Lack Of Nav Aids In East Anglia

[VFE]

Hi folks,

Anyone else get slightly miffed at the lack of a VOR or two in the (mainly north) east anglia region? Flying from Peterborough one finds that in order to stay within easy reach of a nav aid incase one gets lost or loses VFR temporarily one has to go west towards Daventry etc. Not happy.

Thoughts?

VFE.

[Flyin'Dutch']

Typical East Anglian obviously!

Move into the 20th century and get electric light, cars and a GPS!



FD

[Keef]

This be Norfik and Suffik. Once you get to Essex, there's CLN and LAM (and the odd NDB too if you like 40s technology).

I think the idea in sugarbeetland is to look out of the window, and if there's nothing visible, to rely on your IFR-approved GNS530.

"Works for me".

[VFE]

Lend me your GPS and I'll stop moaning!

VFE.

[TonyR]

Where is East Anglia?

Is that the small Island of the coast of north Wales?


or is it that flat bit of land to the east where they all fly low and look at road signs

[fireflybob]

There are however quite a few military TACANS around so you can utilise the DME element of such facilities (assuming you have DME!).

OK you don't get any bearing info but you can still get a good fix from a couple of suitable TACANS - but bear in mind there are often two positions where 2 DME arcs intersect in this case!

[Gertrude the Wombat]

they all fly low and look at road signs

Yeah, that mostly works.

I think the idea in sugarbeetland is to look out of the window, and if there's nothing visible

Fing is, it really does help if you know which crops are grown in which fields, and understand the seasons. So at one time of year, there are certain recognisable patterns of yellow fields (which aren't on the map, you just have to learn them), and at other times of year there are certain recognisable patterns of flooded fields (which aren't on the map, you just have to learn them), and so on.

Or you could just fly around until you see some sort of ditch or drain ... whoops, most of them aren't on the map ... or eventually you'll find a railway line, which is a much better bet as we ain't got too many of them.

Or, just fly during the week and get a radar service from the military.

[smallpilot]

VFE - navaids are great, but as someone who learnt in E.Anglia and flies around it regularly I'm glad I was taught VFR + old fashioned nav etc.
I dont have a GPS but am happy to fly round E.Anglia. By the way, mention to the guys at Lakenheath + Norwich - excellent service from both

[Keef]

Cambridge is easy. Loads of distinctive features. The bit I found hard was the bit in the area between Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, and Lynn, and then the flat bit of Lincolnshire.

Fortunately, last time I flew there, I had an octogenarian 388th BG pilot in the RHS (on a memorial visit to Knettishall). He recognised every field, crossroads, WW2 airfield, etc - and told me the CO's name, what aircraft and which Group flew from there, and so on. He also told me, when there wasn't much else to look at, that when I started up he noticed that the GPS database was out of date by one day.

So it's easy.

[niknak]

OK, so there you are happily doing your own thing and you suddenly realise you're "temporarily unsure of your position".

Well, even at 1500ft in the Peterborough area you should be able to recieve the BKY, OTR, DTY and CLN VORs, as well as the Fenland (FNL) NDB which helpfully, is usually transmitting at twice it's notified output.

However, if you can't, and just let us (ATC) know and we'll help you out.

It's what we're their for.

[VFE]

All good information folks, please keep your experiences coming.

Not used to VFR'ing it around East Anglia as most of my private flying has been done in Spain, USA, southern England and Yorkshire. Most recent flying has all been IFR so going back to basics is something I'm just as much keen as well as apprehensive about. Was not aware of a Fenland NDB (not had chance to study the VFR 1:500'000 chart for southern England yet) so shall bare that one in mind for future reference.

Anyone know off hand the DOC's of OTR, DVY and CLN? For some reason my ais.org sign-on is not being recognised!

Thanks folks,

VFE.

[Flyin'Dutch']

And East Anglia ain't that big either!

Nik nak, just to warn you, intend to come your way soon at a date tbd, so brace yourselves at Norwich!



FD

[fireflybob]

Reminds me of when a student got lost on a cross country to Tuxford and Sleaford in a Chipmunk from Tollerton in about 1965. He had radio and somebody asked him what he could see - "A big river" was the reply - on further investigation it turned out to be the Wash with the tide out!

[stiknruda]

As most of my trips either start or terminate in EA, I must confess that the paucity of VORs has never worried me.

Lots of v obvious landmarks, even in the flatter bits.

Norwich, L'heath are both v helpful, even to someone who flies negative parrot.

Stik

[Whirlygig]

I also recently learned to fly from Norwich and what makes navigation so easy is that from Diss you can see Ipswich, Lowestoft, the coast. Haven't got GPS; not sure what I woud want it for. Taking the A47 into either south east or south west boundary of airfield - easy. I have to do that in case I mistake Coltishall for Norwich.

East Anglia is surrounded by coast, therefore you can never get too lost; maybe just temporarily unsure of your position.

Cheers

Whirlygig

[Whirlybird]

Now look guys (and gals), you don't need to know where you are absolutely every minute of the flight. If you knew where you were five minutes ago, and the heading you were using was working...just keep flying. Almost guaranteed that within another five minutes you'll see a town, a coastline, or one of those long strips of water they have over there which ARE marked on the charts. I've only flown in East Anglia a couple of times, but I didn't even bother to switch on the GPS. It's easy. if you can't do it with your map and compass....go get some practice!

[whatunion]

didnt someone build loads of airfields in east anglia, make great navigational features, if you can map read

[J.A.F.O.]

On Friday evening I could see Ely Cathedral, Sizewell Power Station and Canary Wharf; so I didn't worry too much about VORs.

[boomerangben]

There are enough navaids around East Anglia - I did my IR at Norwich. 20 hours flying in the middle of summer and didn't see the ground once.

VFE,

I'm sorry if I've missed something in your previous posts, but something doesn't seem to add up here. You say that you have not yet studied a half mil of the area and yet you admit to have being flying there? Can I suggest that you study the chart and then remember to take it with you? It will make VFR nav much easier

[VFE]

Hehehehe! Almost caught me out there boomerangben but not quite.....

My first flight in East Anglia was a check out with the flying club lasting one hour which involved flying in local vacinity with an instructor. Second time I flew was alone and I simply flew over my house and local boozer in Peterborough then back again. Not much call for a half mil there then but carried one nonetheless which had been loaned by the flying club (they had sold out). At that time I did not examine the entire chart for small detail apart from the section I intended to fly over which was visibile from the airfield.

A proper look for me personally means a good sit down in the evening over a nice cuppa Yorkshire Tea. I now have my VFR 1:500'000 chart and am looking forward to planning my next adventure.

Thanks for all the input folks.

VFE.