| ||||||||||||||
Fly On Track - Keeping the G.A. Pilot InformedLast Updated: August 3rd 2008 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: EASA Licensing Consulatation EASA has released the consultation for future flight crew licensing and medicals and comments must be fed to EASA through their official process by Oct 15th 2008. EASA proposes many changes including new licences, changes to training requirements, changes to revalidation, etc, so it has an impact on such things as navigation expertise for new pilots. You can click on the flag on the left to enter the 'consultation page' for EASA, and if so, you would then need to find the pdfs for consultation 2008-17, parts a, b and c, or you can go directly to each one separately here with these links: Part A: Explanatory Notes and Appendices Part B: Proposed Licensing Rules Part C: Medical If you are reading this to find answers for the Autumn 2008 GASCo quiz, you should be checking 'Part B'in the list above | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: Solent Airspace "Picture Guide" Solent (a NATS ATC unit) has a new guide to their airspace, with charts, tips, diagrams, and what makes it extra special are the very clear airborne photographs taken along the Solent Airspace boundary around the CTR and CTA at some of the infringement 'trouble points'. So, just for one example, if you wonder what the western VRP ROMSEY looks like when approaching from the West before you reach the CTR boundary, it's in clear photo form (I can even see my house!) The photos all around the boundaries are superb, and the accompanying advice safe and sound. The guide is now online form, and is being distributed around nearby airfields, so you may well see one in the briefing rooms there. Click on the front page icon on the left to see the guide itself. To contact the authors, perhaps to get some for your club briefing room, the nats domain is 'nats.co.uk' and you need to email to 'souga' at that domain. (A fully clickable link is avoided to reduce the usual problems!) | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: GPS Problem Reporting Site nano is a website for reporting any 'navigation anomalies' when flying with GPS, with the intention of making flying safer, especially for General Aviation pilots. On nano you can report issues such as loss of guidance, position errors, losses of RAIM integrity, database errors, human factor issues and more. You can also comment on others' experiences. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: AIS Recorded Restrictions: NEW International Phone Number The AIS recorded message giving temporary restrictions of flying for the day (eg: warning of Red Arrows displays, upgrades of airspace, etc.) is available on a freephone number 0500-354802 for callers within the UK, and this free number is not itself changing, BUT if you access it from abroad (when normal international rates apply), then the 'fixed line' number number has changed as of June 20th, as AIS has physically moved location within Heathrow. The new number to use from abroad is +44-20-8750-3939. "I say again" - the freephone number itself, 0500-354802, for use within the UK has NOT changed. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: Chart Competition N Scotland East(Qtr-Mil)Winners Winners: Gary Brindle, former glider pilot, and RAF air traffic assistant, who flies a C172 at Inverness, Chris Mitchell of Faringdon, who is building an RV8, and Graham Gibson, who flies a Pegasus Quantum flexwingout of Perth, having got his licnce earlier this year. The next CAA VFR chart issues will be offered in the same way - 3 copies, 3 winners. | |||||||||||||
|
Hot News: Summary of Future Restrictions - as of July 7th, 2008 There is list of relevant information of all types of events - RAT(s), CAS(T)s, West Wales restricted area, Duxford and Old Warden ATZ dates, Red Arrows, all sorts of air shows and festivals throughout the summer Farnborough, RIAT, etc - AND MORE - any that produce some sort of temporary restriction - including 'schematics' of the airspace changes where appropriate. Obviously, more than these listed could exist as the year goes by - this list is as of July 7th, 2008 - you must check your NOTAMs on the day, but this is an early 'heads up' on significant events. Click on the pair of 'eyes' on the left to see what awaits. NB: The RED ARROWS displays have STARTED for 2008, please check NOTAMs and telephone 0500 354802 before every flight and see if we can keep OUT of their way this year! | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News:'Scottish Information' 7401 Squawk NB: Scottish Info has been trialling the Squawk '7401' for a number of weeks, with excellent results, BUT some pilots do not fully appreciate their part in the process. The Scottish Squawk (7401) when talking to “Scottish Information” (Sc Info) on 119.875 MHz is ONLY set by the pilot when asked to do so, and is NOT actioned voluntarily. Likewise, any pilots further South should not use the '1177' London FIS Squawk until so instructed by London Information. These are not 'listening out' squawks, they are given as required by the FIS unit, and are not set until requested. The use of this '7401' code with 'Scottish' does not mean that a radar service is being provided by Sc Info; Sc Info does not have a radar display; it provides a non-radar service. The same applies to '1177' and London Information. However, when asked to squawk '7401' by Scottish, or '1177' by London, remeber to set Mode Charlie if you have it. To read a letter (pdf) to local clubs and flight schools which gives more information, click on the 7401 parrot on the left. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: New Red Arrows Article! Both for safety and security reasons, and also on behalf of the general paying public at Airshows and displays, please let's 'let the Red Arrows perform'. It's not only cancelled displays and anti-GA feeling, can you imagine the problems of suddenly splitting up 9 tightly formatting aircraft at a moment's notice if an infringement happens during the display? Here's some interesting reading for you - there's an article by Pat Malone in the April Issue of AOPA's General Aviation magazine, available from I-AOPA's website: click here to read it in pdf format. This AOPA article complements the piece sent to FlyOnTrack from "Red 10", which you can see read here We've got to stop these 'display busts', it's going to turn the paying public against light aviation if we don't! See the 'pair of eyes' above for a look at all the Red Arrows displays known about at the date indicated, but keep checking NOTAMs and 0500-354802 on the day of your flight in case of changes. | |||||||||||||
|
Hot News: LARS for North Of London NOW HERE A LARS service for North of London has arrived, see NOTAMS and AICs - it's called Farnborough Radar, but it really does give you a service between the Heathrow, Luton and Stansted CTRs - see publicity for actual area and frequency. There are now 3 different Farnborough Radar frequencies depending on where you are around the London area - the one you know and love, a newer one further East you are slowly getting to know, and this brand new one. More details including a schematic of coverage and frequencies are available from a pdf revealed if you click on the yellow smilie on the left! (Note for dial up users, it's nearly 3 meg!) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News:Thames/Gatwick to Have Listening Squawk! The 'listening squawk' trial is spreading. Anyone flying around the Gatwick CTR or near London City BUT remaining outside controlled airspace, not wanting a service, and listening in to Thames or Gatwick will soon have a listening squawk capability. Details such as frequencies and 'start date' to follow. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: EXCLUSIVE for FLY ON TRACK - RADAR REPLAYS! Radar Replay Number 7 Manchester LLR -> CTR Now Available. Thanks to some forward thinking and very cooperative people in NATS, Fly On Track brings you the edited highlights of real Controlled Airspace Infringements, with learning points. You can watch the consequences of a real infringement by a G.A. pilot. There will also be a written commentary on what is happening and why, usually with the pilot's explanation of 'what went wrong' so you can repeat the sequence whilst learning how it all works when something goes wrong and an aircraft infringes. To reach the new clip, click on the radar head on the left. There is a lot to be learned from these replays, (a new one will appear every few weeks until we hopefully run out). They usually make clear the disruption and cost of infringements, but also the reason for Controlled Airspace and how the processes and professional actions of the controllers keep the whole situation safe, if somewhat frustrating for those involved. Click on the image on the left for some sobering thoughts and 'video'. All previous radar replays are still available too via the radar head on the left - the older ones are listed at the bottom of the linked page. Good News: Anecdotal evidence from controllers suggests that a number of infringements have been avoided or kept at 'low impact' by the trial 'squawk code' schemes mentioned below. Hopefully, a 'report' or 'stats' may come out of each trial soon. | |||||||||||||
|
Hot News: Chart Amendment Notifications Did you know you can now get email notification when changes are made which affect your current chart? Register via the CAA site for free notification of chart amendments, (not just 'new charts due out' - this is notification of amendments to the chart you have). For example, you would be notified if a new parachute site springs up 3 months after a new chart has been released, or perhaps a danger area is 'removed', or what about a frequency changing? You get automatic notification so you can change your own chart yourself. Click on the spotlights to get to the CAA site to register. | ||||||||||||||
|
Hot News: SQUAWK 'CHARLIE' There's a new AIC and a Power Point Presentation to point out WHY you should squawk 'Charlie' if available. Click on the parrot to see a copy. If you have a transponder, set it to ALT on 7000 or on any assigned squawk UNLESS the controller tells you specifically not to do so. If they do not mention 'Charlie', then still set it! Now, there is even a power point presentation on WHY Mode C is needed. Click HERE to view. | |||||||||||||
|
Hot News:Transponder Trials - Manchester, Luton Stansted Manchester is already trialing a new idea - a listening out squawk for pilots flying within 5 miles of the Manchester CTR boundary (outside it, of course!) and also monitoring Manchester Approach 118.575 MHz just as a "listening watch" - without actually talking to Manchester - you are asked to Squawk 7366 (Charlie if possible) to show you are listening in. (NB: The listening-out frequency has changed during the trial! You are not in receipt of any formal service, you cannot cross into controlled airspace, but of course you can be 'addressed' if there is any reason to do so as ATC know which frequency you are listening out on! Remember to squawk 7000 (Charlie if possible) as you move further away from the boundary, or if you switch to a different frequency. Luton and Stansted will be bringing in a similar new procedure from Monday 12th February 2007 for pilots close to (but outside) controlled airspace around Luton and Stansted and listening out. You will be able to select squawk 0013 (prefereably with Charlie) to show you are listening in to either Luton Radar on 129.550 MHz or Essex Radar on 120.625 MHz but have not contacted them. Same rules apply as for Manchester, no service, no entry, and Squawk 7000C when moving away or changing frequency, you can click on the 0013 squawk on the left to see you will see the provisional text of the AIC from a discussion forum. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News:London Information Squawk 1177C When Instructed! Anyone receiving a Flight Information Service from LONDON INFORMATION will be asked by them to squawk 1177 (with Charlie if possible) at the moment in a trial, whilst receiving the flight information service. This 1177 should only be set when asked to do. How will that reduce Airspace Infringements? Click on the 1177 squawk on the left to read a pdf about it. Remember that London FIS do not have a radar screen, so it is important that you are even more careful about setting and then checking the digits you have set. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: Stats for Investigations Available By kind permission of the CAA, the annual statistics (2003 - 2007 ytd) for airpsace infringement formal investigations are available, with accompanying explanatory notes. Click on the frowning face to be positioned on the data. | |||||||||||||
|
|
Hot News: Revamped LINKS and TIPS on this site, plus 'freebie'! The AIWG has produced a "reminder" to fit on your kneepad - preflight and airborne reminders, but also a 'mask' for a radio call to cross any control zone, ATZ, etc for when you get tongue-tied. Click on the image on the left to see the new 'freebie'. You can use this pdf, but you will be seeing these kneepad inserts distributed free with magazines, safety evenings, etc over the next few weeks. To go with this initiative, a new section TIPS has been added to the tags above, and the LINKS page has been refreshed and grouped into logical sections. Click on the tags above, highlighted in yellow to see the new pages. | |||||||||||||
 |
The General Aviation Airspace Infringements Website Two free checks before flight: |
Did You Know?How Much a 'break off' costs a 747? If you don't, there's a new poster to tell you - go to the 'infringer stats' tag above and read towards the bottom of the page.How to find Chart Updates Between Chart Issues? The list of amendments or errors or recent changes since chart publication on any of the 3 UK half-million charts can be found hereon the CAA website. The equivalent list of amendments or errors for the quarter-mil series can be found here. | ||||||||||||
