The MoT and SAR circuit feature is great: the final auto-hover height is pre-selected on the FD. On UK certificated installations there is no beep-down of hover height below a nominal 50 ft, though when this is enabled it makes a good 'party-piece' for a demo flight....over land only!!

In the old days at TH/SY, when the Tower staff were ATCO instructors, the Duty (Flying) Instructors were occasionally offered the chance of sitting in front of a radar screen and pattering a SRA/PAR. Since the demise of 'live' ATC training at SY, I guess this is no longer done. Was good to see it from the other perspective. You might have done this too, Shy?

Played the role of "ATC" many times and controlled a lot of SRAs / PARs, but only when instructing students in the Puma simulator at Stavanger.

We used to do night (very much IMC) transits and let downs to wet drums over the sea. Scary, looking back - far more dangerous than to a vessel as there were few, if any, visual references outside of the aircraft lights.

Liverpool still do them as well.

I thought the 'E' stood for element. Call yourselves pilots?:rolleyes:

Still available in Leeds/Bradford Rw14, we do it now and then.....:ok:

I remember the Yorkshire AirAmbulance HeliMed99 doing practice as well...

Indeed it does.

Best Wishes

I hardly think so old boy. SRE refers to 'equipment' SRA refers to a type of approach. I do not see similarity. Connectivity in that one defines the method and limitations used to approach and the other defining the why. :}

Best Wishes