Originally Posted by
xrayalpha
Dear all,
Through the BMAA, Strathaven Airfield has now started what I hope will be a dialogue with Glasgow ATC to see how we can best mitigate any safety aspects of this.
I would ask three things - I can only ask, we are a small airfield in uncontrolled airspace not far outside Glasgow's zone:
The first is to remember that we are at 847ft amsl. Our circuit height is 1,000ft and so the downwind leg is at 1,847ft amsl. I know a typical Glasgow request has been, in the past, remain clear of controlled airspace and not above 2,000ft on the QNH.
THIS WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH OUR CIRCUIT!
The second is that we use Safety.com - 135.475 - as our frequency. It is for aircraft to aircraft use, so do not expect a reply from the ground. And we may have non-radio aircraft operating here. So no reply does not mean no traffic!
(as a suggestion, while the approved format is to start with the airfield name and then add message, we would suggest ending with the airfield name too - because people often don't hear the first word)
The third one is for those going through the corridor between Prestwick and Hunterston. Please keep a very very good lookout. This is obviously going to be a much busier piece of airspace than usual.
Hopefully we will all have a happy summer and Glasgow's six new recruits will settle in well.
Whilst I do not disagree with any of this advice, I must point out that while Glasgow ATC has the authority to ask you to remain outside controlled airspace, it has no authority to ask you to remain below 2000ft QNH in the immediate vicinity of Strathaven. The base of controlled airspace above and to the south of the airfield is 4500ft and just to the north it is 3500ft.
Regarding the area around Hunterston, there is a real problem here if the couldbase does not allow you to fly over 2000ft. There is effectively no gap between the Hunterston restricted zone and the Glasgow zone to the NE so if no clearance is given by Glasgow, you will be forced to fly out to sea to the west- not an enviable place to be in a single engined aircraft.
Finally, I agree that the uncontrolled airspace between Prestwick and Glasgow will become busier in the absence of Glasgow clearances. So as well as keeping a good lookout could I ask all pilots to switch on any lights/strobes they have and transponders or other electronic conspicuity devices- more and more aircraft are beng fitted with FLARM, PilotAware etc.