batninth
23rd Mar 2010, 20:08
I apologise if this has been asked before, I have run a couple of searches on this forum but can't see any answers. I'm also asking here as I get lots of contradictory advice so thought I'd get the story from those who know please.
Situation is that I fly from a farm strip which is in a MATZ, in fact very close to the RAF station ATZ.
A small hill separates our farm strip from the station, so while I can hear the ATC when I have tried to call I have been told "Station Calling xxxx Radar you are unreadable". Now, this could be a radio fault on our part, but we can communicate with a nearby airport ATC fine which is several miles away so I'm not convinced that it is a radio fault. Also once in the air I can call xxx Radar fine.
My dilemma is when the station is busy, as it was today, what should I do? I would very much like (a) them to know I'm here, ready & willing to comply with their needs as I've no desire to mess up their day, and (b) it would be nice to know if there is anything around me that the mark 1 eyeball hasn't picked up (a Chinook passed overhead at circuit height, fortunately I was sat in the hangar eating lunch at the time but had I been in the air...).
So, should I take off & then call the station from the air, even if I'm doing circuits, or is there something else you ATCOs can advise.
BTW - What happens if you are in a similar situation but inside a Class D zone.
Thank you in advance for any advice
Situation is that I fly from a farm strip which is in a MATZ, in fact very close to the RAF station ATZ.
A small hill separates our farm strip from the station, so while I can hear the ATC when I have tried to call I have been told "Station Calling xxxx Radar you are unreadable". Now, this could be a radio fault on our part, but we can communicate with a nearby airport ATC fine which is several miles away so I'm not convinced that it is a radio fault. Also once in the air I can call xxx Radar fine.
My dilemma is when the station is busy, as it was today, what should I do? I would very much like (a) them to know I'm here, ready & willing to comply with their needs as I've no desire to mess up their day, and (b) it would be nice to know if there is anything around me that the mark 1 eyeball hasn't picked up (a Chinook passed overhead at circuit height, fortunately I was sat in the hangar eating lunch at the time but had I been in the air...).
So, should I take off & then call the station from the air, even if I'm doing circuits, or is there something else you ATCOs can advise.
BTW - What happens if you are in a similar situation but inside a Class D zone.
Thank you in advance for any advice