LARS unit workload and gliders
 

I had an interesting visit to a LARS unit on Monday and chatted to the ATC supervisor, having just watched him working the LARS frequency to cover for someone's break. Two things struck me:

1. He was very cam but VERY busy.
2. Gliders, non-transponding and non-communicating, are a big problem for him.

It did make me reassess my instinctive belief that gliders shouldn't be forced to have a transponder, though I did wonder if there's some way they could overlay FLARM data on the radar.

I'm sure that Lower Airspace Radar Operators can be concerned about gliders.
They don't usually transpond, nor communicate, because their behavior and requirements do not easily fit into normal traffic patterns. They travel in large groups, and behave in eccentric ways.

I am sure the lower airspace Radar chaps understand that this happens only in certain weather (good soaring conditions) and at certain altitudes - usually from 1,500 feet AGL to cloudbase. So predictable and regulated traffic can be warned when these conditions obtain, and where gaggles of gliders may be observed on radar.

On a good soaring day, a while ago, I was over Aylesbury, in my 15 meter single seat glider. Upper Heyford was the nearest LAR operational, so I made my call on the radio...

"Upper Heyford, this is Glider 987."

"Glider 987, squawk 2 4 6 8 ...."

" Sorry, unable. Negative transponder!"

"Glider 987, what is your present heading?"

".....! ! ! I'm going around in circles!"...... Long pause while everyone on frequency must be laughing like drains.

" Glider 987, what are your intentions?"

"Well, I thought I would cross over Upper Heyford to Banbury and then to Husbands Bosworth Gliding Club"

"Notify us when you approach the Heyford zone, and maintain 3,000"

"I'll try!...."

I thought Upper Heyford closed decades ago - would that be Brize then?

…not on 128.55…the days of the UHMRA...

Nope. It was Upper Heyford, and a long time ago. I was not trying to take the mickey with the USAF controller, honest.

I used to talk to Brize as well; they helped me to land at Fairford once, in my glider, and THAT was a long time ago as well. While waiting for my crew to arrive with the glider trailer, the officer in charge bought me a hamburger and milkshake and gave me 4 tickets to the Airshow!

mary thanks for the clarification!

"a while ago" covers a multitude of sins.

Talkdownman, that frequency brings back memories

The UHMRA brings back memories here, too. In 1979 I flew a military helicopter there for a pre booked event. ATC held us off to the south, despite being in full view of the airfield, for so long that I was getting concerned about our fuel state. They then called us into the area but to our surprise began vectoring us east, away from the airfield. Ten miles away in fact. I was then cleared me for the ILS, despite us having arrived under VFR.

The ATCO was totally flummoxed when I told him the aircraft didn't carry ILS equipment.