London Heathrow Airport has launched an airspace and future operations consultation. The consultation includes a postcode search tool and interactive maps with indications of aircraft operating heights, etc. The consultation closes on 4 March 2019. You can read more here.

Lasham Gliding Society has provided this update regarding their challenge of the decision by the Civil Aviation Authority to impose unnecessary controlled airspace around Farnborough Airfield. ‘As we have previously reported to you, in November we were granted leave for a judicial review on two of our three grounds of…

As previously reported, from the 3rd January 2019, the CAA converted all common sporting assignments in the UK to 8.33. Aeronautical ground station licences, obtained from Ofcom, authorise the installation and use of a radio installation which provides ground to air communication (of course many clubs don’t utilise a radio ‘installation’ or…

The CAA reports that ‘the Radio Mandatory Zone (RMZ) surrounding Hawarden aerodrome was established in March 2017 to enhance the safety of all aircraft operating in the vicinity of Hawarden aerodrome and to better integrate the increasing number of commercial A300-600N Beluga aircraft operations. AIC Y014/2017 was issued on 16…

As previously reported, the UK has converted its allocated 25 kHz recreational aviation frequencies to 8.33 kHz channels, and four additional 8.33 channels are due to be allocated for gliding use in March 2019. Pilots should note that it is important that 8.33 channels are only used for the role…

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has submitted its airspace change proposal to the CAA. Extensive efforts to encourage LBA to understand the needs of local airspace stakeholders have been made over a significant period of time by the gliding and hang/para-gliding community in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.  However, there are significant…

The Government has tasked the CAA with preparing and maintaining a co-ordinated strategy and plan for the use of UK airspace for air navigation up to 2040, including for the modernisation of the use of such airspace. The Airspace Modernisation Strategy responds to that requirement and forms part of the…

On Saturday 17th November USAF Flight Safety Officers from RAF Mildenhall and representatives from six east-of-england gliding clubs met to discuss how we each use our shared airspace, to improve mutual awareness and help avoid potential conflicts. Three USAF personnel briefed more than 30 glider pilots on the training missions…

The Letter of Agreement between BGA and RAF(U) Swanick, NATS and BAe Systems regarding VFR flight by gliders above FL195 in TRA’s has been re-published effective Sep 2018 – Sep 2020. Pilots who intend to fly in these TRA’s are expected to fully understand any associated procedures. The LOA is…

Oxford airport has submitted its post ACP consultation feedback report to the CAA. It can be viewed here. The next step in the process is for Oxford airport to submit its final proposed design to the CAA.