Helicopter Conditional Clearances

[lipgo]

From the Irish Aviation Authority.

News & Press Releases

Date: May 16 2008
Headline: NOTIFICATION TO HELICOPTER OWNERS/OPERATORS/PILOTS - Crossing of Runways at Dublin Airport

As a result of the increase in traffic movements at Dublin Airport to 48 movements per hour and also of several recent incidents, including a serious Airprox, Dublin ATC will no longer be in a position to issue conditional clearances to helicopter traffic wishing to cross the active runway.
All helicopters crossing the active runway will be given a direct crossing clearance dependant on traffic flow, however, helicopters are likely to be subject to a delay in a clearance being issued which may in some circumstances be substantial. It would be advisable therefore for Owners/Operators/Pilots to review the need to cross the active runway at Dublin Airport and consider planning an alternative routing, where practical, that does not involve a runway crossing.

Just throwing this out- are IAA being a tad unreasonable..? Surely the viability of conditional clearances needs to be reinstated?
Is this a case of the larger helicopter community suffering for the sins of one?
Is this commom practice? I've regularly crossed Heathrow with no difficulties- with conditional clearances?

Your comments would be appreciated.

[criss]

The first question is - was this issued by the ATC staff, or, more probably, by someone "high in the ranks", not working as ATC, but just wanting to do sth "to improve safety".

[jumparound]

Dublin ATC being a tad unreasonable..?

Issued by IAA Safety and Regulatory Department not by Dublin ATC.

Dublin ATC in fact did not want this to happen and objected bitterly to this.

The IAA does not just consist of the ATC section it also includes a lot of people who have never controlled a plane/helicopter in there life who make decisions without respect to the ATC section of the company.

[criss]

Somehow I thought so:)

[Bladecrack]

Is this a case of the larger helicopter community suffering for the sins of one?

This about sums it up, and not the first sin this pilot has committed I understand...

[chevvron]

It's like at my airfield; a helicopter did a 'sporty' approach one day to the main runway so the local council (as a condition of the planning permission) banned helicopters from making visual approaches.

[The Nr Fairy]

chevvron:

So how does that work in practice, then ? Or do helicopters just not come to play any more ?

And how come one sporty approach resulted in an visual approach ban ?

[chevvron]

Helicopters either do an ILS or SRA to this runway, or approach out of wind to another aiming point.
We have some vociferous noise complainers living on short final for the runway in question; nuff said?

[Skyjuggler]

My sentiments go out to the guys and gals in Dublin...

We have a very busy GA airfield I work occasionally, and with loads of combined heli and fixed wing training, we're constantly issuing conditional clearances. Simply couldn't move the traffic otherwise:sad:

The problem here however is it'll be a hard slog to get them to change there minds. Once a "SAFETY" procedure has been written down it's hard to unwrite it... Best of luck