Flying to EGKB
 

Dear all,

Next week I'm flying on an IFR flight plan from LFQQ to EGKB. What should I expect when handed over from French ATC? I think, descending I'm going to leave CAS and will get some kind of ATSOCAS. But what service will provide vectors to get established on the ILS of EGKB?
Thanks for any advice and BTRGDS
Ralph

You'd be handed over to London Control --> Thames Radar--> Biggin Approach. You'll have whatever service you want, TS or DS.

You'll be given descents down to altitude 1800', vectored to intercept the localiser RWY 21 (for eg), contact BIG APP 129.4 --> Cleared to descend with the Glide --> Land

Thanks, 3RDI

It is really straight forward. Thames Radar will give you vectors to the ILS. I would however note that they charge £50+ for an ILS approach, in addition to landing fees if the weather is above 5km vis / clouds higher than 1000' QFE. If weather requires you to have an instrument approach however, it is free!

That would sway my thoughts re: VFR or IFR arrival - but you may also get IFR delays in the London TMA whilst they get you over to Thames.... Just be prepared for that!

In the U.K. You could fly IFR OCAS and talk for Farnborough Radar for a deconfliction or traffic service, and bypass the delays, they will generally hand you over to Thames if you ask them to in good time.

Hope this helps!

If you're coming in on a proper IFR flight plan I don't believe (though obviously don't take my word for it, worth checking with Bigging) they charge extra for an approach, I think that's only if you're coming in OCAS and decide to do one as they consider that training etc...

They only allow training ILS for based aircraft if MTOW is less than 3T.

Double check - but as a based aircraft, having booked in IFR with an IFR flight plan - they still charged me £50!!

I hope nobody in Biggin Hill accounts is reading this :eek: but I'm not based there although I visit regularly. In the 194 landings there in my log book to date (SR22) I have never been charged extra for the ILS that I always fly. Certainly never £50 for a landing.

I've deduced from Jonzarno's post that EGKB is Biggin. What's LFQQ and BTRGDS?

LFQQ is Lille in Northern France and BTRGDS is Best regards

Thanks. No idea why people speak/type in codes.:ugh: Greetings from DFOY:)

How about LMGTFY? ;) :E

There's always those poor blighters who think they're clever if they use codes nobody else understands. Also, I seem to understand some UK'ers are careful to limit keyboard ageing by typing as little as ever necessary. Perhaps keyboards are very expensive in UK? Brexit side-effect?

Then again, Lille can translate to LFQQ but also to LFQO - a bit of care can do a lot of good ...

Decent ones probably are, if you can get them at all - I've only seen utterly crap ones for a long time now.


The best keyboard is a genuine 1980s IBM one. Sadly I don't have one of those; this is being typed on the second best keyboard, a genuine 1990s Cherry one.

Thanks
 

Thanks for all the helpful input. The trip was really straight forward. London Control, Thames Radar and Biggin App with continuous descent whilst being vectored to the ILS. Service at Biggin Hill absolutely amazing, I have never seen that before. No extra fee for the ILS. Departure via DVR 2 and continually climbing into CAS without any delay, RS by Thames Radar all the time.
Once again everyone thank you so much.

Glad you had an incredible trip! Biggin is pretty awesome most of the time. Hope you come back soon!

Thanks for reporting! Many ask for advice, and usually get some; but not all come back to tell us what it was worth.

PS: and impeccable wording and spelling, too - wonderful! I bet you're not a native Brit!

That's like confusing Brussels with Brussels South. :-)