TC Luton, London Terminal Control Centre, (LTCC)
and
British Gliding Association
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The purpose of this Agreement is to define the specific procedures for gliders operating under the auspices of the British Gliding Association (BGA) in the Luton Control Area known as CTA-4 and defined below, under certain specified conditions.
1.2. Because of the responsibilities of ATC within controlled airspace, strict adherence to the agreed procedures is essential.
2. PROCEDURES
The responsibilities and procedures to be employed by individual organisations are detailed in this Agreement as follows:
a. General
b. Procedures to be followed by BGA gliders.
c. Procedures to be followed by TC Luton.
d. Renewal.
3. APPLICATION OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT
3.1. This Letter of Agreement is subject to re-negotiation annually and at the request of any signatory should utilisation at either Terminal Control or London Luton Airport change significantly.
3.2. Permanent amendment of this Letter of Agreement is to be effected only with the
written consent of the signatories or their successors.
3.3. This agreement will remain in force until the date specified in the renewal.
4. PARTIES TO THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT
For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the parties to the Letter of Agreement are TC Luton London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) and British Gliding Association (BGA).
5. GENERAL
5.1. AIRSPACE
The designated airspace referred to in this Letter of Agreement is as follows (see attached map) :
5.1.1. Straight lines joining (WGS84 co-ordinates) :
N515150 W0004336 (point A)
N514810 W0004155 (point E)
N514659 W0004838 (point H)
N515048 W0004926 (point G)
N515150 W0004336 (point A)
5.1.2. This airspace is notified as Luton Control Area CTA-4 and is class D airspace. The vertical dimensions are altitude 3500ft QNH to FL55.
5.1.3. Within the above designated airspace, an area called Area A is defined as follows (see attached map) :
5.1.4. Straight lines joining (WGS84 co-ordinates) :
N514810 W0004156 (point E)
N514726 W0004540 (point 1)
N514930 W0004634 (point J)
N515028 W0004255 (point K)
N514810 W0004156 (point E)
5.1.5. Area B is that part of CTA-4 excluding Area A.
5.1.6. Area A is known as the `Halton Box' and Area B is known as the `Aylesbury Box'.
5.2. VARIATION OF PROCEDURES
Nothing in these procedures prevents a controller or pilot from using his/her discretion to achieve safety of operations provided that steps are taken to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
6. PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY BGA GLIDERS
6.1. GENERAL
Any glider flown under the auspices of the BGA is permitted to operate within the designated airspace subject to the conditions as specified in this Agreement.
6.2. RUNWAY IN USE AT LUTON - RUNWAY 08
When the notified runway-in-use at London Luton Airport is runway 08, BGA members will normally be restricted to operating within Area B, up to altitude 4500ft Luton QNH.
6.2.1. Area B
Within Area B, BGA members may operate up to altitude 4500 ft Luton QNH, subject to a request to TC Luton on 129.55 MHz. Whilst within the airspace, such gliders shall cause a continuous listening watch to be maintained with TC Luton on 129.55 MHz and report when leaving Area B.
6.2.2. Area A
6.2.2.1. Permission to enter Area A will be granted by TIC Luton subject to traffic and workload.
6.2.2.2. Within Area A, BGA members shall obtain a clearance from TIC Luton on 129.55 MHz prior to entering the airspace, and shall comply with air traffic control instructions received. Whilst within the airspace, such gliders shall cause a continuous listening watch to be maintained with TC Luton on 129.55 MHz and report when leaving Area A.
6.2.3. Runway in use at Luton - Runway 26
6.2.3.1. When the notified runway-in-use at London Luton Airport is runway 26, BGA members will be permitted to operate unrestricted within CTA-4 following a request to TIC Luton on 129.55 MHz. Whilst within this airspace, such gliders shall cause a continuous listening watch to be maintained with TC Luton on 129.55 MHz in case a change to runway 08 is required. They will also notify TC Luton when leaving CTA-4.
6.2.3.2. When notified that the runway in use at Luton has become runway 08, such aircraft, if remaining within the CTA-4, shall confine further activity to Area B below altitude 4500ft Luton QNH in accordance with the rwy 08 procedures as detailed in this agreement. Aircraft may only operate within Area A subject to the procedures specified in section 6.2.2 above.
6.2.4. Flight Rules
6.2.4.1. All aircraft subject to this Letter of Agreement shall, whilst within the designated airspace, operate in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules.
6.2.4.2. The relevant meteorological conditions as stated in the Rules of The AirRegulations 1996 (as amended) are :
6.2.4.3. Flight visibility of 5 km, 1500m horizontally and 1000ft vertically clear of cloud.
7. PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY TC LUTON
7.1. RUNWAY IN USE AT LUTON - RUNWAY 08
7.1.1. When the notified runway in use at Luton is runway 08, glider operations will normally be restricted to Area B, up to altitude 45OOft Luton QNH.
7.1.2. TC Luton shall permit all gliders that make a request on 129.55 MHz, to enter Are:. B not above altitude 4500ft Luton QNH. The pilot will be instructed to monitor 129.55 MHz and report when leaving Area B.
7.1.3. TIC Luton will not permit IFR flights arriving at or departing from Luton to operate within Area B below altitude 5000ft Luton QNH unless it is known that there is no gliding activity in progress or planned. It is recognised by the BGA that in this
event TIC Luton may have LFR aircraft within the designated airspace and a glider requesting entry in accordance with this Agreement may be required to wait until the IFR aircraft has left the designated area.
7.1.4. TIC Luton shall issue to all transit flights operating within the subject airspace generic or specific traffic information concerning gliding activity, as appropriate.
7.1.5. TC Luton may permit gliders to operate within Area A subject to traffic and workload, and provided that such gliders can comply with any air traffic control instructions issued by TIC Luton.
7.1.6. TC Luton will inform all gliders when the runway in use at Luton changes to runway 26.
7.2. RUNWAY IN USE AT LUTON - RUNWAY 26
7.2.1. When the notified runway in use at Luton is runway 26, glider operations will normally be unrestricted within CTA-4 up to FL55.
7.2.2. TC Luton shall permit all gliders that make a request on 129.55 MHz, to enter CTA-4 up to FL55. The pilot will be instructed to monitor 129.55 MHz and report when leaving CTA-4.
7.2.3. TC Luton will not permit IFR flights arriving at or departing from Luton to operate at any level within CTA-4 unless it is known that there is no gliding activity in progress or planned. It is recognised by the BGA that in this event TC Luton may have IFR aircraft within the designated airspace and a glider requesting entry in accordance with this Agreement may be required to wait until the IFR aircraft has left CTA-4.
7.2.4. TC Luton will inform all gliders that are known to be operating within CTA-4 and that are maintaining a listening watch on 129.55 MHz when the runway in use at Luton changes to runway 08, giving at least 15 minutes notice.
7.3. ROYAL FLIGHTS
In the event of a Royal Flight taking place at Luton where the Luton CTR/CTA is designated as CAS--T airspace, TIC Luton will instruct all gliders to vacate CTA 4. Permission for gliders to enter CTA-4 will only be granted once the Royal Flight aircraft has landed, or has departed and is clear of the Luton CTA/CTR.
8. RENEWAL
This Letter of Agreement between TC Luton London Terminal Control Centre and British Gliding Association will remain in force under the present conditions until 1 May 2005.
Agreed by:
(The signed original is held on file in the TC Operations Office.)
Date:
Mr P Layton
Manager TC Operations & Service Provision, LTCC
Carr Withall, British Gliding Association
Date:
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