why use the Lichfield crossing at present?
Thread Starter
why use the Lichfield crossing at present?
Sitting at home very bored and watching flightradar24, I notice that the tankers heading for the North Sea are leaving Brize and crossing the airway at Lichfield.
In normal times I could understand this, used it myself when I was working for the Queen, but why go northwest for 100 miles when your destination is northeast?
Given the amount of Air Traffic on the airway system at present, why not just get airborne from Brize and point it at the North Sea?
And wonderful to watch the C19 at BHX yesterday afternoon - excellent!
In normal times I could understand this, used it myself when I was working for the Queen, but why go northwest for 100 miles when your destination is northeast?
Given the amount of Air Traffic on the airway system at present, why not just get airborne from Brize and point it at the North Sea?
And wonderful to watch the C19 at BHX yesterday afternoon - excellent!
Sitting at home very bored and watching flightradar24, I notice that the tankers heading for the North Sea are leaving Brize and crossing the airway at Lichfield.
In normal times I could understand this, used it myself when I was working for the Queen, but why go northwest for 100 miles when your destination is northeast?
Given the amount of Air Traffic on the airway system at present, why not just get airborne from Brize and point it at the North Sea?
In normal times I could understand this, used it myself when I was working for the Queen, but why go northwest for 100 miles when your destination is northeast?
Given the amount of Air Traffic on the airway system at present, why not just get airborne from Brize and point it at the North Sea?
When you're in a hurry and have chicks to feed, maybe using the corridor was the most expeditious way of getting there.
I thought there was another corridor along the north edge of the LTMA passing just north of Luton; does this not exist now?
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There used to be a corridor (the fillet?) by Luton in order for Eastern Radar (Premier Radar unit) to descend Upper Heyford inbounds from their East Fix (VARRK).
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There`s also something called VFR....
If you think a spiral climb in the overhead to FL230 is a better use of time for a tanker out of Brize than zig-zagging through the Lichfield, yes
It was always good fun getting up there straight from takeoff at Marham in a heavy Tornado, especially on the southwesterly runway with the big fuel tanks. Just about do-able with a reheat climb and a headwind. ATC: “Do you need a turn to be at FL240 by the corridor?”... every time Not so much fun trying to herd a stream 4-ship up there on a cloudy STANEVAL check with the junior pilot clowning around at #2, only one radar working in the back 3 and ATC insisting on standard formation before entering the corridor. The good old days! I should imagine a total non-event in F35 with all that power and situational awareness.
It was always good fun getting up there straight from takeoff at Marham in a heavy Tornado, especially on the southwesterly runway with the big fuel tanks. Just about do-able with a reheat climb and a headwind. ATC: “Do you need a turn to be at FL240 by the corridor?”... every time Not so much fun trying to herd a stream 4-ship up there on a cloudy STANEVAL check with the junior pilot clowning around at #2, only one radar working in the back 3 and ATC insisting on standard formation before entering the corridor. The good old days! I should imagine a total non-event in F35 with all that power and situational awareness.
Last edited by Easy Street; 1st Jul 2020 at 21:46.
Thread Starter
Very bored Two's in - well until Saturday when my local re-opens.
As for a spiral. There is the nub of my question, why conform to normal operations? Why not just call London and have them watch a continuous climb on a direct track, given that there is next to nothing in the airway?
The various corridors are the way to go in normal times, but perhaps a bit of thought outside the box given the amount of traffic over the last few months.
Perhaps the real answer for me is less internet and back to Classic FM and Private Eye!
As for a spiral. There is the nub of my question, why conform to normal operations? Why not just call London and have them watch a continuous climb on a direct track, given that there is next to nothing in the airway?
The various corridors are the way to go in normal times, but perhaps a bit of thought outside the box given the amount of traffic over the last few months.
Perhaps the real answer for me is less internet and back to Classic FM and Private Eye!
Unless things have changed any controller worth his salt should be able to arrange an airways crossing if he picks up the phone and talks to the sector controller.
A normal unit would obtain a procedural crossing or, as we had with autonomous radar status at Boscombe, would either offer a radar control crossing service, a coordinated crossing service or, as was most normal the civvy would just tell us to take 5.
There was something rather satisifying taking a Tornado North east from Boscombe, turning it north through A25 and handing it over to London Mil on the north side still in its unrestricted climb.
A normal unit would obtain a procedural crossing or, as we had with autonomous radar status at Boscombe, would either offer a radar control crossing service, a coordinated crossing service or, as was most normal the civvy would just tell us to take 5.
There was something rather satisifying taking a Tornado North east from Boscombe, turning it north through A25 and handing it over to London Mil on the north side still in its unrestricted climb.
Daventry corridor is still there at FL100. Wescott is FL240 for westbound and 230 the other way. The tankers could always ask for a direct route once they're on their way to the LIC and get across south of the corridor at a level that suits them and the sector chief.
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"Chief, Console X, request cleared flight path, TELBA - POL, FL 250, My 61X1, NE BZN 10 Miles, tracking 015, estimate TELBA time ZZZZ"
"Cleared flight path approved, TELBA - POL, FL 250, subject Speedbird 1234 climbing through FL250"
Problem was when you got: "No cleared flight path available due traffic - take 5. bzzzzzzzzzz" That was NOT the time to be 'taking 5' (5 NM or 5,000ft, uncoordinated) for the first time!
"Cleared flight path approved, TELBA - POL, FL 250, subject Speedbird 1234 climbing through FL250"
Problem was when you got: "No cleared flight path available due traffic - take 5. bzzzzzzzzzz" That was NOT the time to be 'taking 5' (5 NM or 5,000ft, uncoordinated) for the first time!