Inverness and Norwich Approach control functions
 

I heard a rumour today that the approach control function presently done procedurely at Inverness, (with a little help from down the road;) ), is moving to become an approach radar service, done by NATS at Aberdeen.

I was also told that when there is no longer a requirement for Norwich Radar to have a console at Coltishall, (when Coltishall either closes or the traffic is at a dribble), Norwich Radar may also be relocated to Aberdeen.
It appears that a watch manager at Aberdeen is already doing a feasability study to that effect, and if NATS could get their sums right, it would make commercial common sense for Norwich Airport/Omniport Ltd - no expensive radar to maintain, no expensive data link for the SSR from Cromer to Norwich to pay for, reduced employers costs and in time, fewer atco's.

I don't know if the study entails NATS taking on the entire ATC contract at Norwich, or just the remote approach radar function at Aberdeen, or the timescale, but it appears to slot in nicely with the closure of Coltishall, which always was the stumbling block for any similar proposal.

Intresting rumour on Inverness.

The only flaw is there is no radar there or anywhere near which would provide coverage to give a decent service !!

NATS radars are lucky to see below about FL60 and certainly an even higher limit for primary cover. Not particularly of any use vectoring aircraft on to the new ILS or sequencing arrivals and departures.

RAF radars at Kinloss and Lossie could in theory be piped in, but at what cost ? And again, would the low level coverage be any good for an Approach service ??

Interesting!

Wonder whether SRG will feel the Cromer is close enough to Norwich to provide primary cover?

Their views on Waddington primary being proposed for Doncaster are not yet public.

<<NATS radars are lucky to see below about FL60 and certainly an even higher limit for primary cover>>

One presumes that this refers to certain radars in the areas referrred to but it certainly doesn't apply to all. There are plenty of NATS radars, used for Approach and Area Control that see very considerably lower than FL60.

Punditgreen: Cromer-Norwich is half the distance of Waddo-Doncaster and pretty flat in between. SRG must be under a lot of pressure on Doncaster since they aim to open the airfield in Jan and if SRG doesn't like the radar arrangements the alternative is all-procedural.

One presumes that the clue here is Inverness. :)

Talks are under way with HIAL so that civil controllers can provide radar app services to Inverness from Lossiemouth. Part of the deal involves improving the Lossie radar low level coverage in order to meet DAP and SRG requirements for the establishment of CAS. All of this is with the approval of both Lossie and Kinloss. The one factor that is however not negotiable is the service must be provided from the Lossie radar room. No other solution will be accepted, as the requirement to co-ordinate the 3 airfields radar patterns safely and fairly will remain with the Lossie SUP. HIAL are happy with this arangement as they get CAS, radar on the cheap and an end to procedural delays. I believe both SERCO and NATS have been approached to provide the service initially but it is the intention of HIAL to eventually employ their own controllers.