Draconian 3 day airspace restriction

[Jim59]

It comes from CAA Directorate of Airspace Policy, ‘Airspace Coordination Notice’ 2011-05-0003 dated 15/3/11

Can someone give me a clue as to where to find this please - including a URL. I've tried searching - including the CAA's site.

[J.A.F.O.]

Astir

I think you're missing the point

I wasn't missing the point, just trying to let you know that you didn't have a valid one, sorry it took so long.

[astir 8]

JAFO

Sorry, but I still feel very strongly that the imposition of a RAT covering a very heavily used choke point piece of class G airspace without any form of consultation is an abuse of authority. And it will adversely affect non radio aircraft wanting to transit north -south through the Brize -Benson gap.

You don't share that view but that's up to you. Have a nice day. Out

[biscuit74]

This does seem to be a somewhat pointlessly excessive measure, imposed arbitrarily without any clear justification provided - and apparently without any such justification being required within the system.
Of itself, not necessarily worth making a huge fuss about, but when you then look at the utter nonsense being proposed around next years' Olympics, you see a dubious trend.

Never mind what the true duration is, let's add an arbitarary length of time either side, because we can. Typical bureaucrat thinking.
Andf if that is not kicked back against, HARD, it recurs and expands.


As for JAFO and others views about it being simply a mild form of controlled airspace to which we can still get access if we ask for permission (and if we have the requisite kit) - take care. This is the thin end of the wedge. Why should we?
It should be for 'the authorities' to justify their need for a restriction, not for us to have to seek permission and justify our flying plans.

This incidentally, conforms to what I was taught a long time ago as a basic part of how good leadership operates.
If you explain clearly WHY something is being done, then you are much more likely to get people working with you, through knowledge & understanding. All too often failure to explain is because no clear reasons exist. The 'because I say so' weak argument used all too often by parents!

If this type of, rather peculiarly British, obssession with control is not pushed back, all flying may soon require explicit permission to take place.

[soaringhigh650]

And it will adversely affect non radio aircraft wanting to transit north -south through the Brize -Benson gap.

I would consider buying a handheld radio then. They've come down a lot in price these days.

This is the thin end of the wedge. Why should we?
It should be for 'the authorities' to justify their need for a restriction, not for us to have to seek permission and justify our flying plans.

There is a group that considers airspace change proposals where representatives from airspace users groups are given a say in things before they are implemented. Restrictions don't just pop up left right and center. If you are not happy I would suggest writing to your representative group instead. Most likely they would already be seeing assurances for access.

Sometimes I get wound up when the non-radio, non-transponding, "maximize every chunk of uncontrolled airspace", VFR-only pilots, who just want to fly everywhere whenever they want, however they want, at the complete disregard for the safety of all airspace users, which includes themselves, in an increasingly crowded sky.

[chevvron]

To get this airspace approved, the organiser of the air show would have had to put a VERY robust case to DAP. If DAP did not accept that airspace restrictions were necessary for the safety of ALL air traffic, they would not have authorised the restriction and put it before parliament. Even then the parliamentary committee dealing with this could still throw it out, but they haven't, so it's been promulgated.
Live with it, and learn to use your radio to ask permission to transit, after all there'll be plenty of daylight in May, so you could always fly through outside the hours of activity.

[BillieBob]

This does seem to be a somewhat pointlessly excessive measure

I entirely agree! We are, of course referring to the quite ludicrous posts of nonrad, et al, aren't we?.

The statement "It would appear that for THREE days, over 6-8 May, a large amount of airspace will have a 10nm dia RA(T).", apart from being ungrammatical, is clearly a lie (Lie: A false statement deliberately presented as being true). Nowhere does it 'appear' that the RA(T) will be in place "for THREE days", it will be in place for only a few hours on each of three days to protect aircraft involved in two display rehearsals and one display. The airspace is not closed but its use is restricted and is entirely in the interests of flight safety, which is more than can be said for some of the self-seeking opinions in this thread.

Incidentally, those that raise the spectre that "all flying may soon require explicit permission to take place." might be well advised to examine carefully the published plans of EASA (Part-OPS) and Eurocontrol (Standardised European Rules of the Air). In reference to the latter, the BHPA have stated "It would appear that Eurocontrol only exists to meet the needs of the Commercial Air Transport industry". Perhaps less hyperbole over inconsequential airspace restrictions and more attention to the bigger picture would be more effective in protecting all of our interests.

[Neil Porter]

I'd like to point out we put out an RA(T) over the show weekend as we weren't sure of the amount of practices to be held on the Friday, or Saturday for those few hours the RA(T) were to be in force, obviously Sunday was a must for the actual displays.

The reason was we have had some 'strays' as we call them wander into the Zone in the past, two particulary come to mind when the RNLAF F16 was approaching to start its practice & the Hawk had to abandon its practice and 'shoe off' the offender last year before restarting.
I have nothing against all flyers but i do wish some would read the NOTAMS etc beforehand or answer their radios!.

In my eyes as the Org, i would never forgive myself IF something should happen. I'd rather see some form of safety implied for the periods we have the Practices / Displays going - at least with the RA(T) theres a better safety window.
We worked very closely this year with Brize who were excellent throughout.

And if your unaware, we rescinded the Friday RA(T) as all the practices were on the Saturday... so there was no reason to enforce in the end the RA(T).

Thanks

[astir 8]

Neil

So are the RATS on 3 days likely to be annual from now on?

[Neil Porter]

Almost certainly for a couple of hours on the Saturday for rehearsals & for the main display on showday yes but the minimum we require - Friday is not required as previously thought. Same dimensions ie: 5nm radius / up to 7000ft amsl. Previously there were just NOTAMS ie 3nm radius up to 7000ft amsl but especially after the two incidents mentioned it was felt by all to put the RA(T) in place as fast movers and light GA don't mix

Again we will consult with Brize who help us no end.