12 Aug 15
To all glider pilots
Dear glider pilot
AIRSPACE SAFETY
UPDATE
Earlier this year we wrote to you with important information about airspace. This letter is an
update and
offers further guidance.
First of all, thanks very much for your contribution so far this year including communicating
with air traffic control where appropriate. We have received feedback that the number of
awareness radio calls at airfields with instrument traffic is increasing and the quality of radio
communication is improving. Geoff Brown’s excellent work on airspace files now makes it
much easier for us to see ATZs, frequencies and ILS ‘feathers’ on our moving map software.
That awareness really helps.
During meetings with the military this year, we have discussed a number of military/glider
proximity hot spots, including around Linton-on-Ouse, Odiham and Benson. Military airfields
are busiest during week days, many have procedural traffic and some have fast jet traffic.
The same precautions we take with their civilian counterparts apply including avoiding
overheads and approaches if we can, and talking to ATC if we can’t or are close by. Clubs
whose pilots regularly fly past Lakenheath are Mildenhall are liaising with USAF air traffic
controllers with the aim of improving awareness. As pilots, we can each learn which airfields
are likely to be busy and which are almost inactive.
We are trying to educate air traffic controllers about how, for soaring pilots concentrating as
they must on a number of tasks including staying airborne, radio calls can be very
distracting. The problems with using a phone while driving are well known. When providing
an awareness radio call, all that should be required from the glider pilots having made
contact is something like ‘For your information glider XYZ is 3 miles east of your airfield
climbing in a thermal at 3000’ and is then heading south. No service required.’ The better
informed air traffic controllers will simply thank you for the call. Others may attempt to
impose a service on you, which you don’t need to take if you are outside an ATZ or
controlled airspace.
A recent helpful discussion with Gloucester airport has identified that when the Cheltenham
East (CHE) TP is used by thermal soaring cross-country gliders, there is a potential for
significant disruption to approach or departure traffic. Any TP with an ILS feather across it is
probably best avoided. If it is offered a planned task, why not challenge that decision?
Thanks for taking the time to read this. As noted earlier this year, if we all follow good
practice, we can maintain risk at a reasonable level, demonstrate that gliders do not pose
the level of risk that some incorrectly assume, and have a much better case to oppose future
airspace grabs. In operating as responsible airspace users, we should always remember
that the old maxim of aviate, navigate, communicate (in that order) still holds true. There is
certainly no sense in losing situational awareness in a gaggle while fiddling with a radio. But
the more we can communicate responsibly, the less likely we are to come into conflict with
traffic which might otherwise look for more controlled airspace. Good pilots will strike the
right balance.
Kind regards
John Williams
Sarah Kelman, Andrew Roch
–
Airspace Committee
Mark Holden
–
Competition Committee
Pete Stratten
–
Safety
Committee
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