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Jim Mason · Guest

Expansion of Class C Airspace in the London and Scottish FIRS
Date: 04 January 2007

Joint Civil Aviation Authority, NATS and Ministry of Defence Press Notice

The final stage of an important change to the classification of UK airspace
will be implemented on 15 March with the adoption of Class C Airspace at
and above Flight Level 195.

As part of a harmonisation initiative within Europe, from this date Class C
airspace will replace any existing Class A, D, F and G airspace at and
above FL195 within the London and Scottish Flight Information Regions
(FIRS). A UK AIC covering this announcement was published today.

The Single European Sky Airspace Classification Regulation* requires EU
member states to introduce Class C airspace at and above FL195 by 1 July
2007. In the UK this is being implemented in two stages: the first became
effective on 16 March last year with the introduction of Class C above
FL245, the second phase will be adoption of Class C at and above FL195 on
15 March 2007.

The changes are being jointly introduced by NATS, the Ministry of Defence
and the Civil Aviation Authority. Throughout their planning and
implementation, the UK aviation community has been kept fully informed. The
harmonisation of airspace classification is key to developing the Single
European Sky which will enhance safety and overall efficiency in European
airspace.

In order to accommodate aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR),
and specific military operations at and above FL195, Temporary Reserved
Areas (TRAs) will be introduced. TRAs are notified volumes of airspace
within which air traffic services will be provided following UK Air Traffic
Services Outside Controlled Airspace (ATSOCAS) rules.

The UK will introduce eight TRAs on 15 March 2007 and the dimensions and
activation times for these are detailed in the UK AIP. Civil aircraft will
be required to obtain an ATC clearance to enter an active TRA and they will
be required to select the SSR Code A/C as directed by ATC, and monitor the
appropriate ATC frequency. Military aircraft are required to comply with
the MOD requirements notified in the UK Military AIP and select SSR Code
A/C as directed.

Additionally, to cater for gliders that are not SSR equipped, TRA (G)
(Temporary Reserved Area (Gliders)) will be introduced at and above FL195.
Dimensions of TRA (G), activation times and specific requirements for
glider operations at and above FL195 are detailed in the UK AIP. In order
to enhance safety, aircraft operating under IFR will not be cleared through
an active TRA (G) except in an emergency.

Civil VFR flights at and above FL195, up to and including FL285, will only
be authorised in an airspace reservation or in accordance with the
authorisation procedures published in the UK AIP. Civil VFR flights wishing
to operate above FL285 will only be permitted in an airspace reservation.

In order to keep charting details as simple as possible, the upper limit of
the CAA VFR 1:500,000 chart series will be reduced from FL245 to FL195. TRA
and TRA (G) are notified in the AIP. TRAs will be depicted on the Military
En Route Low Level chart series, which will be available from the
Aeronautical Information Document Unit (AIDU) customer services department.

*Commission Regulation (EC) No 730/2006.

For further press information contact:

Chris Mason at the CAA
Penny Guy at NATS
or the Ministry of Defence Press Office

Further information on the expansion of Class C Airspace is available on
the CAA website at: www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=1239

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