Alderney VFR route via "LHN"
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Alderney VFR route via "LHN"
Having failed to get to the Channel Islands at last attempt during the May Day bank holiday last year due wx, we are going to give it another go on the same weekend this year (what are the chances of being weathered off two years in a row!?... don't answer that!).
The plan would be to visit Guernsey via Alderney and day 1, and then visit Jersey on day 2. So I have updated myself with a fresh read of the current French AIP SUP 119/04 , which was issued quite recently, in November 2004. I find some of the wording a little bit ambiguous, so I wondering if anyone who has actually flown the route to Alderney recently can confirm my understanding? The current AIP supplement shows a VFR route from Cherbourg point "N" to "LHN" to Alderney. The relevant text reads:
My questions are:
1) whether the VFR route via LHN can be flown at any level, not just above 5,000'? I take it that it can, as long as you have flight planned appropriately (copied to addresses specified in the AIP SUP) and contacted the "mobile radar station" referred to in the NOTAM?
2) The current AIP supplement also refers to the need to "contact the managing authority" which is defined as:
Where then is the NOTAM which gives me these details? When I put the route "... DCT SAM DCT MP DCT ALD ..." into the UK AIS NOTAM system I do not get anything which gives these details.... maybe that's because it is only sometimes active so it is not always necessary to contact the "mobile radar station"?
3) Lastly, the same route when put into the UK AIS NOTAM system throws up some NOTAM which appear to contradict the current AIP supplement... for example:
directly contradicts the current French AIP SUP 119/04 which no longer allows the route via Heauville, and:
... appears to refer to an now superseded French AIP SUP prior to the current 119/04.
Is it bureaucracy gone mad, or have I failed to read this properly? I am keen for practical advice from those who have had to deal with this in practice since Nov 2004. It seems worth getting right as the AIP SUP indicates draconian penalties for getting it wrong!
Vive le AIP!
Andy
The plan would be to visit Guernsey via Alderney and day 1, and then visit Jersey on day 2. So I have updated myself with a fresh read of the current French AIP SUP 119/04 , which was issued quite recently, in November 2004. I find some of the wording a little bit ambiguous, so I wondering if anyone who has actually flown the route to Alderney recently can confirm my understanding? The current AIP supplement shows a VFR route from Cherbourg point "N" to "LHN" to Alderney. The relevant text reads:
3.8.3 Provisions for VFR aircraft (ref. chart)
- The VFR route between Alderney and Cap de la Hague:
* is prohibited below 5000 ft ASFC except for aircraft carrying out the activities 1, 2, 3.
* is available for all VFR flights only above 5000 ft ASFC.
- The additional VFR route; Alderney - Heauville, associated with the ZIT at Flamanville, is suspended, and a recommended VFR route: Alderney - LHN (298deg/21 Nm from MP or 49deg47'00"N/001deg52'00"W) - Point N Cherbourg Maupertus, is created.
- A route, in the ZRT, between Pointe du Rozel and SW Cherbourg point, is created.
- The VFR route between Alderney and Cap de la Hague:
* is prohibited below 5000 ft ASFC except for aircraft carrying out the activities 1, 2, 3.
* is available for all VFR flights only above 5000 ft ASFC.
- The additional VFR route; Alderney - Heauville, associated with the ZIT at Flamanville, is suspended, and a recommended VFR route: Alderney - LHN (298deg/21 Nm from MP or 49deg47'00"N/001deg52'00"W) - Point N Cherbourg Maupertus, is created.
- A route, in the ZRT, between Pointe du Rozel and SW Cherbourg point, is created.
1) whether the VFR route via LHN can be flown at any level, not just above 5,000'? I take it that it can, as long as you have flight planned appropriately (copied to addresses specified in the AIP SUP) and contacted the "mobile radar station" referred to in the NOTAM?
2) The current AIP supplement also refers to the need to "contact the managing authority" which is defined as:
Managing Authority
Mobile radar station (MCT): call sign, frequency and telephone number (published by a launching Notam).
Mobile radar station (MCT): call sign, frequency and telephone number (published by a launching Notam).
3) Lastly, the same route when put into the UK AIS NOTAM system throws up some NOTAM which appear to contradict the current AIP supplement... for example:
NAVW: FROM 04/12/01 09:43 TO 05/01/31 23:59 EST B2242/04
E)FLIGHTS FROM/TO CHANNEL ISLANDS:
PROHIBITED AREA 494100N 0015300W RAD 5KM 3900FT AMSL/SFC.
SVFR ROUTE ALDERNEY - CAP DE LA HAGUE SUSPENDED UNDER 3900FT.
CREATION OF A COMPLEMENTARY SVFR ROUTE
ALDERNEY - HEAUVILLE (493459N 0014807W)
DANGER AREA LF D575 SUSPENDED.
E)FLIGHTS FROM/TO CHANNEL ISLANDS:
PROHIBITED AREA 494100N 0015300W RAD 5KM 3900FT AMSL/SFC.
SVFR ROUTE ALDERNEY - CAP DE LA HAGUE SUSPENDED UNDER 3900FT.
CREATION OF A COMPLEMENTARY SVFR ROUTE
ALDERNEY - HEAUVILLE (493459N 0014807W)
DANGER AREA LF D575 SUSPENDED.
NAVW: FROM 04/11/16 11:43 TO 05/06/30 23:59 B6291/04
E)TEMPO PROHIBITED AREAS (FLAMANVILLE, LA HAGUE AND SAINT
NAZAIRE MONTOIR) WITHIN BREST FIR:
AIP SUP NR 102/04 REFERS.
F)SFC G)3900FT AMSL
E)TEMPO PROHIBITED AREAS (FLAMANVILLE, LA HAGUE AND SAINT
NAZAIRE MONTOIR) WITHIN BREST FIR:
AIP SUP NR 102/04 REFERS.
F)SFC G)3900FT AMSL
Is it bureaucracy gone mad, or have I failed to read this properly? I am keen for practical advice from those who have had to deal with this in practice since Nov 2004. It seems worth getting right as the AIP SUP indicates draconian penalties for getting it wrong!
Vive le AIP!
Andy
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Andy
Why not avoid all the French nonsense and fly CP - ORTAC - EGJA? It's not much further over water, just stay under N866 and you only need to talk to London, then Jersey. It's what I do.
Phil
Why not avoid all the French nonsense and fly CP - ORTAC - EGJA? It's not much further over water, just stay under N866 and you only need to talk to London, then Jersey. It's what I do.
Phil
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SUP 119/04 is only activated by Notam. It is not active at the moment. See this SUP for current status
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Charlie Fox: ahhh! that makes sense then, cheers! 
PhilD: thanks - that does make sense... I have just looked at this and it is about the same flying time over water as, say, SFD -> Dieppe which I have not previously balked at... so I think you might be right that this is the simplest solution and not materially less safe than the SAM-MP route. I guess it also has the advantage of avoiding EG-D036.
I wonder: do you know if it's theoretically possible to climb into the N866 airway Class A airspace above 3,500' on an SVFR clearance (to get more height for the crossing, presuming the cloud base allows this)? If so, who would you call to request this?
Cheers - and thanks both...
Andy
PhilD: thanks - that does make sense... I have just looked at this and it is about the same flying time over water as, say, SFD -> Dieppe which I have not previously balked at... so I think you might be right that this is the simplest solution and not materially less safe than the SAM-MP route. I guess it also has the advantage of avoiding EG-D036.
I wonder: do you know if it's theoretically possible to climb into the N866 airway Class A airspace above 3,500' on an SVFR clearance (to get more height for the crossing, presuming the cloud base allows this)? If so, who would you call to request this?
Cheers - and thanks both...
Andy
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I wonder: do you know if it's theoretically possible to climb into the N866 airway Class A airspace above 3,500' on an SVFR clearance (to get more height for the crossing, presuming the cloud base allows this)? If so, who would you call to request this?
SVFR is only available in class A Zones; being class A that touches the ground.
2D
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If your route takes you to the east of Southampton anyway and you have a GPS, then you can track from IW (Bembridge) direct to Alderney and that will keep you to the east of N866 and west of D036 and you can then fly quadrantal levels, if you want to go higher than the base of N866.
Jersey usually clear you SVFR into the zone at around 3000ft, so if you contact them about 10 miles out you can be sure that you don't clip the edge of N866 as you descend to cross into Jersey zone just to the East of ORTAC.
I've done this successfully many times. I've also done the route under N866 tracking the radial off SAM, which is what the Trislanders above you are doing;-)
Jersey usually clear you SVFR into the zone at around 3000ft, so if you contact them about 10 miles out you can be sure that you don't clip the edge of N866 as you descend to cross into Jersey zone just to the East of ORTAC.
I've done this successfully many times. I've also done the route under N866 tracking the radial off SAM, which is what the Trislanders above you are doing;-)
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My preferred routing is from CP (St Catherines point) to a point just east of Ortac between the airway and the D36 excercise area. If you draw a direct line on the chart you will find it is possible to stay between the airway and the exercise area thus enabling an unrestricted climb. Obviously it is then possible to descend beneath the airway direct track to Ortac en route if you prefer or if that is the "clearance" offered. I think you will find this produces a leg distance of 63 nm over water, just about as short as is possible to Alderney. Dont forget you should comply with the quadrangle rule en route even if VFR on this leg.
[johnm sorry posted whilst you were posting forgive the repitition]
[johnm sorry posted whilst you were posting forgive the repitition]
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Audio: thanks... we're planning to stay on Guernsey actually (after lunch at Alderney)... any recommendations for accomodation near the airfield?
Andy
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Most suggestions so far have concentrated on remaining East of the airway. If, as I believe you might be, you are coming from Booker, this means transiting the Solent CTA (which can be tricky at present because they have no SSR) and a fairly narrow corridor down which to fly if D036 is active and you don't want to go in the airway. It's also difficult to judge exactly when to descend to keep away from the edge of N866 as the angle is very acute.
If you route to the west of Solent via Chilbolton (talking to Boscombe during the week), you will usually get a transit of Bournemouth CTA with little difficulty. Then you can climb as high as you like on track BIA-ALD, and only descend beneath the airway about 10 miles north of 50 N. You will probably be wanting to descend for Alderney by then anyway (18nm from 50N to Alderney). If you are not sure of where 50N is exactly, a good tip is to look for the ships routing from the South West up to the North East in the Maritime Separation Zone. They cross 50N on the track BIA-ALD. You will have already crossed the South-West bound ships earlier. (D031 south of Swanage is very rarely active above 2000ft).
Bear in mind that the base of the airway is FLIGHT LEVEL 35, so if the QNH is lower than 1013 you cannot scoot along at 3500ft QNH and remain outside CAS.
Enjoy the trip. Just watch out for Trislanders/Islanders on the route ALD-BIA usually at 3000ft. (The Prince Albert pub does good lunches in Alderney, and there is a fish restaurant by the harbour.)
If you route to the west of Solent via Chilbolton (talking to Boscombe during the week), you will usually get a transit of Bournemouth CTA with little difficulty. Then you can climb as high as you like on track BIA-ALD, and only descend beneath the airway about 10 miles north of 50 N. You will probably be wanting to descend for Alderney by then anyway (18nm from 50N to Alderney). If you are not sure of where 50N is exactly, a good tip is to look for the ships routing from the South West up to the North East in the Maritime Separation Zone. They cross 50N on the track BIA-ALD. You will have already crossed the South-West bound ships earlier. (D031 south of Swanage is very rarely active above 2000ft).
Bear in mind that the base of the airway is FLIGHT LEVEL 35, so if the QNH is lower than 1013 you cannot scoot along at 3500ft QNH and remain outside CAS.
Enjoy the trip. Just watch out for Trislanders/Islanders on the route ALD-BIA usually at 3000ft. (The Prince Albert pub does good lunches in Alderney, and there is a fish restaurant by the harbour.)
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eyeinthesky: many thanks for your input, much appreciated. Yes the Chilbolton -> BIA route would make sense I suppose... I guess it is also straightforward to route direct from Wycombe -> Portsmouth Harbour --> St. Catherine's etc but probably more straightforward the way you suggest.
Ludwig: we're booking Old Govt House - looks great! (just double-checking their "bad weather cancellation" terms...)
Thanks to everyone else as well!
Andy
Ludwig: we're booking Old Govt House - looks great! (just double-checking their "bad weather cancellation" terms...)
Thanks to everyone else as well!
Andy
