BRITISH SOARING YEARBOOK 1986-87.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

GLIDING AND UK AIRSPACE
by Chris Nicholas
Chairman BGA Airspace Committee
This article outlines the current airspace situation as it affects glider pilots. Although
intended for use as a reference guide, the article is not in itself an authoritative
document and in case of doubt in sensitive areas, the UK Air Pilot should be consulted.
AERODROME TRAFFIC ZONE (ATZ)
Since April 26th 1985, ATZ's have existed only at Government aerodromes, licensed
aerodromes with two-way air/ground radio and aerodromes with an Air Traffic Control
unit or Aerodrome Flight Information Service unit. Aircraft shall take off, fly or land in an
ATZ only with permission.
The definition of an ATZ is currently the airspace extending from the surface to a
height of 2000 feet above the level of the aerodrome and within a distance of 15 nautical
miles of its boundary. (Proposals are in hand to revise the definition - small aerodromes
would have ATZ's of 2 NM radius, larger aerodromes 3 NM radius.)
At airfields without ATZ's, including most gliding sites regardless of how busy they
are, an itinerant aircraft may legally penetrate the airspace near and over the airfield,
providing the pilot conforms to the traffic pattern or keeps clear of the circuit airspace,
and observes the normal rules of good airmanship to avoid collisions.
Some airfields are designated "Prior Permission Required" (PPR). This usually
means a telephone call, but full details are set out in the AGA section of the UK Air Pilot.
All military airfields are effectively PPR and should be avoided.
MILITARY AERODROME TRAFFIC ZONES (MATZ)
A standard MATZ comprises the airspace within 5 NM radius of the centre of the airfield
extending from the surface to 3,000ft above airfield elevation. In addition there is a
projecting stub 5 NM long and 4 NM wide extending from 1,000ft to 3,000ft above
airfield elevation, aligned with the approach to the main runway, although in some
MATZ's the stub may be absent or smaller.
The rules applicable to the penetration of a MATZ are not compulsory for civil
aircraft, but inside every MATZ there is an ATZ (see above.)
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
Controlled Airspace is either notified for Rule 21 of the Rules of the Air and Air Traffic
Control Regulations or it is not. Rule 21 makes Airspace subject to permanent instru­
ment Flight Rules regardless of weather conditions. This involves the filing of flight
plans, pilots holding instrument ratings, carriage of certain radio equipment, etc.
If it is not notified for Rule 21 it means that VMC flights are not subject to these
requirements and therefore gliders flying in VMC are permitted. Controlled Airspace
sometimes occupies the same volume of sky as Special Rules Airspace (peculiar to the
U.K.). In such circumstances the special rules relate only to the requirement for pilots to
communicate with the controlling authority, and usually gliders do not have exemption
from this requirement.
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