17 May 2010
The recent series of NOTAM establishing various No Fly Zones were a little unclear when it came to the subject of non-commercial VFR flight by piston powered aircraft (or balloons and gliders for that matter). As a result, various levels of service (or lack thereof) were being provided depending on the unit in question. The Civil Aviation Authority has issued an ATSIN that clarifies the issue. The key paragraph for General Aviation is as follows
5.2 ATC and FIS Providers should not offer a service within a NFZ unless the pilot is operating under VFR and the aircraft is a glider, balloon or piston powered aircraft and not operating for the purpose of public transport.1 This restriction does not apply to operational emergency services flights (e.g. Air Ambulance).
ATC and FIS Providers may also provide a service to an aircraft in the above categories within controlled airspace that is:
• operating under VFR within Class D airspace; • operating under Special VFR in other controlled airspace provided that it is the
only aircraft in that airspace block.
<a href=”http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/ATSIN0184.pdf”>Click here for more</a>
