27 August 2013
A temporary Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) is being put in place around Exeter Airport during a planned outage of its Primary Surveillance Radar.
The radar is to be subject to essential upgrade work associated with the Government’s spectrum release programme.
The TMZ will be in operation from 16 September for up to 28 days, during which time the airport will be operating with Secondary Surveillance Radar only. The TMZ will, however, be removed as soon as the work to the radar is completed.
A TMZ is designed to enhance the safe operation of flights into and out of an airport by providing air traffic controllers with as much information as possible. Aircraft wishing to operate within a TMZ are required to carry and operate serviceable Secondary Surveillance Radar equipment with both Mode A and C.
Pilots intending to fly adjacent to, or within, the TMZ during the relevant period should first consult the recently published NOTAM B1828/13. The pilot of an aircraft that wishes to operate in a TMZ without such serviceable transponder equipment may be granted access to the TMZ subject to specific ATC approval. In this case pilots should contact Exeter Air Traffic Control on 01392 369646 or Exeter Approach on 128.975 Mhz to discuss their intentions.
Exeter Airport is consulting with local airspace users in accordance with the CAA requirement for the effects of the TMZ to be minimized as far as possible.
A chart of the TMZ can be found <a href=’http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=7&pagetype=90&pageid=15074′ target=’_blank’>here.</a>
A further NOTAM will be issued to announce the withdrawal of the TMZ.
