Birmingham: (BHX) - NOTAMS

[Ray Finkle]

I noticed the topsoil when I was at the viewing area yesterday. It definitely looked very brown still, maybe a slow growing variety of grass (if so I want some)?

It must be getting a little embarrassing now.

 

[Matt995]

Finally a working ILS on runway 33 today, after the flight calibration took place today!! First time since september I believe!!

Q) EGTT/QICXX/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 17/06/22 16:13C) TO: 17/07/31 23:59
E) RWY 33 ILS RADIATING TO CAT 1 ONLY
C3104/17

 

[Ray Finkle]

Dare we get too excited? We wait with bated breath

 

[JF57]

Finally a working ILS on runway 33 today, after the flight calibration took place today!! First time since september I believe!!

Q) EGTT/QICXX/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 17/06/22 16:13C) TO: 17/07/31 23:59
E) RWY 33 ILS RADIATING TO CAT 1 ONLY
C3104/17

I thought it was always working but badly as it appears to be if it is CAT 1 only. Did I get it wrong?

 

[Matt995]

I thought it was always working but badly as it appears to be if it is CAT 1 only. Did I get it wrong?

since September last year only the localizer part of the ILS has been working, the glide slope has been unserviceable due to drainage issues.

Now today, we have a localizer and glideslope both serviceable, so the regulations only allow it to be Cat 1 (non autoland) for the first 200 hours of use, after that it can be upgraded back to Cat 2 and Cat3b (autoland) levels.

 

[JF57]

since September last year only the localizer part of the ILS has been working, the glide slope has been unserviceable due to drainage issues.

Now today, we have a localizer and glideslope both serviceable, so the regulations only allow it to be Cat 1 (non autoland) for the first 200 hours of use, after that it can be upgraded back to Cat 2 and Cat3b (autoland) levels.

Thanks for the clarification. A big improvement then. Incredible that it has taken so long.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Now today, we have a localizer and glideslope both serviceable, so the regulations only allow it to be Cat 1 (non autoland) for the first 200 hours of use, after that it can be upgraded back to Cat 2 and Cat3b (autoland) levels.

CAT IIIC (which it used to be)?

Kevin

 

[Matt995]

CAT IIIC (which it used to be)?

Kevin

Nope pretty certain BHX has never been Cat IIIC, as per wikipedia :-

Cat IIIc - N/A As of 2012, this category is not yet in operation anywhere in the world, as it requires guidance to taxi in zero visibility as well.

General ILS categories :-

“Category I (CAT I) operation” means a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height not lower than 200 feet (60 meters) and with either a visibility of not less than 800 meters or a RVR of not less than 550 meters;

“Category II (CAT II) operation” means a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height lower than 200 feet (60 meters) but not lower than 100 feet (30 meters) and a RVR of not less than 350 meters;

“Category IIIA (CAT IIIA) operation” means a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height lower than 100 feet (30 meters) or no decision height, and a RVR of not less than 200 meters;

“Category IIIB (CAT IIIB) operation” means a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height lower than 50 feet (15 meters) or no decision height, and a RVR of less than 200 meters but not less than 50 meters;

“Category IIIC (CAT IIIC) operation” means a precision instrument approach and landing with no decision height and no RVR limitations;

 

[Matt995]

ILS for runway 33, is now finally back up to Cat IIIB autoland!! 👍

 

[Kevin Farnell]

ILS for runway 33, is now finally back up to Cat IIIB autoland!! 👍

Excellent news!

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

ILS for runway 33, is now finally back up to Cat IIIB autoland!! 👍

Finally!!!

We need a Hallelujah smilie 🙂

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Question! Would this have been allowed to happen at Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester?

 

[Matt995]

The Runway 33 ILS saga continues.....

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 17/03/31 08:45C) TO: 17/06/30 23:59
E) ILS GP RWY 33 U/S

The Glidepath (GP) has now been out of service since 1st November, and as per this notam will continue until 30th June, and before that the ILS was only cat I for last summer!

serious problems still on runway 33, and now almost 3 years without Cat III autoland capabilities!

current NOTAM :-

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/01/08 16:55C) TO: 18/01/31 16:00
E) RWY 33 GP OUT OF SERVICE
C0127/18

hopefully just for maintenance, fingers crossed the old ILS sage from last year hasn't come back again! Not too useful having ILS issues in these foggy conditions, at least Rwy 15 is fine!!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

current NOTAM :-

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/01/08 16:55C) TO: 18/01/31 16:00
E) RWY 33 GP OUT OF SERVICE
C0127/18

hopefully just for maintenance, fingers crossed the old ILS sage from last year hasn't come back again! Not too useful having ILS issues in these foggy conditions, at least Rwy 15 is fine!!

Have there been any calibration flights in recent days, that could have found a problem with the CAT III ILS on R33? (it does seem to be out for some considerable time - 8 Jan 18 to 31 Jan 18).
Fortunately, foggy conditions usually form at very low wind speeds meaning that a switch to R15 should not pose much of a problem.

Kevin

 

[Matt995]

Runway 33 Glide Path still out of service until the end of February now....

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/01/31 16:00C) TO: 18/02/28 16:00 EST
E) RWY 33 GP OUT OF SERVICE
C0531/18

why am I getting Déjà vu again? 🙁 Come on Birmingham sort it out, how long do we have to have these issues?

 

[Matt995]

Updated Notams of note :-

Q) EGTT/QMXXX/IV/M/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/02/10 17:00C) TO: 18/03/10 23:59
E) STEEL PLATE ON TAXIWAY DELTA AT D4 OBSCURING 2 HOLD BAR LIGHTS. TAXI
WITH CAUTION
C0701/18

Q) EGTT/QSFLT/IV/B/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/02/19 11:00C) TO: 18/05/19 11:00
E) THE AVAILABILITY OF FIS FROM BIRMINGHAM RADAR MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF NEW ATC EQUIPMENT.
C0763/18

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/02/26 12:15C) TO: 18/03/31 16:00 EST
E) ILS GP RWY 33 OUT OF SER
C0950/18

Q) EGTT/QPAXX/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/02/26 13:02C) TO: 18/03/12 18:00
E) HON VOR/DME OUT OF SERVICE. RNAV EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT MAY CONTINUE TO
FLY THE GROVE 1A 1B 1C AND CHASE 3A 4B 1C 2D 3F 3G 3H STAR. AIRCRAFT
UNABLE TO FLY WITH WHI 4D STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE FROM RWY 33
MUST INFORM ATC WHEN REQUESTING DEPARTURE CLEARANCE.
C0951/18

Q) EGTT/QMXLT/IV/M/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/02/26 21:00C) TO: 18/02/27 23:59
E) RUNWAY STOP-BARS A1, BRAVO AND T1 INOPERABLE
C0965/18

 

[Matt995]

latest updates below, more testing of the VHF transmitters, and 33 ILS Glidepath out of service till June 19th! (oh dear!) :-

C1616/18: Birmingham: Air/ground operating frequency(ies) changed
Q) EGTT/QCACF/IV/B/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
FLIGHT CHECK OF NEW VHF TRANSMITTERS. BIRMINGHAM GROUND
121.800MHZ AND BIRMINGHAM TOWER 118.300MHZ OUT OF SERVICE. ALL
OPERATORS TO USE 131.000MHZ.
FROM: 21 Mar 2018 23:00 GMT TO: 22 Mar 2018 05:00 GMT

C1617/18: Birmingham: Automatic terminal information service (ATIS) unserviceable
Q) EGTT/QSAAS/IV/BO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
FLIGHT CHECK OF NEW VHF TRANSMITTERS. BIRMINGHAM INFORMATION
136.025MHZ OUT OF SERVICE. ATIS AVAILABLE ON TEL NO 01217671260.
BIRMINGHAM RADAR WILL PASS LATEST INFORMATION ON FIRST CONTACT.
FROM: 21 Mar 2018 23:00 GMT TO: 22 Mar 2018 05:00 GMT

C1620/18: Birmingham: Glide path (ILS) unserviceable
Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
ILS GP RWY 33 OUT OF SER
FROM: 19 Mar 2018 13:46 GMT TO: 19 Jun 2018 17:00 GMT (18:00 BST)

 

[Ray Finkle]

and 33 ILS Glidepath out of service till June 19th! (oh dear!) :-

At least it makes the new baggage system seem less comical 🙂

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Is there any further news on the CATIII ILS on R33?
Surely, the ground can't still be waterlogged.

Kevin

 

[Matt995]

current Notams :-

Q) EGTT/QIGAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/06/27 08:53C) TO: 18/08/30 00:00
E) ILS GP RWY 33 OUT OF SERVICE DUE DRAINAGE ISSUES

C3603/18
Q) EGTT/QICAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/07/23 23:00C) TO: 18/07/24 06:00
E) ILS RWY 15/33 OUT OF SERVICE FOR CALIBRATION FLIGHT CHECKS

C3838/18
Q) EGTT/QICAS/I/NBO/A/000/999/5227N00145W005
B) FROM: 18/07/24 23:00C) TO: 18/07/25 06:00
E) ILS RWY 15/33 OUT OF SERVICE FOR CALIBRATION FLIGHT CHECKS
C3840/18

So 33 ILS Glideslope showing out of service till 30th August, with calibration checks due to take place 23-25th July.

I was told recently that the airport hope to have it fixed by the end of August, but have had plenty of 'specialists' including the CAA scratching their heads on how to fix it! So Don't hold your breath, its only been out of service for the last 4 years on and off!!