[Marchettiman]

We are flying down to Perranporth in a week's time VFR. Around Exeter there's what used to be an airway aligned Berry Head to Brecon VOR's but now designated as Berry Head CTA. Skydemon doesn't show a frequency. We would like to cross at FL85, maybe higher, does anyone know who to get a crossing clearance from?

[Flyin'Dutch']

London Info 124.5

It's Class A so you will need to have a full IR, and no VFR in Class A. VMC with a clearance maybe.

[malcolmfrost]

AIP ENR 2.1 suggests Cardiff below FL165 125.855.

[GrahamB]

London Info 124.5

It’s 124.75 over here in the western reaches of the Empire, not that they could give you a clearance anyway.

[xtophe]

not that they could give you a clearance anyway.

Indeed.
But, airway controller don't like to be free-called. So you ask London Info who pass your request to the airway controller assistant or the planner. Then London Info relays the clearance and only then you get to call the airway controller

[AlanM]

If Plymouth Mil are in residence you can call them.

If Western Radar are in residence you can call them.

Unfortunately, both are NOTAMd as not providing LARS and closed for 10 months!

JB will be along soon

[Flyin'Dutch']

London Info 124.5

It’s 124.75 over here in the western reaches of the Empire, not that they could give you a clearance anyway.

According to SD 124.5 but of course happy to be corrected!

[condor17]

FD , never trust a 'pooter ....
Brand new 1/2 mil chart , bought today ; says London Info in the West still 124.750..

rgds condor

[G-JWTP]

We are flying down to Perranporth in a week's time VFR. Around Exeter there's what used to be an airway aligned Berry Head to Brecon VOR's but now designated as Berry Head CTA. Skydemon doesn't show a frequency. We would like to cross at FL85, maybe higher, does anyone know who to get a crossing clearance from?

Serious question: Why so high?

G-JWTP

[Flyin'Dutch']

FD , never trust a 'pooter ....
Brand new 1/2 mil chart , bought today ; says London Info in the West still 124.750..

rgds condor

Sorry Team, me bad, more of a matter of 'should have gone to SpecSavers'

[G-JWTP]

Sorry, lost in translation. It's Double Dutch to me.

G-JWTP

[Cub]

It’s Class A so no VFR crossing available

[GrahamB]

not that they could give you a clearance anyway.

Indeed.
But, airway controller don't like to be free-called. So you ask London Info who pass your request to the airway controller assistant or the planner. Then London Info relays the clearance and only then you get to call the airway controller

Not when a sector is delegated to a local ATC unit such as Cardiff. But either way, you won’t get a VFR crossing of Class A airspace.

[James Chan]

First you need to switch to IFR flight because it’s Class A airspace. (There’s a separate programme ongoing to review airspace classifications which should hopefully allow VFR crossings in future)

And then unless procedures have changed recently - London Info or Plymouth LARS (if open and below FL100) or Western MARS (if open and at or above FL100) is probably best positioned to note your details before passing you to an en-route controller.

The airway frequencies listed in ENR may not have the tech setup and/or capacity to take “pop up” transits so will likely pass you to another frequency to begin with.

Also, if you have filed an IFR plan which has been accepted and validated by Eurocontrol then that should smooth things along a bit.

[Ibra]

Call Exeter Tower, they will give you SVFR crossing at FL85 in theory it should not happen as SVFR is only available in CTR, but give it a try and let us know how it goes

With an IR, you can cross it IFR but you will probably need an FPL filed before departure to get that clearance, highly unlikely you can get pop up clearance on en-route segments

VFR will not work, no VFR in Class A !