question for guys at mildenhall/lake
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Originally Posted by MightyGem
Hmm...last time I looked, the airspace around a CTZ/MATZ was class G, so people can fly right up to the edge if they want. How far away from the boundary would you like people to stay? Might be inconvenient for the MATZ operators...but such is life.
I was tangled up in the convoy of gliders...PITA!
Situation: busy LARS frequency. Civil bizjet freecalls giving his position in an area where I can see a large number of gliders on a notified competiton task. Before identifying bizjet, I warn him of the possibilty of large numbers of gliders in his vicinity; he agrees saying he is aware and has seen many of them. 5 minutes later, a glider pilot calls, and without knowing the exact situation, accuses me of deliberately vectoring the bizjet through the gaggle!(NB I made it clear to the bizjet pilot I could only provide FIS initially)
Bizjet pilot is naturally irate; I simply tell glider pilot to phone me if he has a problem, don't do it on RTF (where literally anyone can hear).
I then phone the competion organisers, who say that this particular pilot (personal callsign)is not even in their competiton!
OK this glider pilot is probably in a minority, but it does make you wonder about the mental 'set' of glider pilots in general, UAV689 being one of the more sensible ones.
Bizjet pilot is naturally irate; I simply tell glider pilot to phone me if he has a problem, don't do it on RTF (where literally anyone can hear).
I then phone the competion organisers, who say that this particular pilot (personal callsign)is not even in their competiton!
OK this glider pilot is probably in a minority, but it does make you wonder about the mental 'set' of glider pilots in general, UAV689 being one of the more sensible ones.
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The prejudice against glider pilots always amazes me. It is possible for all types of pilots to exist happily together and even to fly in the same bit of airspace - shock, horror! All it takes is the ability to look up and out of the cockpit on a very regular basis. After all, shouldn't we all be flying by attitude and not by instruments. (Unless you are in IMC and to be honest, in that case you aren't particularly likely to bump into a glider coming the other way!)
I will admit that perhaps having a competition close to a military airfield can be viewed with some trepidation but as long as people in the organisation talk to each other, there should not be any problem. I was involved in the organisation last year of a gliding competition held at an airfield in East Anglia very close to our American friends and by establishing a basis of co-operation between us, there were no incidents and everyone was very happy. It can be done and will be done again next year.
The proposed changes which mentioned a bit earlier will not make the skies safer thanks to eliminating the "threat" from gliders. The number of accidents caused by a mid-air with a glider are minute.
It is not just gliders who use the sky. By introducing compulsory transponders across GA, all the little puddle jumpers will also have to have them fitted. There will be a massive increase in radar traffic and for what? So that the CAA can bring in through the backdoor the means to start charging for the privilege of using airspace in the UK.
The BGA is naturally concerned about this, not only because of the fact that a large proportion of the glider fleet in the UK will end up not flying again as it will not be economically viable to fit the transponders but also because of the way the CAA seem to be moving towards charging everyone for the privilege of flying.
If you want to read more, go the BGA website at www.gliding.co.uk
I will admit that perhaps having a competition close to a military airfield can be viewed with some trepidation but as long as people in the organisation talk to each other, there should not be any problem. I was involved in the organisation last year of a gliding competition held at an airfield in East Anglia very close to our American friends and by establishing a basis of co-operation between us, there were no incidents and everyone was very happy. It can be done and will be done again next year.
The proposed changes which mentioned a bit earlier will not make the skies safer thanks to eliminating the "threat" from gliders. The number of accidents caused by a mid-air with a glider are minute.
It is not just gliders who use the sky. By introducing compulsory transponders across GA, all the little puddle jumpers will also have to have them fitted. There will be a massive increase in radar traffic and for what? So that the CAA can bring in through the backdoor the means to start charging for the privilege of using airspace in the UK.
The BGA is naturally concerned about this, not only because of the fact that a large proportion of the glider fleet in the UK will end up not flying again as it will not be economically viable to fit the transponders but also because of the way the CAA seem to be moving towards charging everyone for the privilege of flying.
If you want to read more, go the BGA website at www.gliding.co.uk
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Having flown military jets and light aircraft (Chipmunks) all around the UK in the 1950s/60s I just cannot understand what all the fuss is about. In those days of limited VHF frequencies and range it really was a problem sometimes to plot a cross-country track avoiding all controlled airspace and MATZs - or in carrying enough VHF crystals if you needed to communicate with the latter.
A glance at the military ORBAT these days does not suggest that the problem has become more acute!
A glance at the military ORBAT these days does not suggest that the problem has become more acute!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Originally Posted by Flatus Veteranus
Having flown military jets and light aircraft (Chipmunks) all around the UK in the 1950s/60s I just cannot understand what all the fuss is about. In those days of limited VHF frequencies and range it really was a problem sometimes to plot a cross-country track avoiding all controlled airspace and MATZs - or in carrying enough VHF crystals if you needed to communicate with the latter.
A glance at the military ORBAT these days does not suggest that the problem has become more acute!
A glance at the military ORBAT these days does not suggest that the problem has become more acute!
To name but 3 that are imprinted on the brain.
The real challenge was NavyAir as they used Box 1 whereas the RAF used VHF 1 and 3. Also flying to the Med when you needed to change the VHF box in flight and re-crystalize the STR18.
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I see there is another cross-country glider competition today - guess where it routes?
Yup, very close to a large military transport base (turning point on the extended centreline of the runway in use) and through the ATZ of a small but busy military training base.
No, of course there is no law against it. Yes of course you can do it just for fun. Yes of course those with a job to do in the air will get out of your way, if they can see you. Please, can we do this again tomorrow?
Yup, very close to a large military transport base (turning point on the extended centreline of the runway in use) and through the ATZ of a small but busy military training base.
No, of course there is no law against it. Yes of course you can do it just for fun. Yes of course those with a job to do in the air will get out of your way, if they can see you. Please, can we do this again tomorrow?
