Army threat to Dornoch Airfield at weekend(s)
The air danger area - D703 - is marked on the chart as having byelaws associated with it, that prevent entry. But those are the 1937 byelaws, which only apply to the area shown in those byelaws. they don't apply to the rest of D703.
The byelaws do not prevent operation in the Dornoch circuit pattern.
Just remind them that THEY are responsible for ensuring the safety of THEIR operation, and that firing must be stopped if their operation even looks like becoming unsafe, and then tell them firmly to SOD OFF!
MJ
Ps. I remember in another life flying regularly into Dornoch. At the time there was no facility for tying aircraft down for overnight stays, and the Council were asked to install some tie down rings.
To our amazement some workmen arrived shortly afterwards and concreted two metal rings into the apron.
On closer inspection, we found, to our dismay, that they were installed about 50m apart and weighed about half a ton each!
Are they still there?
Last edited by Mach Jump; 18th Nov 2014 at 02:42. Reason: Added Ps.
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Yes but in the Tain case the danger of bombs being dropped on you/ricochets from cannon fire etc applies only to the surface danger area; the air danger area is there to protect the range circuit patterns from other air traffic - it's not there to stop bombs falling on the good people of Dornoch.
Thread Starter
This notice has now appeared at Dornoch:
Dornoch Airfield Departures
Dornoch Airfield lies within EGD 703 Tain Air Weapons Range and permission must be sought prior to departure
PROCEDURE
Personnel are to contact Tain AWR Tel 01862 892185 or on Frequency 122.75 prior to departure, and pass departure details. In the event that no communication can be established with Tain AWR, contact is to be made with RAF Lossiemouth ATC on 01343 817426 to establish status of EGD703 prior to departure.
Dornoch Airfield lies within EGD 703 Tain Air Weapons Range and permission must be sought prior to departure
PROCEDURE
Personnel are to contact Tain AWR Tel 01862 892185 or on Frequency 122.75 prior to departure, and pass departure details. In the event that no communication can be established with Tain AWR, contact is to be made with RAF Lossiemouth ATC on 01343 817426 to establish status of EGD703 prior to departure.
Last edited by Maoraigh1; 22nd Nov 2014 at 09:58. Reason: Spaces
This notice has now appeared at Dornoch....
As the airfield operators seem to have rolled over, and made it a condition of the use of the airfield that departing aircraft do not operate within EGD703 without a clearance from either Tain AWR, or RAF Lossemouth, then that trumps any geographical limitation of the Byelaws.......... for departures.
Check the PPR information for a similar condition for arrivals.
MJ
Thread Starter
As the airfield operators seem to have rolled over,
PS. in February the RAF said there would be ATC cover when live firing was taking place.
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D703 extends significantly to the north of Dornoch airfield and as we know is active during weekdays, presumably for fast jet traffic. Do we know why the Army/RAF now want such a large area active during weekends as well? If this is for small arms, mortars, etc? Can we negotiate a smaller area for weekends? The MOD can't argue that the area needs to cover the Dornoch peninsula for safety reasons as members of the public use the beaches and the golf courses, not to mention the caravan site and these are all in D703. A an area that would allow a tight RHS circuit off 09 would not seem to be a big ask.
Thread Starter
Good News
Thanks to John Brady of the LAA and everyone else who contacted MPs etc.
a rather zealous controller over-dramatized the situation.
There will, therefore, be no changes in the foreseeable future that will affect the local GA community.
There will, therefore, be no changes in the foreseeable future that will affect the local GA community.
Make sure they take down the sign though. If they don't you are still restricted.
MJ
Thread Starter
New signs have beeninstalled by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation at Dornoch airfield
There are safety concerns, as Safetycom 135.475 is used at Dornoch when the Range is not active, but they imply the Range frequency is in use all the time.
They have the same legal status as an A4 sheet stuck without permision to a terminal wall at Heathrow saying "Non-radio aircraft are welcome provided they join overhead at 1500' QFE and follow the instructions on the Signals Square"
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Funny that considering that initially I believe that the user of the based aircraft wanted the signs placed at the hold but the highland council said no and that they had to be placed upon the shed where landing fees should be paid. I believe that there have been at least 3 or 4 dasors submitted this summer due to aircraft infringing the danger area. At least one of these could quite easily have ended up being a near miss with a tornado if it had not been for the military controllers actions. Maybe it would be a good idea for the highland council to ask the military to log all movements in and out of Dornoch for statistics purposes and to compare against the landing fees register. The sign can't be too bad an idea as I believe that one of the other local airfields as asked to have similar produced for display.
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And just as we thought this over-zealous MoD action had been dealt with, take a look at this:
and
The "Dornoch" location is on the A9 at the south end of the Dornoch Firth bridge and just inside D703. The Fearn location is at Cadboll, about 1.5nm NE of Easter airstrip and also just inside D703.
Q) EGPX/QWULW/IV/BO/W/000/005/5750N00407W001
B) FROM: 14/12/01 07:00C) TO: 15/01/04 16:30
E) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS OPERATING WI 1NM RADIUS LOCATION 575005N 0040632W (DORNOCH, HIGHLAND). ON-SITE CTC 07738 179046.
14-12-0094/AS6
LOWER: SFC
UPPER: 500FT AMSL
SCHEDULE: 0700-1630
B) FROM: 14/12/01 07:00C) TO: 15/01/04 16:30
E) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS OPERATING WI 1NM RADIUS LOCATION 575005N 0040632W (DORNOCH, HIGHLAND). ON-SITE CTC 07738 179046.
14-12-0094/AS6
LOWER: SFC
UPPER: 500FT AMSL
SCHEDULE: 0700-1630
Q) EGPX/QWULW/IV/BO/W/000/005/5746N00354W001
B) FROM: 14/12/01 07:00C) TO: 14/12/04 16:15
E) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS OPERATING WI 1NM RADIUS LOCATION 574623N 0035359W (FEARN, HIGHLAND). ON-SITE CTC 07738 179046. 14-12-0093/AS 6
LOWER: SFC
UPPER: 500FT AMSL
SCHEDULE: 0700-1615
B) FROM: 14/12/01 07:00C) TO: 14/12/04 16:15
E) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS OPERATING WI 1NM RADIUS LOCATION 574623N 0035359W (FEARN, HIGHLAND). ON-SITE CTC 07738 179046. 14-12-0093/AS 6
LOWER: SFC
UPPER: 500FT AMSL
SCHEDULE: 0700-1615
Thread Starter
I see the need for the signs - but worded to NOT imply this has to be done at all times. eg "If you have not checked Tain Range status." Some people trail in and assemble trikes, and never get near the runway ends, so the apron is a good location. My point was to answer the suggestion the notice was a Highland Council condition of using the airfield.
I did 2 touch and goes there on 23/11. I have a landing card for Dornoch. I didn't phone, but I had checked the NOTAMs on my Android. I used Safetycom.
The UAVs might not be the MOD - there have been a few UAV notifications in the Highland Region lately
I did 2 touch and goes there on 23/11. I have a landing card for Dornoch. I didn't phone, but I had checked the NOTAMs on my Android. I used Safetycom.
The UAVs might not be the MOD - there have been a few UAV notifications in the Highland Region lately
And just as we thought this over-zealous MoD action had been dealt with, take a look at this:
MJ
