Hi all,

As someone just starting my IMC training, I've found it fascinating to follow this thread so far!

Besides the fine points of the law, I guess it also comes down to airmanship and experience.

I think there is a lot of abuse as well. I remember, when still training for my PPL a couple of years ago, seeing a light twin appear out of the murk on short final at Wycombe (which although it has a TWR it has no VOR/ADF or othe facility, and no approved direct IAP).

I asked my instructor how this was possible, thinking at the time there must be some mysterious approach aid (GPS!?!) that I didn't really understand..! He explained that this sort of thing shouldn't be allowed, and that he couldn't understand how, at an ATC controlled airfield, it was possible and not reported!? Maybe it was/is!? Anyway, left me with the impression that people sometimes take intentional risks... not a great idea!?

Andy

I thought the procedure was to do a approved instrument let down at a nearby aerodrome and once clear of cloud proceed VFR to the original destination aerodrome under the cloud base.

Mobieus1 Yep: but that wasn't what happened in this case... I said we have no direct IAP at Wycombe... and this guy just came straight in on RWY 25, breaking cloud on short final, less than 500' aal anway as I saw it on the day...

Following the suggestion above I took a look at the No.1 AIDU website (www.aidu.co.uk). Sadly it seems that although at the moment you can buy IAPs in books and individually cheaper here than anywhere else, this is all about to change. They are gradually replacing the existing charts with AERAD ones; and AERAD won't allow them to be sold on to civilians. I guess that's the creeping outsourcing of the armed forces again.

I'm going to try to persuade them that I am military personnel for the purpose of this ruling...!

Plt Off T. M. Morris RAFVR(T) (i.e. a noddy officer in my school's Cadet Force!)

tmmorris: I see your location is Oxford - does that mean you fly with the UAS at RAF Benson? I fly with RAF Benson FC there... there are often some MIL approach plates "lying around..." I think you'll find!

Thanks - yes, we do take cadets to Benson, so I will see what I can 'pick up' next time I'm there. Probably won't be for a few weeks, though - I can't make the next flying slot we have (Weds) so my superior officer is going, lucky b*st*rd.

Tim

Ok, know the answer to this now. Will explain to Rustle & FFF in the pub on Sunday ... if they still care :)

Evo,

Yes, I do still care. Although I'm not sure that I will after a few beers on Sunday ;)

FFF
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Hi all,

On the subject of approach plates does anyone have a website address for obtaining German approach plates and Notams...?

EDLP in particular

Thanks

Try http://www.baseops.de/ and drill down from there - there's a link to the German MIL AIP anyway...

Hope this helps,


Andy

Hang on...

You want http://www.airports.de/ - enter EDLP in the box at top right under "oder ICAO-Code" then click the button... it works!

See also http://www.flughafen-paderborn-lippstadt.de/

Andy,

Thanks mate, don't suppose you've got an English/German dictionary I can borrow...!:hmm:

All you need are the Google Language Tools where you can enter a URL, or a snippet of text, and it will automatically translate the whole web page, or snippet of text, from/to which langauges you desire.

I've done it for you: click here: http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools will give an English translation of the front page of http://www.airports.de, and each of the airport details pages contains both English and German anyway.

Andy

Oder, gegen Gebühr, wird Keef für Dich dolmetschen!

Interpreter and/or co-pilot available...

Andy

Brilliant, thanks a lot mate

No 1 AIDU also supply foreign plates:

www.aidu.co.uk

Worth a try; I'm still not sure I understand the rules regarding civvy/military users, and they still maintain I'm a civvy despite the evidence to the contrary in my letter of commission...

Tim

(aka Plt Off T. M. Morris RAFVR(T) 0216008E)