VFR route advice...

[The_green_penguin]

Hi there

I am planning a VFR flight from Shoreham to Compton Abbas in Dorset in a couple of weeks time. My question is with regard to route planning, taking into account the Solent CTA.

Obviously the most direct route (and my preferred one from an experience-building point of view) would be via overhead Southampton using the VOR there, but what is the likelihood I will be granted clearance by Solent/Southampton on a (presumably) busy Saturday afternoon? What altitude would be best? I was planning on around 3,000ft.

My other option would be to route down via Cowes and up the corridor between the Southampton and Bournemouth ATZs but this would obviously add some time to the journey. Could even drop down to maybe 1,900 ft to remain clear of the zone altogether?

Any advice would be gratefully received. I am mindful that I'll have my route all planned up, only to be declined clearance to transit the zone! :(

Regards

GP

[Vortex Issues]

Plan for both and contact HI early and ask. I did some flying training out of HH and we would plan 2 routes, one through the HI CTA/Z and the other around it. Contact HI about 10 miles from the boundary and ask.

You could also contact HI before setting off and ask for the likelyhood of being allowed to transit. That way you would know before setting off and if the say it should be ok then at least they'll have all your details to hand

Good chart of the airspace here (http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/enr/EG_ENR_6_2_1_6_en.pdf)

[Papillon83]

As V.I says, make your request for transit to Solent at least 10nm before the boundary of controlled airspace, which gives the controller a reasonable amount of time to work out an appropriate routeing and level to get you through. It's also really helpful if you are flexible as to the level you can accept - 4000ft is often a good level as it's 1000ft above the standard level for IFR departures and go-arounds at Southampton!