Radar service across English Channel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: london
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Radar service across English Channel
interested in people's risk attitude in the following situation;
Channel Crossing, IMC rated, cloud base broken 2000 ft all the way to destination. Do you for the crossing:
A) stay VFR in sight
B) go IMC qudrantrals (and descend at the FIR, officer)
c) go IMC semi circular (and descend at the FIR, officer)
(Assume VFR on top not possible)
The reason this got me thinking;
1) what if someone doing the same in opposite direction (with an IR or EIR) and picks the opposite cruising rule
2) farnrbough east lars coverage runs out at lYdd, and Manston is gone, so who do you get a radar service for the cloud break whilst in London fir?
Channel Crossing, IMC rated, cloud base broken 2000 ft all the way to destination. Do you for the crossing:
A) stay VFR in sight
B) go IMC qudrantrals (and descend at the FIR, officer)
c) go IMC semi circular (and descend at the FIR, officer)
(Assume VFR on top not possible)
The reason this got me thinking;
1) what if someone doing the same in opposite direction (with an IR or EIR) and picks the opposite cruising rule
2) farnrbough east lars coverage runs out at lYdd, and Manston is gone, so who do you get a radar service for the cloud break whilst in London fir?
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Sure ... but there are no floatplanes to rent round here 
I'm quite happy to fly at 100' over the sea when wearing floats (or whatever the minimum height for not upsetting the local whales is).
I'm quite happy to fly at 100' over the sea when wearing floats (or whatever the minimum height for not upsetting the local whales is).
If you make the crossing on some random line (ie not from VOR to VOR) the chances of bumping into anyone are very small so choose your height according to taste and Her Majesty's regulations.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The World
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hm, UK IMC rated can only be executed in the UK, or? This would mean at the middle of the channel you leave UK airspace (IMC rated IFR allowed) and enter i.e. France airspace (EASA land with no IMC rating). This would clearly mark stay VFR as only option.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: London
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
E) Bin the cross-channel plan and either pick an inland route to practice IMC/shoot an odd ILS, or stay on the ground altogether and impress chicks in the bar by some pilot talk.
or:
F) Take advantage of the new CBM-IR, complete the course and go L10 RINTI TRACA etc. at FL90
Seriously, I wouldn't go in these conditions or if they became apparent in flight, I would start planning a diversion = back to England.
/h88
or:
F) Take advantage of the new CBM-IR, complete the course and go L10 RINTI TRACA etc. at FL90
Seriously, I wouldn't go in these conditions or if they became apparent in flight, I would start planning a diversion = back to England.
/h88
Last edited by hegemon88; 22nd Sep 2014 at 07:32. Reason: I fly singles and assume OP does, too
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have crossed the channel twice in the last week between Cherbourg to Solent, both times each side reporting VFR, both times I was on instruments for a good portion of the crossing due to dense haze where the only thing a I could see occasionally was the water by looking down out the side window no visual horizon at all. I can totally see how folks get caught out and end up in trouble.
Last edited by piperboy84; 22nd Sep 2014 at 08:42.
