Air Traffic, ILS & Navigation Aids

[oldendays]

When there is no traffic for the LBA Radar Controller, the displays revert to standby mode, thus:View attachment 3407

What used to be known as a Trade Test Transmission. Library Music transmitted on the radar frequency optional.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Thanks but I need a phone number and they wont given them out. Ideally I need someone working at the airport who can give me some contact details. Someone who has some pride in the airport!

 

[lbaspotter]

The airport has just tweeted the following time lapse video of the new ATC equipment fit out on its twitter account:

https://twitter.com/LBIAirport/status/759005830628859905

LeedsBradfordAirport ‏@LBIAirport 21m
NEW advanced Air Traffic Control equipment unveiled! Take a look at our time-lapse http://bit.ly/ATCrefurb #aviation #travel #avgeek

 

[oldendays]

Fascinating but I'd like to see a slowed-down version. For someone like me with a technical interest I can't easily tell what's going on.

 

[oldendays]

I noticed late this afternoon that Leeds Radar is using the secondary frequency of 125.375, as well as the primary 133.125. The controller can be heard on both frequencies but the aircraft only on the particular frequency they have been assigned, so a kind of 'half bandbox' situation.

I don't know why they're doing this. Perhaps an equipment test as 125.375 is rarely used.

 

[oldendays]

I was very fortunate yesterday afternoon in being allowed a visit to the radar room. It's a hugely impressive facility and clearly popular among the folk who work there. If any of the Sunday late watch are reading this - thankyou ! You'll know who I am.

 

[lbaspotter]

C5857/16 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QSPXX/IV/BO /AE/000/085/5348N00144W018
A) EGNM B) 1612080000 C) PERM
E) AMEND ALL REFERENCES TO PRIMARY LEEDS BRADFORD RADAR FREQ FROM 133.125 MHZ TO 134.575 MHZ.
UK AIP AD 2.18, AD 2.22, AD 2-EGNM-2-1, AD 2-EGNM-2-2, AD 2-EGNM-5-1 AD 2-EGNM-6-1, AD 2-EGNM-6-2, AD 2-EGNM-8-1 TO AD 2-EGNM-8-9 REFER
CREATED: 17 Nov 2016 14:39:00
SOURCE: EUECYIYN

Looking at the following NOTAM Leeds/Bradford ATC Primary Radar frequency will permanently change at midnight on December 8th 2016 from is current 133.125mhz to 134.575mhz. Anyone know reason why?

 

[oldendays]

I was informed about this yesterday afternoon. The current frequency is plagued with interference from the Brussels ATCC, hence the change. I asked if the old frequency of 123.75 could be making a comeback but it seems not !

Also, next summer, Leeds Radar will be using both radar frequencies at certain periods. A good opportunity for the ATC folks to get their money's worth from their swanky set-up .

 

[quik123]

I asked if the old frequency of 123.75 could be making a comeback but it seems not !

The CAA offered us two new frequencies, 134.575 and 124.325. The latter didn't fit in with some of our equipment without major changes so 134.575 it is!

 

[oldendays]

Taking a wild guess here quik, but I'd say 134.575 is close enough to 133.125 to avoid installing a new antenna. 124.325 would be a bit far away perhaps ??

 

[quik123]

Taking a wild guess here quik, but I'd say 134.575 is close enough to 133.125 to avoid installing a new antenna. 124.325 would be a bit far away perhaps ??

Not far off. Aerials suit the whole air band so wouldn't need changing but some of the filtering that feeds them is not quite as versatile.

 

[oldendays]

Interesting stuff. I never knew filtering was involved. I just pictured aerial-receiver-voice switch-headset !

 

[oldendays]

A NOTAM effective today states that 133.125 is now withdrawn and the [Radar 2] frequency of 125.375 is to be used up until midnight tonight. Afterwards the new Radar 1 frequency of 134.575 will be assumed.

 

[oldendays]

The control tower at Leeds Bradford has its Golden Jubilee this year. Commissioned in the summer of 1967, about a year before the terminal building, the tower is probably the only recognisable part of the 1960s airport buildings. There have been some changes along the way, most notably the dark glazing added to the floor beneath the VCR in 1984 and secondary glazing added upstairs the same year. Also there have been about half a dozen internal technical and configuration alterations in the last fifty years, the most recent being the smart new radar room (which is a beauty, BTW). All in all though, it's the same old tower with fifty years of uninterrupted occupation. Not a bad achievement when the likes of Edinburgh, Newcastle and Bristol are all sporting much newer structures.

Good old Leeds Bradford Tower. A familiar reassuring presence !

 

[oldendays]

There have been one or two quirky exchanges on the LBA air bands this morning. The first was the BA Heathrow shuttle asking the Tower what SID to expect. The Tower passed the information but the pilot could have obtained it by request from Delivery, which is the instruction on the ATIS. A few minutes later the BA pipes up again on Tower asking about the cleared flight level after departure. Again, Tower obliges and the BA follows up with a request for the full ATC clearance. I thought, 'if you'd paid attention to the ATIS in the first place, you wouldn't be taking up RT time with the Tower when Delivery is who you should be talking to. And why the question about the cleared flight level ? Check your charts/plates or cockpit screen.' I appreciate that it's probably unusual for an airfield the size of LBA to have a ATC Delivery position but it is promulgated on the ATIS when the position is manned. The question about cleared flight level still comes up surprisingly frequently - goodness knows why after all this time.

I also heard the Jet2 Larnaca call up for ATC clearance on the Delivery frequency (BA take note). It was duly passed and read back by the pilot, who then added that they required RW14 for performance (RW32 in use), thereby invalidating the clearance. Why did the pilot not request RW14 to start with ?? A further twist to this sort of situation is that Delivery cannot then pass a new clearance because it is now 'non-standard'. The new clearance has to come from the Tower, although in the instance I've outlined, it's simply a change from LAMIX 3W to LAMIX 2X. Why Delivery can't handle that is a mystery.

Stuff like this always grabs my attention.

 

[JakeS]

I also heard the Jet2 Larnaca call up for ATC clearance on the Delivery frequency (BA take note). It was duly passed and read back by the pilot, who then added that they required RW14 for performance (RW32 in use), thereby invalidating the clearance. Why did the pilot not request RW14 to start with ??

I guess some pilots would rather retain their current slot time and push their luck with a change afterwards than wait on stand for their desired departure potentially delaying the slot?

 

[lbaspotter]

But is that really a good enough excuse when the are easy to follow instructions been broadcasted over and over again 24/7 on the ATIS.

Once is ok. Twice bad, but three times should the tower contriller have made an issue of the said BA crew? I suppose he could directed them to the Delivery frequency for further route information..

 

[oldendays]

I don't think there is any excuse for not copying the full ATIS broadcast. It's there for a reason, pertinent information for aircrew.

It tends to be KLM and BA that seek clarification of the cleared level after departure. Other operators are seemingly ok with it.

 

[KARFA]

I don't think there is any excuse for not copying the full ATIS broadcast. It's there for a reason, pertinent information for aircrew.

It tends to be KLM and BA that seek clarification of the cleared level after departure. Other operators are seemingly ok with it.

I don't think anyone should be discoraged for getting clarifications if unclear. I know th altitudes are on the chart, but best to ask if there is some reason you are unsure rather than assume. does seem odd that this wasn't done with delivery and the SID wasn't already taken from them - it's not like there are so many one could get confused!

I would agree with you that if one needs a different runway saying so upfront would be far better than going through the whole clearance before asking.

 

[oldendays]

KARFA, I agree that it's sound practice to seek clarification when unsure (I drive on the manouvering area and this is encouraged) but when it's the same question time and time again and often the same two airlines, you start to wonder why. Later on this morning, the KLM pilots asked the cleared level question.