Panshanger Radio

[bladewashout]

Does anyone else have difficulty communicating with Panshanger radio?

I've used several aircraft going through / round their space, and their radio can be almost unreadable (readability 2?) from 2000ft, 3 or 4 miles away.

Earlier this weekend, someone responded to a first call-in with decidedly un-aeronautical RT - very much as if someone was hijacking their frequency.

I was about to tell them I had changed my mind about going through the overhead because I couldn't be sure I was actually talking to a proper RT operator when a second responder (when I was querying whether this was actually the panshanger radio operator) was very clear and helpful, but I think it was someone on the field with an aircraft. I never did figure out who the first response had come from!

It's quite tight in that area between Luton and Stansted, and I think it's safer to go over them at about 2300 ft than risk either flight over the towns to the east or people on long finals, but they have been difficult to get clear comms with.

BW

[Trueblueflyingdog]

Hi

I regularly fly from Panshanger and never have an issue with coms. I dont really understand why the problem arose however recommend trying again sometime.

TB

[A and C]

I would suspect that the radio opperator was called away from the "tower" and was using a handheld radio.

[student88]

I've had problems with their radio - contacted them and they aknowledged my overhead, told them I was leaving frequency for Stapleford with no reply. Repeated numerous times with no reply at all - dead air. Needless to say I left the freq. anyway and went onto Stapleford.

[AC-DC]

Panshanger is Air/Ground, they want they answer you, they don't they won't answer answer you. Also the operator is a very laid back person that doesn't pay too much attention to formalities.

[TCAS FAN]

AC-DC

I hope that he doesn't consider CAP 413 as a formality, if so he shouldn't be using the frequency.

[767bill]

They are mostly mildy annoyed if you speak to them.
Try asking them for a FIS, that'll get a response and some genuine annoyance:- not available were're an A/G radio only! - which is of course quite right.
In fact it's easy enough to understand them. They run a small airfield close to Luton CTA and if you're going overhead you can do so at 2,300 or 2,400 without having to contact them. Look out for other a/c going the other way!;). You can also contact Luton and request a FIS or RIS - you'll be lucky but worth trying.
I like Panshanger; nice runway and friendly people, try visiting sometime. One of the few airfields around where you can sometimes land and takeoff without having to actually speak to a controller, just broadcasting your progress on a working radio and keeping a good lookout.