Gatwick GA flights
 

I live inside Gatwick's zone and today there have been a lot of GA types flying over after doing approaches to LGW according to FR24.

Is there something going on today where LGW is allowing GA flights to do this? Not noticed it before during the lock down.

It happened a lot during the last great shutdown of CAT, the volcanic ash episode. Why not? GA flights are permitted (solo) and it keeps the pilots and controllers sharp.

TOO

Yep, I live in Newdigate (5ml west of 08 threshold) wondered what was afoot when a Cirrus flew over tis morning having apparently done a circuit at EGKK..

I'm quite happy about it, jealous in fact, I was just wondering if there had been some edict about it or if it's just individuals asking for permission. Someone I know got permission to fly down the center line not below 400ft. And I'm enjoying seeing various Easys doing circuits out of LGW.

I once crossed LHR in an R22 which was fantastic - had to hold between the runways while a 777 landed. This was a while ago - can you still do that in a small heli?

You can do anything if you ask nicely and they say yes.

One of the guys I fly with at Redhill often gets transits across Gatwick N to S via the overhead of the active threshold. He also occasionally gets to cut across the western end of LHRs zone as well.

Gatwick airport NOTAMMED closed 2100 - 1300 daily so if you ask you might be able to make an approach before 1300 UTC

On Thursday 21st, I was privileged to be able to make an approach on runway heading "No lower than 1000 feet" in a PA28. That was a short time after overflying London City at 1700 feet! I'm a fairly recently qualified PPL and was utterly blown away by the entire experience.

I don't think I can post links, but the two relevant (mercifully short) YouTube videos are on my channel if you search for rb1414.

Wasn’t aware you could fly over City Airport in a single engined aircraft?

SERA 5005(f): not within 500' of persons vehicles vessels structures. Over congested areas - such that you can alight safely in the event of total power failure avoiding the congested area but a minimum of 1000'

Where is your ‘alight safely’? In the river?

Quote from the previous comment

“Where is your ‘alight safely’? In the river?”

There is a runway at London City airport.

Well done, have a biscuit.

How do you get to and from it without flying over a built up area?

I would be very careful about posting a video.

Flew around inside the Gatwick zone on Friday. Simple matter of once airborne from Redhill; freecall Gatwick Director, ask nicely for a fly by Gatwick which was approved and I got a squawk. Turned over to the tower for the fly by at 1500 QNH, After a while, over Horsham, got handed back to Director. Asked them if they wanted me to continue in or out of the zone, was told if I stayed in I'd be under radar control, if I went out, I be talking to Farnborough. Stayed in at 2000 ft round past Handcross and Forest Row until back to Bough Beech at 1400 and did a normal Godstone arrival at Redhill.

Very pleasant mornings work and mostly in airspace normally denied to me.

CAA single engine rules are no further west than the City Airport. Numerous singles transit North/South via the Lea Valley and City Airport overhead all the time.