Originally Posted by
ShyTorque
The problem I forsee with a remote radar unit guiding aircraft in to Shoreham is that other aircraft around the airfield might not be using that same radar service. Shoreham has an ATZ; there is no controlled airspace around it. A remote radar unit would have no idea if potentially conflicting traffic was on frequency and would have no way (practical or legal) of ensuring they were. The aircraft being vectored would still have to be given standard separation; the only way to ensure this would be a "deconfliction service" resulting in a lot of "break-offs" from the letdown being attempted.
It works in many places around the world, including the UK with the likes of Biggin Hill which as you state, the approach goes into "uncontrolled airspace". Thames will generally vector planes for the ILS for runway 21 at Biggin via London City's zone, before returning them to uncontrolled airspace (for around 4nm) until you reach the ATZ. Planes could well fly between the two zones, completely legally without talking to anyone. But with both primary and secondary radar being available to the controller, they can have a "high degree of certainty" that there is no other conflicting traffic.
I don't see how the clearance being given by the controller in the tower is any safer than by the area controller? In some conditions the controller in the tower may not even be able to see the runway in front of him/her, let alone a plane several miles away, and even so, if it isn't being displayed on their radar screen (as would the area controller) how would they know how high the plane is, or even if it is a definite conflict?