karrank
30th Jan 2004, 11:32
Have been reading the ATSB report on the Launy E airspace incident. At one point the light aircraft pilot notes the jet is on the 009 radial, so makes himself safe by moving to the 007, then expresses surprise that the jet passes on his left. Is there anybody else out there that believes that 2 degrees inside 30nm separation makes?
Two degress seperation at 30 nm will only give you a mile between the aircraft. For avoiding CTA using a VOR you would need to use 5.2 deg, or 2 nm @ 2-5000 ft, 4 nm 5-10000 ft (by day). We dont have a lot of VOR/DME check points on taxiways around the place (common overseas), how accurate was his VOR prior to departure ?
300+KIAS closure, one level, one at 1000-3000 fpm descent, 1 nm seperation would not be smart.
Intersting the UK CAA has sent this out to industry ...
26 January 2004
CAA ISSUES SECOND ROUND OF MODE S CONSULTATION
A second round of consultation for implementing the requirement for Mode Select
(Mode S) Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) to be fitted to aircraft flying in UK airspace has been initiated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
A sharp increase in air traffic levels within UK airspace has highlighted limitations in the current SSR technology. Consequently, the CAA believes that a new and more advanced radar system needs to be introduced in UK airspace as soon as possible. The CAA proposes to introduce Mode S SSR to meet this need.
Mode S is planned for introduction in two stages: Mode S Enhanced Surveillance in notified Terminal Manoeuvring Areas (TMAs) and en-route airspace from 31 March 2005, followed by Mode S Elementary Surveillance in all remaining airspace from 31 March 2008.
This latest consultation to assess the specific options for introducing the first stage of the Mode S implementation strategy follows an initial consultation released by the CAA last October.
The initial consultation identified four options for consideration and comment. These were set out in an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and 28 responses were received.
Following this feedback, the RIA has been further developed. Further comments are now invited before the CAA completes the RIA and makes final recommendations later in the year to the Secretary of State for Transport for the implementation of the first phase of Mode S.
In order to mandate the use of Mode S in the UK, the Air Navigation Order 2000 will need to be amended.
To realise the benefits of Mode S as quickly as possible in the areas where it is most needed, it is planned to introduce the new system progressively in the high density airspace surrounding the major UK airports and along the major UK air routes. This would start with the busy airspace over south-east England, particularly over London, from 31 March 2005.
Mode S will then be incrementally expanded to cover other busy UK TMAs and
en-route airspace.
A consultation process for the second stage of the implementation of Mode S Elementary Surveillance in all remaining UK airspace from 31 March 2008 will follow at a later date.
John Arscott, Director of Airspace Policy CAA, said:
“Mode S will improve safety and capacity which will benefit the UK and central Europe. In addition, Mode S can provide a migratory path towards future Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in line with the conclusions reached at the 11th Air Navigation Conference held in Montreal in September 2003.
“Our proposals for Mode S will help us to improve airspace utilisation to the benefit of the majority of airspace users. Common proposals across Europe will be a valuable tool in delivering the objectives of the Single European Sky initiative and will support the aims of the Government’s White Paper on the Future of Air Transport.”
Comments on the consultation are invited by 16 April 2004. The CAA is seeking to make the consultation document available as widely as possible. It can be seen on the CAA website - http://www.caa.co.uk/dap/ - (then click on ‘Consultation’) and is being distributed to all members of the National Air Traffic Management Committee (NATMAC). An explanatory factsheet on Mode S with a question and answer brief is also available on the Consultation page of the website.
In addition, information has been sent to all recipients of the CAA’s Safety Regulation Group’s Flight Operations Department communications, to holders of Air Operators Certificates and to avionics design and maintenance organisations.
Notes to Editors
Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) systems currently used for air traffic control are based on technology which has, although still safe, become outdated. With increasing traffic levels in UK and European Airspace, the capacity and capability of these systems is being severely stretched.
To ensure the safe and efficient handling of increasing traffic volumes, whilst maintaining global interoperability, a more advanced SSR system must be introduced into the UK as soon as possible. Mode Select (Mode S) SSR is being proposed as the replacement system and several other European states are following this approach in order to provide a sustainable SSR environment for the future.