Originally Posted by
custardpsc
Coming home it seems to be a little less systematic, one trip handed on to southend for radar, next trip handed to thames radar. Southend were great and we remained in controlled airspace right til stapleford then descent below the TMA. Thames were a little less helpful, had to descend to 4000 DET-LAM which was fine but just before LAM pushed out below the TMA, but still offered a handover / service from Heathrow Radar at 2300 ft OCAS. Would have seemed much more sensible to have been at say 2500, under positive control and above the VFR traffic. At least I didn't get dumped onto London Info which is effectively an enforced IFR cancellation just when you don't need it.
Anyone got any advice or alternative viewpoints ?
My suggestion was to refuse the handover and request handover to london control instead, after all you are in or about to be in their airspace... But what about lost comm in IFR with no VFR weather below MEA ? continue with the flight plan? but there is a possible argument that says the flight plan isn't in the system which is why you get handed off to Info, so you are now a lost comm a/c in the TMA with no flight plan. Not good...
That routing with Thames inbound is the same as they use for all City and Biggin inbounds so it was easy to initally treat you as one of those, however I'm surprised Thames didn't transfer you to Farnborough North on 132.8 as you approached LAM; Farnborough could give you at least traffic service below the LTMA until you got Denham in sight, it's precisely the sort of thing London LARS was designed to do as well as helping pilots to avoid controlled airspace in what is a complex and busy area. You might try working Farnborough on the outbound leg as well. The important thing is, London Control willl not offer you a service below controlled airspace.
As for the IFR flight plan not being in the system; if you got an IFR clearance out of Ostend it will be in the system. When you file the flight plan it goes to IFPS in Brussels and they re-send it to all enroute ATCCs and your departure and destination airfields but not to FIR or places like Thames Radar, Southend or Farnborough. If you do want to try talking to Farnborough either inbound or outbound, you must ensure the plan is addressed to them EGLFZPZX. Get Denham to give them a ring on your behalf as you taxy out if you have chance.