Originally Posted by demobcurious
The MoD introduced a PETF (Practice Emergency Training Frequency) in the early 90's (1993 I think), which was just after the 'Options for Change' and 'Front Line First' rounds of spending cuts, when money certainly wasn't around in abundance (compulsory redundancies in several tranches were run).
The PETF is no currently available in the Scottish FIR but the MoD have requested it and will get it.
As far as I'm aware, the receivers etc don't need to be upgraded or need more pipework, but an extra radio box at the other end is required and the ability to transfer the new DF onto their 'big picture' of the UK would need to be installed - hardly bank breaking I'd like to think.
If there was to be a requirement for a civilian PETF then there would be enormous expense in new transmitters and receivers plus the connections to the two area control centres. Plus fitting them into the D&D (or as it will be called A&FC) fixing facility.
Who would pay for this??
The difficult bit would be getting a common freq UK wide.
Actually thats quite simple.
This has recently been discussed in the ATC forum
here
BD