Aberporth Information 119.650

[TCAS FAN]

Chevvron

Not too sure what you are referring to. I understand that West Wales Radar is operated on behalf of West Wales Airport by Newquay ATC. The radar equipment is located on the airport and I believe that it was sold to West Wales by Cardiff when it became redundant.

[TCAS FAN]

arthur j negus esq

Not quite, but I have met all five of them over the years.

[arthur j negus esq]

That’s interesting, my internet search brought you up as someone that contracts for them.

[TCAS FAN]

In a past life would have loved to have done business with them, did try but was led to understand that they had all that they needed.

[arthur j negus esq]

Originally Posted by TCAS FAN

In a past life would have loved to have done business with them, did try but was led to understand that they had all that they needed.

I’m not one for “outing” but you come up as someone with very close ties to WWA, and all you Du is come on here and Rant about Aberporth

[TCAS FAN]

Having a holiday home nearby, meeting the guys at the airport and having paid them quite a few bob in landing fees over the years is as close as it gets, but think I know who you refer to.

[25 DME FIX]

Post # 25


It would appear that this may be an attempt to "out" an identity and thereby contravene the pprune rules.


Mods can we have a ruling on this please?

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by TCAS FAN

Chevvron

Not too sure what you are referring to. I understand that West Wales Radar is operated on behalf of West Wales Airport by Newquay ATC. The radar equipment is located on the airport and I believe that it was sold to West Wales by Cardiff when it became redundant.

I think I get your meaning now. There appear to be 2 competing radar units in the Aberporth area:
(1) that owned by Qinetiq and operated by NATS staff on 119.650 from the Qinetiq site (who incidentally, used to be Area Radar controllers rather than Approach radar ones- don't know if they still are) and
(2) that operated by WWA using a different radar head on the airfield itself and Newquay Airport employed controllers on 127.090 who presumably have Approach Radar ratings.
I know that the Qinetiq contract (which also used to cover Benbecula Range in the Hebrides) was up for renewal about 4 years ago as I was consulted by a potential bidder as regards suitable staff but I don't know who was awarded the contract.
Up to my retirement, (8 years ago so I'm a bit out of the loop) the Qinetiq owned Aberporth Radar was staffed by 3 ATCOs who did radar tracking/DACS using a modified Watchman Radar which had a longer range than the 'standard' version in order to provide overlapping radar cover with Llanbedr Radar (which could also have been a modified Watchman) in order to identify the Jindiviks etc launched from there, but of course all that changed when Qinetiq decided to close Llanbedr.(Thinks: with Qinetiq's increased use of Llandbedr recently, maybe they will establish another radar unit there) The radar equipment itself was all MOD supplied and owned.
I know nothing of the workings of West Wales Radar, but you say it has its own radar head on the airfield itself and using Newquay Airport controllers. So are they based on West Wales Airport or is the radar remoted to Newquay? (very expensive and hardly cost effective when you add SSR from a NATS source, the major expense being the BT telephone lines needed)
The only person I believe I know there is a FISO at WWA with whom I worked at Dunsfold back in 2012, although one of the FISOs I worked with at Fairoaks (now a bush pilot in Africa) also worked there.
For those who might be getting a bit confused by all this, the Qinetiq Aberporth site is situated about 2 miles north of WWA and is on a promontory on the coast just west of the village; both sites are clearly visible on FlashEarth or google Earth photos.

[TCAS FAN]

Chevvron

Yes it is two adjacent radars. The West Wales one is an ex Cardiff Marconi S511 and a new SSR mounted on top, so totally self contained, together with VHF transmitters/receivers. All piped back to Newquay.

From what I've heard it is a very cost effective arrangement, no overheads for locally based controllers and Newquay apparently with spare capacity to provide the radar service as/when required. A mini TC?

Know the FISOs, the ex Fairoaks one I believe is back from the warmth of flying in Botswana and shortly off to Antarctica next (British Antarctic Survey?), quite a difference!

[Commanche 250]

Gents and Ladies


As a pprune newbie please bear with me. Not wanting to get involved in a dispute that seems to be going on here, I would like to thank the West wales radar controller who permitted me to cross the Danger Areas last week.


I do not as yet have an 8.33 compliant radio but was still able to get a crossing as I have a Mode S transponder and was talking to another controller. Thanks guys I will be fitting a 8.33 soon and will be able to say "thankyou" in person.

[Quake]

So, can anyone confirm that the existance of a radar service (apart from London Info) in the Area?, I've been flying there for 9 years and it would be news to me.