Flying in to North Weald Airfield and the Stansted Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) Pilot’s Self Briefing Pack Epping Forest District Council www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD PILOT’S SELF BRIEFING PA • Pilots must use the active runway and follow Flying into North Weald the appropriate circuit direction, unless for North Weald Airfield has unlicensed hard and exceptional reasons permission has been given grass runways, and excellent travel links with in advance by the duty Air/Ground Operator or central London via the Central Line from there is a safety/emergency issue. Pilots with Epping and the M11 motorway. permission to use a runway other than the active must give way to traffic using the active runway. Before making a flying in to us, please take the time to read through our local procedures to • Base joins and orbits downwind or on final are not ensure your visit is a happy and safe one. permitted when the circuit is active due to the large number of ab initio training flights taking North Weald operations place on the Airfield and previous airproxes. Operational hours: The Airfield is open from 08.30 – • The model flying area is now on the other side of 19.00 local, or sunset + 30 minutes during the Winter Merlin Way to the east of the Airfield. The models operational cycle, whichever is the earlier. No circuits are only permitted to operate up to 400 agl. after 18.30 local or sunset, as above. No movements Aircraft transiting or joining crosswind should permitted when the Airfield is closed. Please phone keep a good look out, and care should be taken Operations on 01992 564 200 for details. when going around not to fly east of Merlin Way. Radio communications: The air/ground frequency • Joining traffic is requested to avoid over flying is North Weald Radio 123.530. The service may at noise sensitive areas particularly Epping, North times be upgraded to a Flight Information Service, Weald Village, and airfield events. (See map on call-sign North Weald Information, with a basic service. Page 6). Fire cover: The Airfield provides Cat 1 fire cover • Run and breaks are permitted when the circuit is during operational hours. This can be upgraded up to clear of other aircraft not below 500 feet agl. Cat 3 on remission. 48 hours notice is required. • Pilots are reminded of the proximity of controlled Runway availability: The main tarmac/concrete airspace overhead at 1500 ft QNH and to the runway is 02/20. The crosswind runway 12/30 is north the Airfield by approximately 1½ nm. often used for vehicle skid training, so if your require • Pilots are reminded that North Weald Airfield is this runway due to the wind you must phone for a situated close to airfields at Stapleford, Willingale, PPR to check its availability. Likewise, if you require and Hunsdon. In particular, when using Runway the grass runway 02/20, phone to check its status in 02 keep a look out for Stapleford Runway 03 the Spring and Autumn after periods of wet weather. crosswind traffic turning south down the M11. Joining Procedures • A Rule 10 exemption is in place at North Weald. Formation landings are permitted providing the All visiting aircraft must contact the Tower for PPR criteria as laid out in the exemption are met. prior to arrival at North Weald. In addition, all pilots Copies are held at the Control Tower. Permission should be aware of the following requirements: must be given by the Airfield Manager or Duty • Only aircraft fitted with serviceable radios and in Officer for these privileges to be granted. There is effective contact with ‘North Weald Radio’ are a fee of £10 per day per aircraft. permitted to use the Airfield. • From 1 May 2019 the North Weald squawk is • All pilots are reminded of the proximity of the 7000 inbound, outbound and in the circuit. Stansted TMZ in relation to North Weald Airfield, • Simultaneous use of multiple runways is not and must adhere to the procedures laid out in the permitted, except in the event of formation NATS Letter of Agreement. If the aircraft has a landings under the Rule 10 exemption. Mode S or C transponder, Mode C (ALT) must be switched on. (See Page 8) Departures • Pilots may not communicate with North Weald Prior to departure, pilots must book out with the Radio when outside the DOC of the station which Control Tower by telephone or radio. All departures is 10 nm and 3000 ft agl. will be subject to the following criteria: NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD PILOT’S SELF BRIEFING PACK | 3 • Only aircraft fitted with serviceable radios and in • Jet circuit flying is restricted to two sessions of effective contact with ‘North Weald Radio’ shall be three circuits, these sessions are to take place permitted to depart from the airfield, with the between 1000 – 1300 and 1300 – 1700. Sessions exception of aircraft returning to their home base must be pre-booked with the Control Tower. following radio/communication failure, and at the • GA circuits are to be restricted to using runway 02/20 discretion of The Control Tower. only. The number of circuits permitted will be at • All pilots are reminded of the proximity of the the discretion of the Tower. Visiting traffic Stansted TMZ in relation to North Weald Airfield, requesting circuits must land and obtain and must adhere to the procedures laid out in the permission before commencing a circuit detail. NATS Letter of Agreement. If the aircraft has a No more than four aircraft are permitted to carry Mode S or C transponder, Mode C (ALT) must be out circuit details at any one time. Priority will be switched on. (See Page 9) given to North Weald Flight Training aircraft. • All departures shall be on the active runway, • No engines will be started up prior to 0830 local. unless for exceptional reason permission has been given by the Control Tower, Duty Officer or Helicopter operations General Airfield Manager. Helicopters and other rotary wing aircraft should adopt • Departing aircraft shall continue ahead until conventional fixed wing joining and circuit procedures outside the airfield boundary to avoid conflict with unless otherwise agreed with the Control Tower. events and activities on site. The Herts Air Ambulance operates from North Weald. • Pilots are reminded of the proximity of controlled When using the callsign Helimed 55 Alpha it has airspace overhead and to the north of the airfield, priority over all other traffic in the circuit, which must and that the site is close to airfields at Stapleford, give way or go around as it departs on task. It is situated Willingale and Hunsdon. (see map on Page 6 and on its own helipad at Hangar 7 and has permission to photos on Page 7 for views of local landmarks) operate outside North Weald Airfield’s opening hours. The National Police Air Service also has a base facility at Noise Abatement Hangar 10. This operates 24 hours a day and has In order to limit noise impact on the local similar departure priorities to the Air Ambulance. environment, the following restrictions will apply; Helicopter pleasure flights which operate from the grass • Pilots should avoid flying over Epping or any adjacent to the Control Tower may depart direct to the villages or housing in the vicinity of the airfield. south when Runway 02 is in use and recover from the (See maps on Pages 6-7.) south when Runway 20 is in use keeping to the east of • North Weald Airfield now uses QNH as the standard the runway. They may also use a circuit pattern to the altimeter setting in the circuit. The circuit height is 1,200 feet on the QNH. QFE is available on request. NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD PILOT’S SELF BRIEFING PACK | 4 east of the Airfield, giving way to normal circuit traffic. charged at the touch and go rate. Army Air Corps helicopters also use the Airfield for Ad hoc payments may be made at to members of the training sorties. Ops Team. An online portal is also being set up. Pilots are reminded of the dangers of rotor down wash and wake turbulence by helicopters taking off andlanding Aircraft Weight Limits and taxying to and from the runway. The runways at North Weald Airfield are of design and construction which has a low weight-bearing capacity. Microlight Aircraft Pavement Classification Numbers (PCN) Microlight traffic will adopt conventional powered The PCN rating for runway 02 is 7. aircraft joining and circuit procedures unless The PCN rating for runway 20 is 9. otherwise agreed with the Control Tower. The PCN rating for runway 12/30 is 5. Landing fees for commercial Only aircraft with an Aircraft Classification Number operations including training flights (ACN) equal to or less than the appropriate runway and non-based aircraft PCN are permitted to use the site without prior Organisations carrying out commercial or training flights notification and special approval. from the Airfield are already subject to landing fees and non-based aicraft will also be liable from 1 January 2020. Fuel, Parking and Maintenance Landing fees (exclusive of VAT): Fuel: Avgas 100LL, UL91 and Jet A1 are available from Aero Legends. Single engine piston full stop landing £10 Single engine piston touch and go £7.50 Jet A1 and 100LL is also available from Weald Aviation. Twin engine or turboprop full stop landing £15 Parking/Hangarage: Facilities may be available at Twin engine or turboprop touch and go £10 the Airfield via Aero Legends, Weald Aviation or other hangars. Telephone for details.