Brize Radar
 

I was not able to raise Brize Radar yesterday at about 17:30 local time on 127.25 when in the vacinity of Turweston. I heard several other aircraft trying to make contact but with no luck.

Also nothing from Farnborough North

Are they on holiday?

It's a weekend :p

Brize icf is 124.275 not 127.25, so I'm not surprised no reply (but then they don't normally provide LARS after 1730 local do thay?)
Farnborough don't shut down just because it's a weekend; musta been short of staff(again) 'cos I retired.

Looking at my log again I see it was 124.275 I was trying. The time was 17:35 local so that must explain it.

Stapleford Radio said something about Farnborough North being off air due to a technical problem.

It was nice not talking to anyone, actually. Earlier I was listening in to Essex Radar - continuous chatter and static (I was at low level) as they brought the big jets down (airline pilots job must be incredibly boring - apart from the sexual shennigans that is) . Hard to concentrate on my FREDA checks! The only help a Basic service seems to give is Altimeter pressures. ATZ radio is different entirely and very essential!

If the LARS controllers have all packed up and gone home is it okay for a/c to talk to each other on frequency (for what reason I haven't yet thought out:hmm::hmm:)

When flying near Shawbury, after they've quit for the day, my instructor taught me to make position and intention calls on their frequency, addressing them to "Shawbury traffic". It's contagious, with others doing likewise, after someone sets the ball rolling.

I would think that is highly "unapproved". You may as well make the calls on 121.50 - there will be a whole lot more people listening ;)

Without radar, position reports are of almost no value.

If you're transiting in the vicinity of Brize outside of office hours try their zone frequency 119.0. Now, strictly speaking this frequency is for the use of crossing their zone. If however, you may possibly need to transit their class 'D', due to weather or dodgy compass then they may provide you with a Service. If they refuse ask for a reason then report it.

If I hear someone make a blind call to "Shawbury traffic", stating that they are transiting the MATZ from X to Y at Z feet, heading for the low-level route, and I'm in the vicinity, it improves my situational awareness in exactly the same way as it would if they were addressing "Shawbury Zone".

Farnborough North is unlikely to hear you if you are north of WCO, especially if flying lower than 2,000ft.

soay
someone beat me to it I see.........
ignore IO540 - I'm assuming you're talking vfr here, so carry on the good airmanship, vfr position reports v useful.

Let me get this right. Some people will be making blind calls on Shawbury Zone frequency to increase their SA? What about Sleap Info? Surely it would be better for as many people as possible to be on the same freq?

pianorak: when I left Farnborough it was the other way round, we could hear aircraft but they couldn't hear us. This was due to the location and power output of the transmitter. There are two Tx/Rx stations for 132.8, one of these being at Luton. Unfortunately it was found that this interfered with Luton's own frequencies so the power level was limited. I think this problem has been fixed now, but having said that, it must have been a big technical problem for both stations to be off the air, especially as the other one is not far from Stapleford.

back t the original question, I'd check Pooleys or similar for their times of operation. Not got mine to hand but I think ending at 17:00 rings a bell.So that would explain why you couldn't raise them. I think the hours are a faily recent change as I also thought brize lars was a 24 hour operation.

In general check for LARS coverage and hours , as you may get caught out at the weekend in teh summer if retruning late from a destination.
Well worth doing especially if you are planning any IFR flying as you mgiht find tehre is no coverage for your return flight.

Thanks, chevvron. Useful to know since Benson nowadays always seem to ask you straight away to call Farnborough N (eg flying WW up north).

It is NOT OK to make social chats on air band frequency even if the relevant ATC/FIS/Radio station is closed. Every time you press the transmit button you block further communication.

It is recommended to be in communication with some service provider.

Blind calls can be useful if within an ATZ i.e. following a circuit pattern, arrival or departure.

If Brize or Shawbury or ... are not responding, then contact London Information, London will be able to help and advise who to call.

Remember it is in your own interest to be in contact with some service provider, it is for your safety/benefit!!!!!

Keep calling on Shaw zone, many people route to Sleap after hours and weekends through MATZ, but stay clear of ATZ. Air tests and out of hours movements from Shaw (No ATC)will monitor Zone freq and may call Sleap with traffic info. There is no one else to talk to, should you be one of those people who need to be talking to someone! Enjoy the freedom....

Brize Norton reduce their manning over weekends and holidays when their own movements are low. As well as the VHF frequencies they also use UHF to talk to military aircraft. Just because you do not receive a reply does not mean they can't hear you, there may be one controller operating a number of frequencies and you are not very high on their priority list.