24 Oct 13

All RAUWG Attendees

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IFS SO1 STAR

RECORD OF DECISIONS FROM A MEETING OF THE REGIONAL AIRSPACE USERS WORKING GROUP (RAUWG) HELD IN THE OFFICERS’ MESS RAF LINTON-ON-OUSE ON 17 OCT 13

Present Gp Capt Stephen Reeves Station Commander RAF Leeming/DDH Chairman Wg Cdr Dave Burrows OC Ops Wg RAF Linton-on-Ouse Sqn Ldr Paul Richley Air Safety Cell RAF Leeming Lt Andy Haywood A/SATCO RAF Linton-on-Ouse Flt Lt ‘Fraz’ Barley JFACTSU/100 Sqn Rep Flt Lt Jan Janiurek CFS Standards Flt Lt Harry Pilling CFI NUAS Flt Lt Phoebe Rossiter Station Flight Safety Officer, RAF Leeming Flt Lt Marc Smith SO3 AS 1Gp STAR Plt Off Jordan Cameron Instructor 645 VGS RAF Topcliffe WO2 Kieran Mulkeen Unit Flight Safety Officer 9AAC Dishforth Mr Christopher Arthur Safety Officer YGC Rufforth Mr Martin Baxter Chairman Dales Hang & Paragliding Club Mr Graeme Bennie Watch Supervisor Durham Tees Airport Mr Tom Briton Sec Fishburn Av8ters Aero Club Mr Mark Boyle DCFI YGC Rufforth Mr Andy Crompton Dep ATSM Durham Tees Valley Airport Mr Edward Cuncliffe Chairman Yorkshire Owls Para Motor Club Mr Tony Eason ATC Examiner Warton Airfield Mr Kevin Gay Sec North Yorkshire Sail Wing Club Mr Alan Gulliver Rufforth Airfield Mr Midwinter DCFI Wolds Gliding Club Mr Paul Moore CCP Shotton Airfield Mr Ian Mousette Pilot & Safety Offr Yorkshire Air Ambulance Mr John Norman CFI Wolds Gliding Club Mr Andy Parish CFI Yorkshire Gliding Club Sutton Bank Mr Chris Price CFI Wolds Gliding Club Mr Dave Smillie Head of Operations LBA Mr David Smith Baxby Airsports CFI Mr Chris Stringer CFI SIE Aero Club Mr John Teesdale CFI York Flying Club Rufforth East Mr Chris Todd Base Manager National Police Air Service Mr Phil Traviss Pennine Region Balloon Association Mr Graham Wadforth Wolds Gliding Club Mr Adrian White Airsports Training, York Flying Club Flt Lt Mel Henson DSATCO RAF Leeming Dep Sec Apologies Wg Cdr Simon Hulme OC Ops Wg RAF Leeming Major Lowe 2 I/C 9AAC Dishforth Sqn Ldr Luke Bhatia OC 2 Sqn LATCC (Mil) Sqn Ldr Simon Gilmore OC Ops Wg RAF Spadeadam Sqn Ldr Karen Lofthouse SATCO RAF Leeming Sec Captain ‘Woody’ Woodhouse RQHI 9AAC Dishforth Captain Geoff Sutcliffe Northumbria Police Air Service Flt Lt Jules Henderson SATCO RAF Spadeadam Mr Steven Hoyle Bagby Airfield Mr Kevin Packer ATSM Carlisle Airport Mr Keith Rodgers SATCO Newcastle International Airport

1 Issues Action

Item 1 - Welcome Address

1. The RAF Leeming Station Commander welcomed all attendees to the second North of Regional Airspace Users Working Group (RAUWG) and stated that his intent was to share issues and build effective relationships with all airspace users.

2. The format of the meeting was outlined in accordance with the agenda.

Item 2 - Introduction of New Members

3. New attendees were invited to give a brief overview of the activity conducted at their unit:

a. National Police Air Service. The National Police Air Service provides air support in tackling crime and protecting the public. This includes searching for suspects or missing persons, reconnaissance ahead of planned operations, supporting public order operations and assisting pursuits.

b. Yorkshire Owls Paramotor Club. The club operates paramotors (powered paragliders) from various farmers’ fields across Yorkshire. Members generally fly between the surface and 3000 ft AGL, but can climb higher (not above 10,000 feet AGL). The club currently has 7 members and they mainly operate without radios.

c. Dales Hang-gliding and Paragliding Club. The club operates paragliders and hang-gliders across the Wensleydale valley and has approximately 150 members.

d. North Yorkshire Sailwings Club. The club operates paragliders and hang- gliders, flying primarily from sites to the north of the North Yorkshire Moors. They fly cross country, mainly from Model Ridge and Carlton Bank, and south through the Vale of York. The club has 75 members, the majority being paraglider pilots.

Item 3 - Review of RODs from the Previous Meeting (Action Tracker)

4. The Chairman reviewed the actions from the inaugural RAUWG.

5. JFACTSU/Wolds Gliding Club Deconfliction. To assist with coordination and Flt Lt Barley deconfliction, JFACTSU would investigate the feasibility of providing the Wolds Gliding Club Wolds with the JFACTSU flying programme when they are scheduled to operate over the Wolds. Gliding Club JFACTSU have emailed 3 individuals from the Wolds Gliding Club and are awaiting a response. Ongoing.

6. Windfarms. Following concerns regarding the quantity of windfarms being erected, SATCO has engaged with DIO Safeguarding and they would provide a brief at a future RAUWG. Matter closed.

7. MAA Regulatory Article 1026. Advice on how the impending MAA Regulatory Article (RA) 1026 had affected future access to airfields/other MOD-owned land (such as sports fields) had been requested. Attendees were advised that RA 1026 does not change current procedures; permission to land on MOD airfields rests with the DDH. Matter closed.

8. Speed of ATC Radio Transmissions. Military air traffic controllers had been reminded through standards bulletins to slow down the speed of their radio transmissions. Matter closed.

9. 9AAC flying through Husthwaite Visual Circuit. WO2 Mulkeen has confirmed that 9AAC personnel had been advised of the activity at Husthwaite and crews were briefed that, in the interests of flight safety, they are to avoid flying through the Husthwaite visual circuit.

2 The Dishforth Flying Order Book has also been amended to include an entry regarding Husthwaite activity. Matter closed.

10. GA Liaison. Flt Lt Rossiter, the Station Flight Safety Officer has been identified as the GA Liaison Officer and is to engage with the RAUWG attendees and develop further initiatives.

Item 4 - UK Airprox Board Presentation

11. The Director of the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) gave a presentation detailing the composition, remit and workings of the UKAB.

12. Key points to note include:

a. Flight Planning. NOTAMs are often not detailed enough and aviators fail to read them accurately, if at all.

b. Lookout. Aviators are not always trained enough on lookout.

c. Operating Envelopes. Failure of aviators to understand other airspace users’ operating envelopes.

Item 5 - Mid-Air Collision/Airprox Discussion and Q&A Period

13. A short discussion period followed. The main concern raised was that of ATSOCAS and aviators’ understanding of what service they are being provided with.

14. The associated regulations are detailed in CAP774, although the duty of care caveat made some of the attendees believe that there is sometimes an Air Traffic Service (ATS) ‘creep’ when being provided with a Basic Service (BS).

15. Given the subjectivity of duty of care, it was explained that if a controller believes a risk of collision exists, even when operating under a BS, then traffic information will endeavour to be passed.

Item 6 - AOB

16. Use of the Radio. Various attendees raised the issue of aircrew being fearful of All speaking on the radio. This issued was also raised at the inaugural RAUWG. The Chairman reiterated that the various ATS providers, be it military or civil, do not care whether radio transmissions are of a high standard; however, in an attempt to gain an accurate air picture, they would prefer that the aircrew spoke to them.

17. JFACTSU Common Frequency. Flt Lt Barley informed attendees that when carrying All out Close Air Support (CAS) activity, JFACTSU have been allocated a VHF common frequency and mobile telephone number that is published on the NOTAMs system. He encouraged attendees to speak to them when transiting the area.

18. RAF . A/SATCO RAF Linton-on-Ouse informed attendees that RAF Church Fenton would be closing at the end of 2013. The airspace would revert to Class G.

19. Invitees. It was suggested that NATS could be invited to the RAUWG. Consideration Dep Sec will be given to inviting NATS to conduct a presentation at a future RAUWG.

Item 7 – Proposed Date of the Next Meeting

20. The Chairman thanked all attendees for their time and contributions. It was hoped that all parties would leave with a better understanding of each others operations and issues. He

3 urged attendees to pass on the contact details of any airspace users who were not represented at the meeting.

21. The proposed date for the next meeting was Thursday 17 April 2014 at the Officers’ Dep Sec Mess, RAF Leeming.

M HENSON Flt Lt Dep Sec RAUWG DSATCO RAF Leeming Mil: 95871 Ext 7448 Civ: 01677 457448

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