The importance of a full initial call to an ATCU
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eyeinthesky and Foghorn:
I couldn't agree more with you so far as LARS is concerned. There are some obvious partial-answers, such as re-instating Southend's LARS (which I believe is in the pipeline). At a recent industry gathering, we were told that the primary reason that this was withdrawn was the "lack of use" it received. So there's the message. If we get a LARS service, lets use it.
On the zone infringement point, I would agree too. It is surely not co-incidental that Stansted is one of the more heavily infringed zones, whilst at the same time, its controllers frequently give the impression of confusing the meaning of Class D airspace with Class A.
There is one area where we can help ourselves though, and this is hinted at in one of Foghorn's postings. The space between the GW and SS zone is for the most part huge, and has VOR beacons at either end for the visually challenged. It is a sad reflection of the state of GA training that many GA pilots live in apparent terror of navigating along it... What's the problem?
-2Donkeys
I couldn't agree more with you so far as LARS is concerned. There are some obvious partial-answers, such as re-instating Southend's LARS (which I believe is in the pipeline). At a recent industry gathering, we were told that the primary reason that this was withdrawn was the "lack of use" it received. So there's the message. If we get a LARS service, lets use it.
On the zone infringement point, I would agree too. It is surely not co-incidental that Stansted is one of the more heavily infringed zones, whilst at the same time, its controllers frequently give the impression of confusing the meaning of Class D airspace with Class A.
There is one area where we can help ourselves though, and this is hinted at in one of Foghorn's postings. The space between the GW and SS zone is for the most part huge, and has VOR beacons at either end for the visually challenged. It is a sad reflection of the state of GA training that many GA pilots live in apparent terror of navigating along it... What's the problem?
-2Donkeys
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None really, it's just easier to point the thing along the straight line between BPK and the EGGW overhead and give Luton App a shout. But we'll not go there again 
More laziness than terror, which isn't a good excuse I know. But as you say, airspace busts happen for a reason, and class D is class D: VFR is allowed.
Also for some GA pilots transiting the Luton Zone is the only experience of proper controlled airspace flying they will get - it was for me before I flew abroad last year - so maybe asking for transit is not as bad from a continuous learning point of view.
[This message has been edited by foghorn (edited 17 March 2001).]
More laziness than terror, which isn't a good excuse I know. But as you say, airspace busts happen for a reason, and class D is class D: VFR is allowed.
Also for some GA pilots transiting the Luton Zone is the only experience of proper controlled airspace flying they will get - it was for me before I flew abroad last year - so maybe asking for transit is not as bad from a continuous learning point of view.
[This message has been edited by foghorn (edited 17 March 2001).]
