I've flown a dozen times from either within R112 to an 'external' site, or vice versa. No problems at all, apart from one FPL that hadn't yielded a response after 10 hours; a short call to Atlas (got straight through) and my authorisation number was given to me after a few seconds. Another was rejected as it was more than 24 hours away (:O)... Sky Demon now has email approvals in beta, to complement SMSs from Atlas.

Co-ordination between the various class D airfields and Atlas has been great heading into R112, but Atlas has struggled to understand that rotary traffic often goes ZZZZ to ZZZZ and I've been asked for departure and destination airfield details several times.

Overall, a very pragmatic, efficient and friendly service, offering flexibility in some marginal VFR conditions last week.

BTW, as of Friday 20th there's a new ICF (135.625) if you lift on or in the western side of R112; I don't think I've been passed on to the the same frequency twice after that.

Before everyone gets carried away with gushing eulogies for Atlas let us remember that just a over a week ago we had the fredom to fly without permission.

Now we have to file flight plans, cannot fly other than in a straight line within the zone, and have to accept massive disruption should we be delayed by more than 30 minutes due to en route weather

This restriction is over burdensome, over lengthy and has been implemented without any evidence of necessity being demonstrated. Jobs will be lost and our industry damaged. We also have a situation where the military are controlling a civilian aspect of British life

It is vital we ensure that Atlas is disbanded and not mothballed and that these restrictions are never reactivated in the future.

So I will not be telling anyone how lovely Atlas is any more that a condemned man congratulates his hangman

:confused:

Don't think ANYONE is 'gushing', but given the number of emigration applications and suicide notes over the previous months, I have to say the operational overhead of flying (within R112 at least) hasn't been as onerous as I expected it would be. With neither the spontaneity, nor freedom to fly a 'random' route, I didn't say it wasn't a pain in the ar$e. However, you don't have to fly in a straight line within R112 and I've seen a lot of flexibility with route/timing because of poor Wx; concessions for training schools in the zone also seem to be working reasonably well. A minimum of 2 hours to file a FPL is still too much however.

I doubt any of us will see this level of restriction in the UK again, not least because of cost, but if we did I wouldn't be too surprised. For many countries, an even more restrictive approach is already the modus operandi :eek:

lift off inside
 

Hi,
I have planned a trip inside R112 with my wife for tomorrow. I can't understand what am I supposed to do when lifting off from a private site inside R112? Can i lift off than call Atlas? As destination is inside Gatwick CTR should I call EGKK director first (as I used to do in the past)?

If your departure ZZZZ is outside EGKK's CTR, but within R112, you must first establish 2-way R/T with Atlas; it will co-ordinate the handover to EGKK when appropriate.

When you lift from your ZZZZ inside the EGKK CTR, you should call EGKK by phone before lifting, or by radio from the hover (or tight orbit), giving it your authorisation number, etc. and it will co-ordinate and hand you over to Atlas (on a non ICF) when you exit its zone.

Actually my plan worked perfectly :ok: I didn't actually go down to 50ft "over" Halton but just on edge of its ATZ . Whole flight under Atlas 5 mins ....No problems at all . Departing however was different .....I notified them I would be 5 Min late due to terrible traffic ( beyond the 30 mins ) and they just say NO .
Out of interest it was quite late , Elstree was already closed and there was bugger all happening ....so why no leeway ? I got new Plan for 2 hrs later ..lifted off 35 mins early and contacted them whilst en route North and they did not seem put out at all . Surely when I have already flown in I can hardly be seen as a risk flying directly away from London ???
I don't see any need to file a complicated flight plan all the way from the north when you can start one 5 miles outside the restricted zone and keep the freedom of diverting etc on the way down .
Ps Chevron ...I have not bothered register to do flight plans ...but I did state that I would get someone else to do them for me .....much easier that way I find .