Planning to fly to Duxford tomorrow (Sunday),nothing to say otherwise on the website.I have been trying to PPR (01223 833376)this afternoon but get no reply.Will try again in the morning.
Is it ok to PPR on the radio if I can't get a response on the phone?

MM

Duxford are a bit 'funny' about PPR over the radio- I wouldn't go if you don't get through to them on the phone. I remember being told this story:

An aircraft arrives at Duxford and asks for joining, the AFIS ask if they have PPR,

the aircraft says something like: 'Well we are asking for it now'

the AFIS comes back: 'Sorry that's not good enough, you need to phone'

aircraft: 'Well if we went and landed at Cambridge and then phoned would that be OK?'

AFIS: 'well maybe, I suppose so'

I don't know how true that is but my impression is that Duxford likes PPR by phone.

Try again in the morning. The telephone brief is essentially no overhead joins and avoid overflying Duxford village. This they feel needs to be told to you in person over the phone. Then you can't say you weren't told!

Another thing:

The first time I went this wasn't made clear in the phone briefing:

They say stay clear of Duxford village, which is to the east of the field; so when I turned up (joining downwind and landing on runway 24) I looked at Duxford village and thought: 'Ah I see I have to turn base between the village and the runway in order to aviod the village.' As I was turning base the AFIS said to me: 'since you are not a Duxford based pilot you are not permitted to turn base between the village and the runway, you have to go all the way round the village.' This suprised me because the way round is quite long and the telephone briefing had not really made that clear.

Don't even think about going unless you've had PPR by phone on the ground before you go.

Funny folk have tried to get PPR by mobile phone in the air.

Doesn't work.

Cusco.:rolleyes:

Contacttower:
I have visited Dux once before and I flew the same base leg as you as it looked a blooming long way around Duxford village,luckily received no slapped wrist from the tower.Reckon I'll take the long way around tomorrow-thanks for the tip:)
MM

Its interesting actually...the AFIS only noticed me doing a tight base on my second approach...what had happened was that I had arrived while an airshow practice was going on and had waited a long time a little way away until the AFIS gave me the all clear to enter the ATZ (OK perhaps overstepping his remit a little but there was a lot traffic around), when I approached at first there was a Tiger Moth in front of me and several other aircraft taxiing so the AFIS operator didn't notice me. It was only after I had gone around (due to the Tiger Moth in front) and repositioned that the operator noticed what I was doing and told me to go around the village.

I hope you get through to them MM, Duxford is a great place (as I'm sure you know!). :)

Modelman
You could go to North Weald tomorrow as they have a fly-in .

G-ANPK

Modelman, just a reminder that you won't be able to get through to the tower before 10:00hrs. Maybe you could drop in at North Weald first and telephone from there if you need to set off early.

Had another great day there with my lad and his pal.

MM

Excellent! :D