Blackbushe -> Perranporth routing
 

Hi all,

Considering a visit to Perranporth from Blackbushe tomorrow, but wondering about the best routing and availability of LARS.

The bit at the NW corner of Southampton's airspace is always a bit squashed, but to be honest I'm considering going FL60 straight over the top of the mil (Boscombe, I think - I don't have my chart to hand).

I'm IMC rated. I'm a bit rusty when it comes to approaches (which is fine as neither end has one!), but perfectly happy en-route, so relatively high should be fine.

However, if I'm in IMC I'd like a radar service and most of the possible suspects (after Farnborough) look like they're shut on the weekends.

So... any advice?

Thanks,

TPK:ok:

That's a bit high for my blood but you should get a service from Exeter, Plymouth and St Mawgan. Be particularly careful near Compton Abbas as I hope to be flying there tomorrow.

Well, if I'm FL60 we'll all be fine, right? ;)

Should be VMC tomorrow,if I was flying that route I'd probably route lowish all along the south coast (subject to Danger area status) and enjoy the view :ok:

Solent, Bournemouth and Exeter at least should provide a RIS if you must fly in the murk. Yeovilton, St Mawgan & Plymouth may.

If I get the the coast by routing east of Soton, it's a surprisingly long way out of my way. If I come north and west of Soton, how much traffic am I likely to encounter for Exeter, etc.?

(All written sans chart, as previously mentioned!)

The forecast is for 8/8th blue tomorrow, so IMC shouldn't be an issue.

The majority of IFR Exeter traffic comes from the BCN direction or from the south via BHD, so there should be relatively little coming at you from the East. If you talk to Exeter Approach they will know of anything expected or in the area.

Make sure you route around D011 (Okehampton) as it is often active at the w/end. It's easy to do by following the A30 until you get to Okehampton.

It's a lovely trip on a nice day, especially when you can see the sea on both sides and the land narrowing towards Cornwall. Enjoy!

Why not:

Hook VRP to Yeovilton, climbing to FL40 when past Hook. Then up to FL60 if you really want to, once past Andover. You should have Farnborough Radar all the way to 30 nm past Farnborough - about as far as Andover. Then perhaps Solent (depending on their mood). Not much LARS after that at the weekend - so after Solent have finished with you that'll probably be it unless you can raise anyone at Yeovilton (unlikely).

After Yeovilton, I would suggest to Tiverton which is shortly after the centreline of N864 (BHD and BCN VOR should help) - you should be able to get a service of some sort from Exeter. After Tiverton, route direct to the St Mawgan NDB, then down the coast to Perranporth. WATCH OUT FOR D011 - avoid it by making sure you fly to the overhead of Okehampton (it's on your track). St Mawgan/Newquay may give you some type of service before you call Perranporth.

Enjoy the trip however you plan to do it. But I'd avoid the South Coast and the inane RT jabberings of the Le Touquet Lunch Team.....:rolleyes:

Thanks eyeinthesky and BEagle. I'm going to have great fun with all this info and my chart tonight! :-)

I'd go direct, pretty much, routing through the SE corner of Boscombe MATZ (or above it), north of Compton Abbas, south of Yeovilton, overhead Exeter, slight dogleg to pass south of Princetown (and the Danger area). I'd RIS from Boscombe, who will had you off to Yeovilton, who will suggest you contact Exeter, who will suggest you contact Plymouth Mil who may had you to St Mawgan........(all RIS).

Very easy and nice route, have a nice flight!:ok:

"I'd RIS from Boscombe, who will hand you off to Yeovilton.."

RIS? - Military? Boscombe? Yeovilton? On a weekend??? :hmm: :zzz:
More betterer perhaps - try Bournemouth (119.475 whatsishertz)

Oh yea...the weekend, is it weekend already. Sorry, I work 7 days per week so the weekends get lost....:O (but when I'm home I play 7 days per week ;))

In that case, good luck! Try Bournemouth and Exeter, and watch out for aerobatics near Old Sarum and Compton Abbas (up to 5k probably).

If you like dramatic coast lines, i would suggest dct Chivenor dct Perranporth. The north Cornish coast is amazing, especially passing over Tintagel. It is a 10nm dog led from the dct track but well worth it for the scenery. Most D/A's should be inactive tomorrow, but check on route:ok:

Direct.

Only observations - EGDO11 is up to 10,000 but almost certainly closed weekends - check the NOTAMS.

Dct will take you through the ILS for St Mawgs and almost Exeter.

Unless you are high you will find there is a gap between the LARS service from Bournemouth and Exeter.

Dont forget the airway N864 Cardiff Exeter with a base FL65 is you are high. Exeter will handle the crossing.

After you leave the Farnborough west sector, forget military units like Boscombe and Yeovilton and don't bother Solent unless you actually wish to penetrate their CTA; first unit is Bournemouth (7 days) then possibly Plymouth Mil, who use radar heads at Portland and Plymouth so they can see you a long way down into Cornwall. If they're not available try Exeter. Culdrose might be open but don't count on it.
Oh and don't forget to check the activity state of D127 (Porton Down, just SE Boscombe) which can be active at odd times with a variable upper limit.

17 miles further than DCT according to my Navbox. ~ 8 mins flying time. :)

You could try Clatworthy Res. on the moors, Clovelly, Bude etc for some superb scenery on what promises to be a lovelly day.

I didn't understand a word of that! ;)

(That's not fair... moors, scenery and, I think, Bude all made it through OK)

'There was a young lady from Bude' etc etc

Thanks everyone for the input.

Here's the plan.

Outbound: EGLK, EGHO (allowing for Odiham MATZ if no clearance from LF), EGDM, Clatworthy Reservoir, Bude then visual down the coast and around St Mawgan. Mostly at FL60.

Return: EGTP, EGTE (allowing for St Mawgan MATZ and maybe D011), EGHA, EGLK (allowing for Odiham MATZ again). Mostly at FL50 or FL70 (dipping to FL65 to cross the base of N864).

Final questions:

1) Anyone know anything about D064C? There's nothing about it in my flight guide! :uhoh:

2) How strict is the "right angles to the airway" bit about crossing the base of airways? For example, if I were crossing N864 via Exeter overhead on track with its ILS, would that be OK?

Thanks again,

TPK:ok:

1) Where is it near?

2) Right angles ideally, but if you ask Exeter for a change of heading almost certainly it will be given

3) Watch the gliding launch at Maiden Bradley

4) Track along the railway line at Corton and you can take in Madonna's residence if you really want to, Longleat House, Wing Farm, the launch for the Red Bull team, etc

5) I'd still go from the reservoir to Clovelly and route along the coast for the scenery!

Enjoy. I shall be going the other way tomorrow.