Air Cadets grounded?
"an airfield that has ATC coverage at weekends, say Duxford or Cambridge?"
Cambridge has ATC (i.e. Air Traffic Control with Tower, Approach and Radar call-signs). Duxford, like most small airfields does not. Duxford is an Information call-sign so the AFISO controls ground movements. As soon as the aeroplane is on the runway, it's uncontrolled and up to the pilot. Mind you, even the people that run airfields don't always know the difference, calling Church Fenton by telephone this week to see whether they operate after dark, one of the telephone options is for Air Traffic Control when the airfield has at best an air-ground radio station i.e. not control at all.
Cambridge has ATC (i.e. Air Traffic Control with Tower, Approach and Radar call-signs). Duxford, like most small airfields does not. Duxford is an Information call-sign so the AFISO controls ground movements. As soon as the aeroplane is on the runway, it's uncontrolled and up to the pilot. Mind you, even the people that run airfields don't always know the difference, calling Church Fenton by telephone this week to see whether they operate after dark, one of the telephone options is for Air Traffic Control when the airfield has at best an air-ground radio station i.e. not control at all.
What else flies at Wittering? Why can't they adopt the 'normal' UAS/AEF operating periods of open wed - sun closed mon & tue?
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Chevvron
The UAS/AEF moved out of Cambridge ages ago, moving to RAF Wyton, and then subssequently moved to RAF Wittering.
As for shifting opening days, Wittering's Tutor fleet operate Mon-Fri as 16 (R) Sqn, so ATC already operate 5 days. I'm sure there would be complaints all round if they couldn't fly Mon and Tues.
The UAS/AEF moved out of Cambridge ages ago, moving to RAF Wyton, and then subssequently moved to RAF Wittering.
As for shifting opening days, Wittering's Tutor fleet operate Mon-Fri as 16 (R) Sqn, so ATC already operate 5 days. I'm sure there would be complaints all round if they couldn't fly Mon and Tues.
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Still doesn't explain the "conflict of interest" with airfield use at the weekends by Four Counties GC and it's associated closure.
Any change to the ATC operating hours would presumably mean renegotiating the contract with Babcock, who operate the tower.
Air Traffic Control at RAF Wittering begins new phase
Air Traffic Control at RAF Wittering begins new phase
Chevvron
The UAS/AEF moved out of Cambridge ages ago, moving to RAF Wyton, and then subssequently moved to RAF Wittering.
As for shifting opening days, Wittering's Tutor fleet operate Mon-Fri as 16 (R) Sqn, so ATC already operate 5 days. I'm sure there would be complaints all round if they couldn't fly Mon and Tues.
The UAS/AEF moved out of Cambridge ages ago, moving to RAF Wyton, and then subssequently moved to RAF Wittering.
As for shifting opening days, Wittering's Tutor fleet operate Mon-Fri as 16 (R) Sqn, so ATC already operate 5 days. I'm sure there would be complaints all round if they couldn't fly Mon and Tues.
What do 16(R) Sqdn operate? Didn't realise there was still a flying unit at Wittering.
So the crux is, ATC has been part civilianised at Wittering - this wasn't mentioned before. Had it been all service, no doubt they would open 7 days like Boscombe Down.
Sorry didn't know that; my last visit was back in '87 when our cadets were trucked from (would you believe) Wittering to Cambridge for AEF during summer camp and prior to that, I did my PPL course there in '71.
What do 16(R) Sqdn operate? Didn't realise there was still a flying unit at Wittering.
What do 16(R) Sqdn operate? Didn't realise there was still a flying unit at Wittering.
Mrs Thatcher is no longer Prime Minister and Ronald Reagan is no longer POTUS. In fact, there have been two President Bushes and several others as well.
The Cold War ended (for a while), but there have been more problems in the Middle East, including two wars against Iraq and also another adventure in Afghanistan, following a terrorist attack in the US
Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury are no longer with us
Rick Astley, Five Star and Bananarama are no longer Top of the Pops
The RAF no longer operates Phantoms, Buccaneers, Victors, VC10s, TriStars, Shackletons, Jet Provosts, Wessexes, Bulldogs, Harriers, Jaguars, Nimrods, among others. RAF aircraft are no longer permanently based in Germany, Belize, Gibraltar, or Hong Kong.
Computers got smaller and better, and cars got bigger and cleaner (apart from German ones).
Disappointingly, Wittering and Teversham have also changed somewhat in the last 28 years
If you think the 18 month grounding over dodgy repairs and paperwork issues is excessive, imagine how long it will be when somebody up the chain realises that the gliders don't have a bloody engine!
So presumably they do both UAS and AEF. Which means that apart from the contract with Babcocks for 'local' control, there is nothing to stop them switching to wed - sun operations.
'Teversham' hasn't changed since the 50's...trust me!
I've noticed aircraft activity in the direct vicinity of Syerston over the last week or so, either in or over the ATZ. Can't say what it was, because I wasn't close enough to see, but it had a mode A transponder.
