NO controlled airspace.

Yes. I'm not aware of any civilian aerodromes who's airspace remains active after their unit has closed.

Some military ATZs remain active though.

Never could find out if the Solent CTR/CTA still existed when Southampton was closed.
Most not some ATZs around military airfields are H24 if you look at ENR 2.2 and if they have a MATZ, it will only exist when the airfield is open for operational flying ie not when there is only recreational flying or gliding in progress.

James Chan wrote:I'm not aware of any civilian aerodromes who's airspace remains active after their unit has closed

Farnborough:

EGLF AD 2.3 OPERATIONAL HOURS
"Mon-Fri 0700-2200 (0600-2100); Sat, Sun and PH 0800-2000 (0700- 1900)."

AD 2.EGLF-8
"The ATZ is hereby notified as being active H24 for the purposes of Rule 11 of the Rules of the Air Regulations 2015."

Why?

Talkdownman wrote:

James Chan wrote:I'm not aware of any civilian aerodromes who's airspace remains active after their unit has closed

Farnborough:

EGLF AD 2.3 OPERATIONAL HOURS
"Mon-Fri 0700-2200 (0600-2100); Sat, Sun and PH 0800-2000 (0700- 1900)."

AD 2.EGLF-8
"The ATZ is hereby notified as being active H24 for the purposes of Rule 11 of the Rules of the Air Regulations 2015."

Why?

Regardless of the opening hours of the aerodrome, the AIP entry seems to suggest the ATSU is still active, with permission to transit outside certain hours only obtainable by telephone.

Not great.

James Chan wrote:Not great.

It's nonsensical.

Cub wrote:this is actively enforced in the UK.

Nobody is managing this properly.

James Chan wrote:Regardless of the opening hours of the aerodrome, the AIP entry seems to suggest the ATSU is still active, with permission to transit outside certain hours only obtainable by telephone.

Not great.

The same holds true for all military airfields with H24 notification in ENR 2.2.

chevvron wrote:The same holds true for all military airfields with H24 notification in ENR 2.2.

Maybe, but we are talking about a civil airport here which has already 'grabbed' (and wasted) 9 hours-worth of Class G airspace each and every day.

They've also 'grabbed' so much tarmac that they sit on almost 24,000 unused movements every year.

Even if they wanted to fill it, I'm not going to pay their minimum £595 inc.VAT to land there.

108 business aviation movements today at Farnborough, now overtaken Luton as busiest for that sector in the UK

Blimey, that's 7.2/hour over the notified opening period. Time for a tea break.

Mike Tango wrote:Blimey, that's 7.2/hour over the notified opening period. Time for a tea break.

Blimey, that's an eight minute spacing. They could almost do it procedurally...

Beacon outbound... kettle on.

Base turn complete... kettle boiled.

Contact tower... tea brewed.

I know you chaps are not being completely serious, but for others reading this thread, the same controller might also be........carrying out the Approach Radar function at the same time, talking to vehicles, answering outside line telephone calls, controlling the traffic lights of an airside road taxiway crossing (that’s not visible from the seated position), liaising with Approach Radar, if split, for departure clearances and releases, liaising with UK FMP or AFPEX regarding CTOTs and flight plans, talking to TAG ops regarding parking positions, or walking to the edge of the other side of the Tower to see which way a certain aircraft has parked, or is meant to park, or weather it can start an engine before pushback, or any number of other duties. Frequently they are the only person in the VCR.

Yes, it can be quiet, but it can also be very complex as well, given all the extra tasks.

Mike Tango wrote:... kettle on.

... kettle boiled.

.. tea brewed.

Not permitted in operational areas at Farnborough. For the tower controller, getting a cup of tea (and having a pee) means travelling down to the base of the tower, at least a 5 minute excursion.