The NOTAM issue is somewhat of a misnomer - so many people use graphical flight planning software that it makes little difference whether the NOTAM is promulgated as an airfield NOTAM or otherwise.

I usually roll my eyeballs at the UK's PPR obsession, seems to be the only country in the world that feels the need to patronisingly insist on 'briefings' and the like for noise and local procedures.

However sometimes, and on this occasion certainly, just making a phone call is actually a more expedient way of doing things - someone on the phone can tell me with reasonable certainty the real state of the runway at a given time - much easier to get an understanding on whether something is safe to land on or not that way.

Yeah but if tens or hundreds of people call then the guy on the phone is gonna have a mouthful repeating all the same info, or the lines are jammed and people fly elsewhere. That's why NOTAM or METAR are published so everyone can read it without further questions.

What a good thing you are here to enlighten us - I would never have guessed that by myself. :ugh:

But there's not hundreds of people flying there, not in a month of Mondays.

Sandown Update 14 March 2014
 

The good news is that the rain has, so far, stayed away from the Isle of Wight and consequently the Isle of Wight Airport, Sandown (EGHN) remains open to incoming traffic, but please PPR as there are still some damp patches to avoid. +44 (0) 1983 716 926. 119.275MHz.


100LL fuel is now available. Please advise the tower if you require fuel as it is a fixed pump installation. Competitive price!!!


And, as the days are getting longer the café hours have been extended. Now open Monday to Friday from 1100-1600, Saturday and Sunday 1100-1700. Hot food served until 1500 hrs. These times are LOCAL.


See you there, soon.

Or maybe a recording of the ATIS you can call like many airfields in the US?

HTC

It is obvious Fieldhawk does not listen to his customers.

Its more than likely nothing to do with him.

I can think of at least 5 different parties ranging from the Police to insurance company's that may insist on PPR.

Your having a laugh about ATIS aren't you? Only frequency's left down that end of the country are 8.33 ones.

If you mean my comment available frequencies are not relevant - you CALL - by telephone to hear the recording (albeit usually of the ATIS).

HTC

You prefer to call a machine?

Call it what?

Why not? No different to listening to an ATIS broadcast via radio.

HTC

What's the difference between calling a machine and calling the tower for PPR?

The chap is apparently unacquainted with the PPR mechanism.For myself I find it a good thing thing to be expected, and to have an informal chat about the situation at my destination field. But, as we say here, "a farmer will not eat what he doesn't know".
Only I am afraid this is degrading into just one more discussion of the pro's and con's of PPR, as if we hadn't done that a zillion times already.

MJ under what circumstances may the police "insist" on PPR?

Just a suggestion, from an retired agricultural contractor... Why not, during the wet months, dig some 2 ft deep drainage channels into each of the wettest puddles. Then lay flexible drainage pipe (costs about £70 per 120m).
It does a very good job, and not as expensive as an 'all over the field' drainage system that drainage contractors would want to install with their big machines.

The chief of police just needs to get a bylaw put through for his area that all airfields require ppr and that's it. Bit like some places banning consuming alcohol in public areas.

They can't just decide willy nilly that they have to and special branch rock up and insist on special requirements. But its pretty easy for them to get it required if you tell them to Foxtrot Oscar, 30seconds in a council meeting and its through.

The Custom and Exercises is a completely different kettle of fish and I don't think require anything special done they can just require on a whim to impose any requirement they like and if you refuse you can get done for obstructing the VAT man.

I can't think of any field if asked by the police to require PPR and to provide a list of those that do and those that don't refusing. Its just not worth arguing the toss. Same if the council ask for it, your just setting yourself up for endless inspections of fuel bunds and building compliance etc if you refuse.

Big boy bullying I agree but doesn't change the fact that if they require it you would be bloody stupid to refuse.

We popped over to the Island on Sunday, doing the requested PPR first. The two way exchange of pleasantries and info was helpful. They wanted to ASK me to land short and to the right hand side of the runway, 23 being in use, due to some patches not fully dried out following the dreadful flooding recently. They also ASKED that we use the northern taxiway as it was in better shape than the southern, ditto the floods and mud. I was able to be sure that Carla's Cafe was operating at full strength (most important!) and that the vis was good. There has been a few misty mornings recently and I prefer to stay VFR so as to comply with my aircraft permit and my licence conditions.

There is nothing officious going on. Our visit was most pleasant and relaxing.

Rans6......

SH650 obviously isn't aware that most small airfields in the UK do NOT have an ATIS frequency and do NOT have any form of automatic weather station or indeed a human met observer.
As for frequencies, if the 'industry' (and I include the Defence Procurement Agency in this) would release some of the 'trials' frequencies reserved for them and rarely used, there would be more to go round. (118.750, 126.4, 130.5 are just 3 examples)

Seems to me the only people whining about Fieldhawk's helpful posts aren't ever likely to be flying into Sandown in any case, bit too far to cross the pond, even for one of Carla's bacon butties.

Congratulations to Fieldhawk and others on here trying to keep this a pleasant conversation. I don't understand why people want to comment negatively when they obviously don't understand the circumstances. I will try to visit Sandown soon (and I'll be happy to make a quick telephone call first).