Ben Armine Rocket Range
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Moray,Scotland,U.K.
Ben Armine Rocket Range
From the NOTAMS, this week, from 1 to 5 May 2012, a 200 square NM circle, 8NM radius, to 80,000 ft is allocated for rocket firing. I can find no reference to this range on the IAIP map.The area is west of Helmsdale, on the NW of the Moray Firth.
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From: UK
Rocketry In Scotland
I've not been involved in amateur rocketry for some years (to be frank, I couldn't get a ride in one, so decided that I preferred aeroplanes), but still have a lot of friends who are. They've been enthusing about this event for months.
As Jock says, these are serious players building some seriously big rockets. What he didn't say is that the nature of the vehicles is that they go up very quickly, then spend quite a long time coming down under various parachute systems. So the real risk to a light aircraft there is not so much being shot down, as being landed upon.
G
I've not been involved in amateur rocketry for some years (to be frank, I couldn't get a ride in one, so decided that I preferred aeroplanes), but still have a lot of friends who are. They've been enthusing about this event for months.
As Jock says, these are serious players building some seriously big rockets. What he didn't say is that the nature of the vehicles is that they go up very quickly, then spend quite a long time coming down under various parachute systems. So the real risk to a light aircraft there is not so much being shot down, as being landed upon.
G
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From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
There is no range or Danger area there, just a Notam with regard the planned operation. From what I understand it is boys playing with their toys, they build these things in their garden sheds then are allowed to fire them off....Crazy if you ask me. It happens quite often on Fairlie Moor close to Largs.
There are procedures in force with Scottish ATC to protect any commercial aircraft flying within the designated area's though but what happens if your tootling around VFR in class G airspace and stumble upon the site as they are about to fire!!!
There are procedures in force with Scottish ATC to protect any commercial aircraft flying within the designated area's though but what happens if your tootling around VFR in class G airspace and stumble upon the site as they are about to fire!!!
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From: UK
There is no range or Danger area there, just a Notam with regard the planned operation. From what I understand it is boys playing with their toys, they build these things in their garden sheds then are allowed to fire them off....Crazy if you ask me. It happens quite often on Fairlie Moor close to Largs.
There are procedures in force with Scottish ATC to protect any commercial aircraft flying within the designated area's though but what happens if your tootling around VFR in class G airspace and stumble upon the site as they are about to fire!!!
It's nice and helpful of ATC to inform traffic - of any description - of a safety critical issue that affect them. But the NOTAM, and the Captain's duties, have primacy.
G
PPRuNe Bashaholic
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From: The Peoples Alcoholic Republic of Jockistan
They're called NOTAMs. We are all supposed to check them before every flight, whether we're flying a single seat microlight or a B767. I'm not aware of any distinction between classes of traffic - we're all required to check them.
It's nice and helpful of ATC to inform traffic - of any description - of a safety critical issue that affect them. But the NOTAM, and the Captain's duties, have primacy.
It's nice and helpful of ATC to inform traffic - of any description - of a safety critical issue that affect them. But the NOTAM, and the Captain's duties, have primacy.
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From: .
The NOTAM says that activity will be subject to clearance from Prestwick, so if there's traffic in the area, e.g. the Schneck-Kirkwall-Sumburgh Loganair passing overhead, PC will be unlikely to approve until it is OK to do so. If you find yourself near the area when there happens to be launches then I'm sure Scottish will warn you 
PPRuNe Bashaholic
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From: The Peoples Alcoholic Republic of Jockistan
Scottish are only giving 'clearance' in respect of airspace above FL195, which is Class C and requires a clearance. Below that, we can't legally tell people to steer clear, nor stop any launch activity.
However, duty of care means we do tell pilots about the activity and our instructions state we should not let aircraft under our control enter the area. Unless in receipt of a Control Service, i.e. within Controlled Airspace, or receiving a service on the published Advisory Route (where pilots are expected to comply with instructions) that's something we can't legally enforce if the pilot decides he wants to do otherwise.
Applying Airmanship should allow the pilot to calculate the risks and make an appropriate decision as to avoidance (or not).
However, duty of care means we do tell pilots about the activity and our instructions state we should not let aircraft under our control enter the area. Unless in receipt of a Control Service, i.e. within Controlled Airspace, or receiving a service on the published Advisory Route (where pilots are expected to comply with instructions) that's something we can't legally enforce if the pilot decides he wants to do otherwise.
Applying Airmanship should allow the pilot to calculate the risks and make an appropriate decision as to avoidance (or not).
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From: Sometimes north, sometimes south
The more interesting case might be military low flyers. The Ben Armine range is located in LFA14(T), where they fly at 100ft, and the Highlands Restricted Area, where they fly low level in IMC. LFA14(T)'s active every day this week. Quite a chunk out of their normal area if they've banned all ops in there while there may be rockets about.
NS
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