Quick Question re Routing to Alderney
 

Hello,

I was provisionally planning on flying the following route VFR to Alderney from Wycombe (on a weekday);

EGTB-WOD-GWC, GWC direct to ORTAC on 225R then from there direct to ALD Beacon, ensuring that I’m below FL35 for the Q41 class A. Does this sound reasonable or are there any better ways to do it?
Was planning to speak to London Info then Jersey Zone for the clearance in.

Also are there any other nuances I should be aware of when flying to the CI, I have been over to France before so I’m familiar with Flight Plan/GAR etc.
I've had a browse through the archive threads on this but most of it is quite dated now.

Thanks very much.

Be aware that just because the Trislanders have their own private airway doesn't mean they always use it. I've been on which flew all the way from Alderney to Southampton at 1,200'. So you still have to keep your eyes open for airliners, don't assume they're all in the class A!

Channel Islands
 

You could route vis SAM they are usually helpfull but the route you have is hardly any more distance. I think you would be better talking to Farnborough West 125.250 they can get you through Odiham and Farnborough. If you try Solent on the way past 120.225 they can sometimes hand you over to Jersey Zone or just free call them before 50 north. As has been said already watch out for traffic coming the other way.

Pete

Thanks for the tips.

Yes i've transited down the corridor between Odiham and Farnborough a few times before i'll be speaking to Farn LARS for that part, was just going to switch over to London for the crossing but i might give Solent a try as you suggest.

Thanks

I would vary your route.

Fly GWC dct St Catherines point (southern tip of the I of W), dct to the IFR point just to the east of ORTAC (I cant recall the name and havent got the chart in front of me). The IFR reporting point is on the edge of the airway. That way the whole route is outside the airway and clear of all the eastern danger areas. If you look at the chart and draw a line between St Catherines point and East of Otrac staying clear of the airways and the danger areas you will see what I mean. You can therefore pretty much go as high as you like (which always makes sense) and it is just about the shortest crossing. Report before 50N and they will either ask you to continue towards the Cap or give you vectors straight away.

Its the best route outside CAS and I have been that way many times if not IFR.

You should get a LARS from Bournemouth for most of the crossing and then a radar service from Jersey zone.

You will find Jersey zone will often take you though the zone quite low (1,500 feet) so be prepared for that and dont hesitate to ask for higher.

Your route will work fine but it is a much longer crossing and you need to check the danger zones are cold.

Thanks for that. If i draw a straight line from St Catherines Point to BOLRO (assume this is the one you mean its the next IFR reporting point East of ORTAC) then it looks like I still go through D036/19.0.(pls correct me if i'm mis interpreting my chart)
I was planning on ringing to see if the Danger areas were active before i went anyway so thats not a problem if they are cold.

The plan with my original route was to stay to the west of D036 at all times, but the route you suggested does make more sense in terms of flying higher and shorter crossing.

Thanks

DCT HAZEL DCT ORIST DCT
or
DCT AVANT DCT ORIST DCT
Add WOD in there if you want

Add KATHY in there if you want also. It's near to St Catherines Point. Alternative is to fly the VFR route at FL100 from KATHY to MP, descending to FL95 at the French FIR.

If you have decent GPS fly direct to the Bembridge overhead (skirting round Odiham as needed) and then direct Alderney. Once south west of Farnborough you can do the whole trip at FL050 (higher over the briny if you like) and you'll be in the descent at 50 North talking to Jersey so won't infringe the end of the airway as you cross into the zone and it'll keep out of the danger areas.

Could I ask the panel what would they suggest as a route from the Weston super mare area? I flew from Rosslare to Cherbourg via that point, spoke to Bristol and Bournemouth (Yeovilton was closed) and got let through the danger areas without much difficulty, but was asked/ told to keep below 5000ft to avoid the airway, eventually having to descend to stay well below that triangular piece of Class A to the NE of Jersey. I prefer higher to lower of course.

From Weston Supermare I'd go direct to Alderney on a weekend talking Plymouth Mil if they are about otherwise Bournemouth.

During the week call Plymouth ops to find out what's happening in the channel and then get a DACS from Plymouth Mil, if all else fails route via BIA and then Direct

concur with talking to Plymouth Mil. They can get you across the Danger Areas and also keep an eye on you as they are the only unit with low level radar coverage in that part of the Channel. Downside is that radar operates only Mon-Fri but the telephone line to the Duty Ops Officer is H24!