19 September 2023
Friday, 22 September 2023, is the deadline for feedback on proposed NHS drone trials which would create a huge no-go danger area around Newcastle. If the trial goes ahead as proposed – funded by a Govt grant of £699,000 – it will devastate general aviation in the area.
“The proposed Temporary Danger Areas (TDA) will close strips at Hexham and Stanton, completely block the very busy coastal transit route under the Newcastle Zone and also prevent transits of the key Tyne Valley transit route when the cloud base is around 2000ft,” said Paul Kiddell, a local pilot and occasional FLYER contributor.
“Whilst the drones operate at less than 400ft, in designing the TDAs, they have added 600ft onto the tallest feature in the TDA. The result is that the TDAs are 1500ft AGL in many places.
“For example they have added 600ft onto the tallest hill overlooking the Tyne Valley and so the TDA is actually 1500ft AGL at Haltwhistle and 1300ft over the sea on the coast.
TDA B extends up to 1300ft AMSL over the water effectively blocking the much used coastal route under the 1500ft base of the Newcastle zone
Tyne Valley transit at about 500ft AGL; valley transits will be impossible when the cloud base is around 2000ft or below blocking this vital route
“I and others have been contributing to the BMAA, LAA and GAA working groups who plan to respond this week but individual responses are also very important as we work to make the TDAs more proportionate and less crippling to ours and the wider GA community.”
The airspace change proposal, ACP-2023-015, can be found here. To comment, use the form under the heading Cover letter and feedback form 28 July 2023. The consultation period ends on 22 September 2023.
Paul Kiddell has published his own response which can be found in FLYER’s original article on this subject.
Air strips at Hexham, above, and Stanton, would have to close because of the drone trial
