19 June 2008
The Ministry of Defence has sponsored proposals for changes to the airspace structure above and to the south of the Salisbury Plain danger area.
The plans, published in a <a href=’http://www.qinetiq.com/home_salisbury_uav.Par.6492.File.pdf’ target=’_blank’>consultation document</a>, are mainly to allow UAVs – unmanned aerial vehicles – to operate in safety. The proposals suggest that new areas should be created, south of the current areas, which can be activated by NOTAM. There are three of these areas, and it is promised that they will be individually activated, but only when they are required for UAV training. Only two of the three segments will be activated at any time.
The areas start at FL80 and extend to FL160, with a level split at FL120.
It is proposed that a DACS (Danger Area Crossing Service) may be made available, but that otherwise, GA will be ‘largely excluded’.
Implementation is planned for December 2009.
The consultation period for the propsals – which are posted by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD – ends 29 September. Details of how to reply are enclosed in the document, and with details of ‘Consultation drop-in sessions’.
