Thames RADAR - routing into LCY

[212man]

I would be grateful for some pointers on how Thames RADAR would typically route IFR traffic into London City from neighbouring airports.

The scenario is that I'm conducting Instrument elements for OPC/LPCs and recurrent training in the Sikorsky S-92 (helicopter) simulator at Farnborough, and have looked at Farnborough - London City - Biggin diversion, then (swap roles) back to London City with a Southend diversion, as a suitable scenario which requires an organised cockpit and doesn't take up too much time.

I'm guessing that from Farnborough, you would typically route OCK - BIG or ALKIN then be fed in for vectors? Would you be required to stay below 2500 ft if IFR? If required to stay at 2400 ft or below, how would you provide separation from VFR traffic?

Or, would you expect the aircraft to join a recognised STAR?

Thanks.

PS. If any controllers are interested in sitting in the back of such a trip, PM me with details and I'll try and arrange for the future - would appreciate the feedback on RT etc!

[chevvron]

After departure from Farnborough, you would be given something like 'own navigation BIG' at alt 2400ft. Somewhere after abeam OCK, Farnborough would hand you over to Thames Radar, who might start vectoring you straight away, or take you towards ALKIN with a climb into controlled airspace. Hereon I dare say a Thames controller can tell you better than me!

[ATCO Two]

First thing to mention is that London City would not accept helicopters, either for landing (except in emergency), or for instrument training. The only time that helicopters are allowed to use the ILS is for a cloudbreak to pick up helicopter route H4, and this is at the discretion of the airport.

Theoretically speaking the routeing would be much as Chevvron describes, and the vectoring would depend on the runway in use at City. Depending on traffic, you would be vectored from the Crystal Palace area onto runway 10 or maybe from the ALKIN area for runway 28. Altitudes would be in the region of 2000ft to 2400ft. If there was no conflicting IFR commercial traffic into City or Biggin Hill, then a climb to 3000ft into CAS might be offered. Below CAS a RIS might be offered subject to workload and radar performance, but separation cannot be guaranteed against low level VFR traffic.

You would not be expected to join a STAR.

I hope this helps.

[212man]

Yes indeed - many thanks! I'll add the cloud break scenario to make it more likely a scenario (though I gather if your registration starts with G-XX and you have a burgundy helicopter, there may be exceptions to the rule!)