Club Committee Visit to Brighton City Airport - Air Traffic Services - Sunday 27th Aug 2023.

Nick V and Scott T at Shoreham Airport.

Long before the dreaded Covid -19 pandemic struck I have been trying to arrange for a Club Committee visit to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at Brighton City Airport formally known as Shoreham Airport. Fortunately, Nick V, Scotty T and I were able to have a tour around the tower and to meet the controllers yesterday afternoon. 

Tony C at Shoreham Airport.

We arrived early and took advantage of having a coffee on the patio of the Hummingbird Café. This gave us the chance to watch the departing light aircraft taking off and some others landing. At the pre determined time we made our way up the stairs to the access door to the tower. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Bob and Leah who were our hosts for the visit and devoted time during a busy shift to show us around and explain their policies and procedures.

Obviously, one of the main reasons for the visit was to discuss model flying at Mill Hill which is within the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) of the airport. Adhering to current legislation we must make contact with ATC and politely inform them of our intentions to fly model aircraft on the hill. They are unable to give us exact permission to do so as they do not own the real estate around Mill Hill and we must also inform them when we have finished flying for the day. Their telephone number is: 01273 467377.

The controllers are very happy with the way that this telephone system works and both sides see no reason to change the protocols currently in place. They did ask for our Club's contact details so if a issue does arise in the future they would be able to talk to someone.  It has been decided that both the Club Chair, Rob S and I as Club Secretary would become the Point of Contact (POC) for our Club.

View of Mill Hill.

It was explained to us how the process works once we have informed ATC of our presence at Mill Hill. They have a pre-prepared "Flight Strip" which they place on the desk in front of them. This is used as an aide-memoir to remind incoming aircraft that we are actively flying model aircraft on the hill. When we inform them that flying has ceased for the day the "Flight Strip" is taken off the desk and stored until it is next needed. Please see the photograph below.  

Flight Strip used in the tower.

The controllers with the use of binoculars have very good visibility of us on the hill. Leah mentioned that when the sun catches the wings of our bigger models this can be clearly seen from the tower. I attach a few photographs that I took from the tower yesterday. For us it was a strange experience looking at Mill Hill rather than looking at the airport. From this vantage point Mill Hill looks a lot closer than the Airport does the other way around.

View from the tower.

We asked a question regarding the circuit pattern used by aircraft arriving into the airport from the North and the East. It was explained that aircraft using runway 20 established on an instrument approach would follow the line of the valley from the North, consequently this keeps a good degree of separation from us on the hill. However, aircraft in the left hand visual circuit, again using runway 20 would follow the published pattern that takes them slightly North of the car park on finals to land. Please see the diagram below.

Circuit pattern for runway 20.

Another question that we asked was about the height that we are permitted to fly at Mill Hill. Again we were shown a National Air Traffic Service (NATS) document which is widely available to all aircrew and pilots who intend to fly into Brighton City Airport. It is basically a set of briefing notes to make the pilot aware of important factors before arriving in the circuit, such as noise abatement areas and restricted areas not to overfly. If you look at item (d) on the list below it warns the pilot that "Caution, model aircraft fly adjacent to Runway 20 approach on the hills at approximately 1 NM from the threshold up to 450FT AMSL". 

This means that full scale aircraft will be in the circuit above us. As a rule of thumb the Mill Hill car park is around 280 feet above sea level lets say for ease 300 feet. Lets take off another 50 feet for a margin of error for us modelers and we have only 100 feet or so above us before we could infringe this height limit that is set by ATC. If the direction from ATC is not to fly above the tree line, that is what we must adhere to so that we maintain flight safety at all times. If at any time you witness any model flyer contravening this height limit either being a Club member or not please do explain to them the regulations that are in place on the hill.

The bottom line is you must not fly above 450 feet above sea level.

Warnings for Brighton City Airport (see item d).

The visit lasted about an hour and I for one found it very informative and constructive and to further the relationship between our Club and the controllers at the airport. At no time did we get the impression that our presence on Mill Hill was a burden or a hindrance to the staff in the tower.

As an aside I have now also managed to hand out two further Club windsocks. This makes three Committee members who are in possession of such. Two further issues will be made as soon as I meet up with Rob S and Kevin M. This should cover most of our flying events. 

In summary, a great afternoon in the tower and we found it extremely informative and constructive.