East Midlands Listenting Watch

[bigfoot01]

Hi there,

I am planning to do a bit of sight seeing south of Sheffield over the weekend. I was doing a bit of research into my RT Strategy and I was planning on trying the listening to Manchester while squawking 7366 while near the Manchester CTA. (Flying over Bakewell).

I was then wondering about dealing with East Midlands. I am going to do some general handling east of Ashbourne and I think I will be OK operating below their CTA (I need to confirm that on a new chart, I was looking at an old one at the time). I was going to give them a call for a FIS, but I have had a look on a website they have set up and I get the distinct impression they would rather not be bothered and don't offer LARS. I just wondered if anybody had any thoughts/experience. I am going off to for an IMC lesson on Sunday to do some approaches at East Midlands, so I will get to chat to them then!

Looking forward to sunny weekend yipee!

[bigfoot01]

...I will give them a call then. I feel a bit bad that this is my local area and I have never spoken to them! I am used to chatting to people X-country and have spent much of my life talking to Doncaster and previously Waddington (but they have closed at weekends). I will report back and advise how it goes ; - )

Dave

[Mark 1]

I instruct at weekends close to the EM airspace, and have never had any problem with obtaining a FIS, and advise students to do likewise on Navex flights.

In general, they are one of the most helpful and obliging ATSUs that I use.

Especially if you're operating close to TNT, I'm sure they'd be pleased to hear from you.

[bigfoot01]

...that Waddington is back open for us Weekend Warriors!

[muffin]

East Mids are excellent. I am based right near the TNT and usually give them a call if I am playing under their airspace. Not too busy at a weekend.

[STATSMAN]

Please call EMA approach as it can be busy near TNT & the circuit is always busy at Tatenhill, at the weekends so give us a call on 124.07

STATSMAN :8

[bigfoot01]

East Midlands did indeed give a very helpful service, although in the end I didn't make it down to under their zone as planned.

I don't know about them being quiet at the weekend, I couldn't get an approach slot. I went up to Humberside, who treated me very well and I heard over the Radio a Spitfire do a flypast - (Darn that hood!) It sounded really cool though!

[Troy McClure]

In my opinion, East Mids have some of the best controllers in the UK. As long as your RT is (relatively) up to speed and you don't bust any airspace beforehand, their refusing a clearance or a flight information service is pretty much unheard of, unless you're asking for something really awkward like transit through the final approach at 1000' and they've got lots of inbounds.

Sunday morning is the quietest time - ILS is shut down for maintenance for that very reason.

With reference to flying near Ashbourne, if I were a controller and someone was general handling under my CTA, I'd like to know who they were and what their intentions were - it works both ways.

[bigfoot01]

I have to agree with the service provided. They were really helpful and friendly and my RT is OK, but not fab!

Makes sense on the Sunday ILS. I am not unhappy, just keen to try somewhere other than Humberside and Doncaster ; - ) I will try them on a Saturday.

[Troy McClure]

I'm biased - I work out of E. Mids, and they've never really refused me anything.

Of particular note was a 500' orbit over Donington park (about 100 yards west of the 27 climb-out) one evening during the Download Festival. Low enough to smell the burger van.

(In a 152, not a 737 or anything you understand....)

[Troy McClure]

ps Check out www.emapilot.com (http://www.emapilot.com), written by E. Mids controllers. Now where else do you get that kind of service?

[bigfoot01]

...but that was where I got the distinct impression they didn't want to talk to me from. We are not funded by NATS etc....

[almost professional]

That comment is not intended to give such an impression! its just that we need to get across that we are not manned to be a LARS unit and the services we give to overflights are by necessity secondary to our primary tasking
not withstanding that we will do what we can and your kind words are much appreciated-I personally would much rather be talking to traffic close to/under my airspace than not-even if the service I can give is limited

[papa oscar]

I've never been refused a zone transit by E.Mids regardless of the traffic situation. They've always been able to slot me in somewhere and likewise reciprocated with any changed in height and heading to help smooth things along.
I agree, probably the most helpful controllers I've come across. If Carling were to do ATC, E.Mids would set the standards.

[dah dahdit dah]

The last 3 times I've requested a climb into controlled airspace after leaving the CTR I've been refused. On one occasion I was given permission to climb but remain outside controlled airspace, well.....thanks. Aside from that, they have been accommodating.

[almost professional]

Dah-can you clarify that?
assume that you are EMA based, were you on a local or land away, did you ask when you booked out and what bit of the CTA and at what level?
see if we can improve customer service!

[Viola]

I've always found EMA ATC to be very good.

They were extrememly helpful to me when I did my qualifiying cross country.:)

[pploony]

I have transited EMA airspace to the eastern edge many times en route south from my base at Sherburn.Not once have they refused,even when I've mixed it with inbound jet traffic.Always found them to be very accommodating.To be fair that has also been my experience of ATC at Leeds,Newcastle,Teesside etc.