ILS into Farnborough for Blackbushe

[2Donkeys]

I made a not-entirely-unexpected divert into Farnborough yesterday late afternoon when the weather behaved as promised and prevented us getting into Blackbushe.

Super friendly service from both ground and ATC at Farnborough, for which many thanks.

Just one question though. Our opening gambit was to fly the ILS into Farnborough to break cloud and visually position into Blackbushe, but we were told in no uncertain terms that this was Verboten.

Is this because (as it turned out), the cloud base was too low to allow it to be done safely, or is this a commercial consideration?

2D

[Timothy]

When I operated from Fairaoks, Farnborough were always very helpful in providing a radar service putting people overhead, so I doubt if it is a commercial reason (though I must say that at the rates Farnborough charge I can't think why anyone would want to go there, when there is so much choice.)

W

[srs what?]

This was never a problem until TAG took over the airfield and then all cloud breaks etc were stopped. I'd say from that it was fairly obvious.

[2Donkeys]

Any offers from any Farnborough types. According to the locals, this seems to have been acceptable practice until recently...

2D

[Bright-Ling]

My Guess.....

Prob due to the fact that TAG are capped on airport movements as part of their licence. They are not wanting to "waste" their limited number of movements on a missed approach - and probably not receiving any income from it. This is especially true at the weekend when operators are scrabbling for slots.

Politically they are working ahrd in the community in terms of noise abatement. A low level gow-around and "scud-runnning" over the noise sensitive areas of Church Crookham/Fleet would no doubt get the phones ringin! Oh - and TAG have noise/track monitoring equipment in place now as well.

Why not phone the Manager ATS there - he is a new chap who will undoubtedly give you the right answer.

Good luck!

:)

B-L

[goddammit]

good attitude:mad:

i'll be sure to try that one if any of theirs want a cloud -break from us:(

[Bright-Ling]

Welcome to the big bad world of commercialism!!

Anyway, not only was it my guess, but TAG do accept Wx Divs and emergencies. Nothing to stop them landing!!

B-L

[Red Four]

Isn't the change at Blackbushe, rather than Farnborough?

Occasionally see EGLK NOTAMned as closed to traffic due to adverse WX;

I'm probably wrong, but thought this is done by the Aerodrome owner as a result of CAA comments following investigation of Be200 crash some time ago, that had taken off in obviously foggy conditions.

[High Wing Drifter]

Blackbushe recently introduced a lower cloud base limit of 800' AAL. That maybe one reason.

[Barny F Rough]

Apparently, there is an agreement between Blackbushe and Farnborough that prohibits cloudbreaks for safety reasons. But TAG have also said that there shouldn't be any cloudbreaks at all. But when the weather is that bad anyway, Blackbushe normally close to fix winged traffic anyway.

TAG have said that they will not charge landing fees to aircraft that need to divert for weather. So why take the risk? Go to Farnborough and avoid exorbitant landing fees.

But you can do a practice ILS, and there is nothing to stop you from asking for one. Just don't mention the word cloud-break! And if you can't do an ILS, ask for a practice SRA.

But be sensible. You'll be flying over Farnborough town at less than a 1000'. Both LF and LK have noise restricted areas - and there is noise monitoring by Rushmoor council. And if you suddenly go back into cloud, you could get stiched.

So just land at Farnborough...

Barny

[ATCOJ30]

Back in 1977 I was a very junior ATCO4 ar Farnborough and got a mega-b******ing from my elderly Supervisor for keeping the LARS (or whatever it was called then) open a few minutes after the 1730-closing time, having accepted a C340 for a cloud-break into the 'Bushe on a lousy wet winter evening, as it dropped out of the TMA. I seem to remember we could descend traffic to 1000 ft on the EGLK QFE only then, on the SSR-less AR1/232.

'Guess the universal advent of SMS in ATC has made assessing the "risks" of procedures like that a serious necessity in case it all goes horribly wrong?

Just throught I'd throw in that worthless anecdote....

[2Donkeys]

Thanks for the replies.

I think reading between the lines my question has been answered.

2D