Why is the London City Control Zone permanent Class D airspace? Pre- 9/11 it was only active when London City airport was open, which meant that at weekends one could fly in Class G airspace without any bother, right up to Vauxhall Bridge. Now, I have to have permission to enter at all times and be given IFR separation from other traffic at night or if vis is less than 5km by day. The class of airspace around Washington DC and New York did little to protect it's contents, so what is being achieved by the UK authorities, apart from further restricting aviation in this country? As a supplementary, what is the basis upon which Heathrow Control Zone is designated Class A airspace?
