Wikiposts
Search

Notices
ATC Issues A place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.

Category D flight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 8th January 2008 | 12:18
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 829
Likes: 9
From: taking up the hold
Category D flight

Hi

I was on my way into LHR via the BNN hold last night when I heard a flight given an EAT to which they reported that they were a Category D flight to which the reply was "OK Disregard"

What is a category D flight & why do they jump the queue (25 minutes delay at the time)?

Thanks

TTO
Tail-take-off is offline  
Reply
Old 8th January 2008 | 13:16
  #2 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: .
Category "D" is the flight priority of that aircraft. A category D flight has priority over a "normal" flight.

The list of categories used are:

A
B
C
D
E
Normal
Z

Taken from the book:

A - Aircraft in emergency (e.g. engine fault, fuel shortage, seriously ill
passenger). Aircraft which have declared a 'Police Emergency'.
Ambulance/Medical aircraft when the safety of life is involved.

B - Flights operating for search and rescue or other humanitarian
reasons. Post accident flight checks. Other flights, including Open
Skies Flights, authorised by the CAA.

C - Royal Flights, Flights carrying visiting Heads of State
which have been notified by NOTAM/Temporary Supplement.

D - Flights notified by the CAA carrying Heads of Government or very
senior government ministers.

E - Flight check aircraft engaged on, or in transit to, time or weather
critical calibration flights.
Other flights authorised by the CAA.

NORMAL FLIGHTS
i) Flights which have filed a flight plan in the normal way and conforming with
normal routing procedures.
ii) Initial instrument flight tests conducted by the CAA Flight Examining Unit.
(RTF callsign “EXAM”)

Z - Training, non-standard and other flights.

Hope that helps
Defruiter is offline  
Reply
Old 8th January 2008 | 13:22
  #3 (permalink)  
sss
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: uk
or have a read of cap 493 part 1,
sss is offline  
Reply
Old 8th January 2008 | 13:25
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: High Wycombe
Category D Flight

CAP 493
Manual of Air Traffic Services Part 1
Section 1 Air Traffic Services
Chapter 4 Control of Traffic
Part 10 Flight Priorities
paragraph 10.3.1 Fuel Shortage and Medical Emergencies
Page 6

"D - Flights notified by the CAA carrying Heads of Government or very
senior government ministers."

This document is filled with delightful information. You can download it from the CAA website:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP493Part1.pdf

Happy reading!
Amenhotep is offline  
Reply
Old 8th January 2008 | 16:53
  #5 (permalink)  
niknak
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
From: UK
Normally this info is clearly displayed on the FPS (Flight Progress Strip) and circled, or don't the NATS strip printers have the capability to do this?
Otherwise it would be hand written and circled - perhaps it was but the ATCO just failed to note it.
niknak is offline  
Reply
Old 8th January 2008 | 17:24
  #6 (permalink)  
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,432
Likes: 33
From: LHR/EGLL
A lot of the flights we handle don't put it on the flight plan.
Gonzo is offline  
Reply
Old 9th January 2008 | 10:30
  #7 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 829
Likes: 9
From: taking up the hold
Thanks for the replies. It is all clear now. Still frustrating to be jumped in the queue though
Tail-take-off is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.