Pilot Controlled Lighting - UK
 

Does anyone know where in the southern part of the UK (around east anglia and london area) offer pilot controlled lighting??? There is one place in Norfolk, but due to Nimby's looks like they will never use it.

Anyone got ideas?

VFR

I heard of a strip near Ongar which had this, but that was years ago.

Ahhh!! I do love these things.

A few clicks for the PAPIs/VASIs, and a few more clicks to turn on the runway lights... :ok:

I'm not aware of any in the UK.

Seething has PCL, but they refuse to use it :ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

The UK really sucks at times :rolleyes:

VFR

It is widely reputed to be illegal as far as the CAA is concerned, though I have no idea if this is true.

Obviously, for a private strip, you would just do it and not tell anybody. However a smarter and more secure way might be to use SMS control - there are various boxes on the market (example) which will turn things on/off using SMS. I have one right next to me, enabling various routers/switches to be reset with an SMS.

Did the strip on Bute not have PCL for the air ambulance to use?

Yes indeed Loganair used PCL lighting on Bute.

Pilot / radio controlled ground lighting is not unusual in the rotary world.

The bill for some lights is insignificant provided the thing is on a timer.

Maybe they had abuse from flyers-by. In that case, use the SMS solution, and register only specific caller numbers to operate it. Faking a caller ID on GSM is virtually impossible.

We have them.

The CAA position a few years ago was that the frequency band was allocated to voice communications by the ITU and that switching things on and off is not voice comms. The guy who set this policy is now long gone from the CAA so maybe things have changed and a more practical view may be held.

And yet they allowed radios with squelch. Sounds like double standards to me.

Just out of interest how much does it cost to install the equipment that would upgrade bog standard lighting like we have in the UK to PCL.

About $1000 plus fitting - Pilot Controlled Lighting

If you want petty then the Wireless Telegraphy Act is the place to find it. I was wondering about the legality of MCW (A2A) transmissions in a band authorised for AM telephony (A3E) and datalink (ACARS) but, as yet, I have not found any definitive requirements on the Ofcom website as to permitted modulation types in the VHF aeronautical mobile band and so have been keeping my powder dry.

Where's Whopity when you need him?

Didn't the Cons promise to shut down Ofcom?

For the CAA, the problem with PCL at licensed aerodromes, lies with a cheeky little paragraph in our favourite bedtime read; CAP168:ok: In particular the controlling words are in Chapter 6.

A sumptuous prize to the first Forumite to quote it:)

Sir George Cayley

I would guess that CAP168, 11.1.3
"The control of an AGL system from beyond the boundary of a licensed aerodrome will only be approved by the CAA for the sole use of the emergency services. Where this type of control is desired, an operational requirement proposed by the aerodrome authority and supported by the emergency services involved should be submitted in the first instance to the CAA."
would effectively preclude pilot controlled lighting?
:ugh:

I think you'll find it's Chapter 6 para 11.1.3

The control of an AGL system from beyond the boundary of a licensed aerodrome will only be approved by the CAA for the sole use of the emergency services. Where this type of control is desired, an operational requirement proposed by the aerodrome authority and supported by the emergency services involved should be submitted in the first instance to the CAA.

And

11.1.4
When in use, the operational status of the AGL system should be continuously monitored. An appropriate means of detecting an AGL system failure or fault and other serviceability information should be provided. The AGL system serviceability information should be provided to the AGL operator in a simple but accurate and concise way, so that if necessary the user may pass a report to flight crew. The report should enable flight crew to determine whether the AGL meets their current operational flight requirements or not (see paragraph 11.3.5).

We fell foul of this when we wanted to provide the AGL for public transport helis operating outside the published aerodrome hours.

But surely this is pure bollox.

Mandating the wearing of pink underpants would be as relevant to flight safety.

How can somebody come up with this "regulatory" garbage and keep a straight face?

If one could turn runway lights OFF remotely, that would not be so clever. But turning lights ON ??? :ugh: