peastlake
2nd Sep 2008, 13:19
Please see below a copy of a message posted to the BMAA forums.
A point we'd like to make to the wider GA community is that Hunsdon Airfield is shown on the CAA charts as on the edge of the Stansted zone (& could be interpreted as just outside on the ¼ mil). Some pilots may therefore be tempted to use the airfield as a reference point when flying round the bottom edge of the Stansted zone. However, the problem is that the charts are misleading! It appears that the CAA's "datum" for the airfield was incorrect - Hunsdon is INSIDE class D airspace (& club members always knew this). Therefore, if routing around the South-West side of the Stansted zone, please remain well to the South &/or West of Hunsdon.
Original post follows:-
"Hunsdon Microlight Club has had some discussions with managers from National Air Traffic Services (NATS), who have become increasingly concerned about potential infringements of Stansted's airspace. They are so concerned that they came all the way from Portsmouth to visit us at Hunsdon! Hunsdon Airfield operates under a strict "Letter Of Agreement" (LOA) with NATS as it is just inside Stansted's class D airspace & it is imperative that all pilots operating at Hunsdon, be they club members or visitors, meet the conditions of that LOA.
Due to some recent issues the airfield's LOA has been (temporarily) suspended, pending a re-draft & re-issue. We hope this will be in place VERY soon & we will publish relevant changes ASAP. In the meantime, flying by club members may still take place, but it is VITAL that they check with Barry Cook (Safety Officer & named person on the LOA), Reg Barber (C.F.I.) or John Brutnell (A.F.I.), who will have to negotiate with LTCC Swanwick, as to whether flying is permitted before you take off!
However, we feel that whilst the LOA is suspended it is regrettably necessary to close the airfield to all visiting, non-club, aircraft. We apologise that this is necessary, & hope that this will only be for a matter of days.
Once the new LOA is in place, we will be happy to welcome visitors once more. However, all future visitors must PPR to ensure the airfield is open & that they are briefed on revised approach & circuit procedures even if they are familiar with Hunsdon Airfield. We will be operating under an obligation to ensure that any future infringements of the LOA are reported to Swanwick immediately. No aircraft is to operate in or out of Hunsdon without the authority of one of the club officers listed above.
Contact details for the club officers listed above are on the "Contacts" page of our website:-
http://www.hunsdonmicrolightclub.info (http://www.hunsdonmicrolightclub.info)
Again, we apologise for any inconvenience this causes, but it is important we work with bodies such as NATS & the CAA to ensure the airfield remains operational into the future."
A point we'd like to make to the wider GA community is that Hunsdon Airfield is shown on the CAA charts as on the edge of the Stansted zone (& could be interpreted as just outside on the ¼ mil). Some pilots may therefore be tempted to use the airfield as a reference point when flying round the bottom edge of the Stansted zone. However, the problem is that the charts are misleading! It appears that the CAA's "datum" for the airfield was incorrect - Hunsdon is INSIDE class D airspace (& club members always knew this). Therefore, if routing around the South-West side of the Stansted zone, please remain well to the South &/or West of Hunsdon.
Original post follows:-
"Hunsdon Microlight Club has had some discussions with managers from National Air Traffic Services (NATS), who have become increasingly concerned about potential infringements of Stansted's airspace. They are so concerned that they came all the way from Portsmouth to visit us at Hunsdon! Hunsdon Airfield operates under a strict "Letter Of Agreement" (LOA) with NATS as it is just inside Stansted's class D airspace & it is imperative that all pilots operating at Hunsdon, be they club members or visitors, meet the conditions of that LOA.
Due to some recent issues the airfield's LOA has been (temporarily) suspended, pending a re-draft & re-issue. We hope this will be in place VERY soon & we will publish relevant changes ASAP. In the meantime, flying by club members may still take place, but it is VITAL that they check with Barry Cook (Safety Officer & named person on the LOA), Reg Barber (C.F.I.) or John Brutnell (A.F.I.), who will have to negotiate with LTCC Swanwick, as to whether flying is permitted before you take off!
However, we feel that whilst the LOA is suspended it is regrettably necessary to close the airfield to all visiting, non-club, aircraft. We apologise that this is necessary, & hope that this will only be for a matter of days.
Once the new LOA is in place, we will be happy to welcome visitors once more. However, all future visitors must PPR to ensure the airfield is open & that they are briefed on revised approach & circuit procedures even if they are familiar with Hunsdon Airfield. We will be operating under an obligation to ensure that any future infringements of the LOA are reported to Swanwick immediately. No aircraft is to operate in or out of Hunsdon without the authority of one of the club officers listed above.
Contact details for the club officers listed above are on the "Contacts" page of our website:-
http://www.hunsdonmicrolightclub.info (http://www.hunsdonmicrolightclub.info)
Again, we apologise for any inconvenience this causes, but it is important we work with bodies such as NATS & the CAA to ensure the airfield remains operational into the future."