Questions tagged [uk]

For questions specifically relating to the United Kingdom.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
20 votes
3 answers
4k views

Which fighter jet is this, based on the silhouette?

6 to 8 of these planes flew through the Ogwen Valley in North Wales, UK, this morning (2nd of June). Hawks and other training jets are common sights, but I’ve not seen these before and can’t identify ...
Darren's user avatar
  • 605
4 votes
1 answer
268 views

Daily use of the UK airspace - VFR flights

I am considering flying to the UK this summer with a small airplane. I heard that the daily use of the airspace is somewhere published by CAA (or NATS), including the activation of Dangerous / ...
richpiana's user avatar
  • 297
2 votes
1 answer
86 views

Who issues the Type Certificate in the UK?

Who issues a type certificate in the UK, I think in the US it is the FAA?
Rob's user avatar
  • 21
1 vote
1 answer
54 views

Can the NPPL exams now be taken online?

I can see that the CAA portal now offers PPL theory exams online from this article and by signing into the portal: Can the 5 exams required for an NPPL(m) now be taken online?
Cloud's user avatar
  • 10.8k
0 votes
1 answer
201 views

(UK) Why did Colin Furze's Hoverbike not require a licence?

Link: Why did he not need a licence to fly this?
Pipseycat's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
906 views

When was the last commercial hot air balloon fatality in the UK?

When was the last commercial hot air balloon fatality in the UK?
Cloud's user avatar
  • 10.8k
0 votes
0 answers
264 views

Exceeded myopia limit on UK CAA Class 1 Medical, am I still eligible?

I am 17 and this may sound stupid but my vision in my left eye is -4.50, and my right eye is -7. My right eye exceeds the limit of -6 by just 1, I am following off the UK CAA guidelines as I hope to ...
lvghtninqq's user avatar
37 votes
2 answers
11k views

What button did a pilot press that led to them being caught for falsifying experience?

I just saw this Newsweek article, Man Pilots Planes for 2 Years After Lying to Airlines About Experience: A man has been sentenced to one year in prison for lying about his job experience before ...
gparyani's user avatar
  • 881
5 votes
1 answer
162 views

CAP 413: Callsign-first replies in UK RT procedure?

Taking a UK Flight Radio Telephony Operator Licence course and have fallen into a rabbithole. From CAP 413 edition 23 (the CAA's Radiotelephony Manual): 2.48 The placement of the callsigns of both ...
Jack Deeth's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
28 views

UK noise certificate for below 9000kg?

This is regarding UK regulation - The Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1990. I am curious what is the reason of specify this particular upper weight limit here: "every propeller driven ...
kpx1894's user avatar
  • 119
2 votes
1 answer
226 views

How much does glider insurance typically cost in the UK? [closed]

I (and my colleague from the club) plan to buy K8B glider. Does anyone know how much the insurance can be? We are both "just solo" pilots in our 50s. All insurance companies require details ...
0___________'s user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
336 views

Do any RAF helicopters have skids instead of wheels?

Are there any current, or Cold War-era, Royal Air Force helicopters fitted with skids as standard? I seem to recall hearing, when I served, that RAF helicopters only ever had wheels, whereas skids ...
Rick's user avatar
  • 119
7 votes
0 answers
547 views

How did Soapy get to fly Hornets?

Allegedly, in early June 1983, while flying a Sea Harrier during a NATO exercise off the coast of Portugal, Royal Navy's Sub-Lieutenant Ian "Soapy" Watson found himself in a rather ...
Rodrigo de Azevedo's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
63 views

Can UK CAA modular exams done before Brexit be used towards an EASA license?

I am stuck with some EASA basic modules (Form 148) and some UK CAA modular exams. Now I want to apply to get an EASA B1.1 license but the problem is German aviation authority (Luftfahrtbundesamt) is ...
Muhammed Khizer Javed's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
766 views

Why paint a British roundel on a non-British Lynx?

In recent years, some of the Westland Lynx helicopters of the Portuguese Navy have undergone some form of mid-life update (MLU) in order to have their engines and avionics upgraded. Also, allegedly, a ...
Rodrigo de Azevedo's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
255 views

What documents/procedures I have to follow to fly my aircraft from the UK to Norway?

I'm planning a trip to Norway for when Covid restrictions here in the UK are lifted, and was wondering what documentation is needed to enter Norway. I've already emailed AVINOR, and they simply gave ...
LukeDunkley's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a career path to fly fast, military jets without being in the military?

I would like to pilot or fly in fighter jets however as I have mild asthma I cannot join the Royal Air Force. So is it possible to fly in or pilot these kinds of aircraft as a career without being in ...
Mcguffin's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Why does London have so many airports?

London has six international airports: Heathrow, City, Luton, Southend, Stansted, and Gatwick. It might even have eight international airports if you count Birmingham Airport and Southampton Airport. ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
123 views

Thinking of changing careers! [closed]

A little background: I am a senior software engineer with over 14 years of experience. I will turn 30 soon. I live in the UK but I'm neither a British citizen nor from EU member country. BSc in ...
Selim Balci's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the 'Deconfliction Service'?

High Speed Flights 2.36 - When receiving an ATS surveillance service, certain ex-military aircraft types have been granted a CAA exemption from the Air Navigation Order requirement to fly at an ...
Volkan Eroğlu's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
946 views

Gas Venting Stations: What's The Big Deal?

On sectional charts you can see that, through various restrictions, regulators encourage pilots to avoid flying too close to Gas Venting Stations. These seem to be places where natural gas may ...
Dan Sheppard's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
262 views

Is it possible to be a pilot for both the RAF and a Commercial company?

I have always wanted to be a pilot for both the RAF and Commercial airlines. Would it be possible for me to serve, for say 6 months in the RAF, and then when not deployed work as a commercial pilot. ...
JayAviation's user avatar
28 votes
4 answers
15k views

Why do airports in the UK have so few runways?

Almost all of the major airports in the United Kingdom are single-runway (or functionally-single-runway) installations, with only two of the very busiest (Heathrow and Manchester) having as many as ...
Vikki's user avatar
  • 27.8k
11 votes
7 answers
7k views

Why was the Vulcan bomber used for the Falklands raid?

There is a lot of information about this complex operation. But can anybody explain why they chose to use an aircraft? They could easily shoot cruise missiles from a ship or ballistic missiles from a ...
Andrius's user avatar
  • 3,844
32 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is this second smaller runway next to London City Airport?

I was looking at London City Airport (EGLC) on Google Maps today when I noticed the remains of a very small runway marked 10/28 just across the water from City Airport's main runway. It can be seen ...
Sean Duffy's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
84 views

Where can I find Take off and Landing Zones for GIS Integration?

I am a GIS specialist and looking to plot the take off and landing zones into major and minor airports across the UK. This is dominantly to see land affected by noise pollution from air traffic. If ...
James B's user avatar
  • 111
4 votes
1 answer
374 views

What were those multiple flights leaving London night of 29th Aug 2019?

First time post here, please let me know if more detail needed (and which tag would suit it best). I live in Essex UK, in the evening normally see lights of planes on approach to the London airports. ...
Brian's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
1 answer
340 views

What is this British bomber?

From previous answers this is probably at RAF Duxford in the mid-1930s.
Phil S's user avatar
  • 143
64 votes
1 answer
11k views

Why are Gatwick's runways too close together?

Gatwick Airport has two runways (08L/26R and 08R/26L), but they are only 200 metres apart - too close (by just ten metres) to allow simultaneous operations on both runways. As a result, usually only ...
Vikki's user avatar
  • 27.8k
30 votes
1 answer
3k views

What are the slash markings on Gatwick's 08R/26L?

Google Earth @ 51°08'52.24" N 0°11'35.71" W The markings are at 100 m intervals, to one side only of the centerline. They're also lighted as seen below. They are missing from the ICAO aerodrome ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
384 views

How (and when) does Heathrow alternate arrival paths?

I've noticed that flights over Richmond (particularly arrivals) seem to have significantly reduced over the last few weeks. This is based on looking at Flightradar, as well as listening to the noise ...
Duncan Felix's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
3k views

What does the sign "Caution your blast" mean?

At London City Airport (LCY) there exists a "CAUTION YOUR BLAST" sign. This isn't one I've seen before. What does it mean?
Tomi's user avatar
  • 233
1 vote
1 answer
678 views

How many private jets land at Heathrow airport per day?

Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, one would assume most traffic there is reserved for commercial airliners because they carry a much larger number of passengers. How many ...
securitydude5's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
118 views

Can I add ratings to a NNPL?

I have been speaking to a couple of local flying schools. Originally, I was going to train on a Piper Tomahawk to obtain an LAPL. But after explaining to one of them my goals, (just flying for fun, no ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 10.8k
2 votes
1 answer
582 views

What is the procedure following a near miss?

This is a follow-up to this question - in particular, to this video posted in MichaelK's answer. What would be the correct procedure for the pilot to follow in this situation? (That is, after a near ...
Tevildo's user avatar
  • 492
4 votes
1 answer
350 views

What is the difference between the red and black box identifiers on UK airport charts?

On UK airport charts like the one below for Manchester (EGCC), what is the difference between an identifier with white lettering on a red square and one with yellow lettering on a black square with a ...
slantalpha's user avatar
  • 4,183
5 votes
1 answer
220 views

Why do some airfields not have a climb gradient for LPV?

Can anyone advise why for some airfields there are minimum approach climb gradients for LNAV with none for LPV, while at other airfields there are minimum approach climb gradients for both LPV and ...
andy-m's user avatar
  • 549
34 votes
3 answers
13k views

Are private jets allowed to land at London Heathrow?

Heathrow is among the worlds busiest airports, with traffic mostly (entirely?) from airliners. Are private/business jets (e.g. Gulfstream G650 or Cessna Citation X) allowed to land at Heathrow? If so,...
securitydude5's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
720 views

Is Flight Following in the USA directly equivalent to Basic Service in the UK?

This is partially a question on terminology, I have flown in the USA and used a service which is commonly referred to as "Flight Following". I have read this question: Is there a European equivalent ...
Jamiec's user avatar
  • 29.1k
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

What callsigns do UK Medical Emergency Response Teams use?

I'm making a simulation game and there's a large focus on the humanitarian effort military personnel put in, putting aside the shooting and more on the story. Part of this is a Medical Emergency ...
Shaun Cockram's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
673 views

Why is London City getting a virtual tower?

(Source) London City is not a remote-low-traffic airport. Staffing a remote airport is like having lighthouse keepers. That I understand. And yet the tower will be closed, and moved off-airport to ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
282 views

What educational qualifications are required to become a pilot in the UK?

In order to obtain a pilot's licence in the UK, are any formal educational qualifications (such as school-leaving certificates) required? As well as any statutory or other formal requirements, do ...
Terrence Chamberlain's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
570 views

What would escorting an airliner which is the subject of a security threat by fighter jets achieve? [duplicate]

Today, a Ryanair flight from Lithuania to London Luton was the subject of a presumed hoax, and had some form of security alert. In the incident, it was diverted to Stansted, while being escorted by ...
Muzer's user avatar
  • 203
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do airlines in the US or UK have to pay fuel taxes?

Do airlines in the US or UK have to pay fuel taxes? When looking at Jet-A prices on the Shell website, for example, it's unclear if the listed prices include taxes. Do they?
user19440's user avatar
  • 1,075
11 votes
1 answer
979 views

How do I pay fees if I don't even land at the airport?

So let's say I'm going from Wellesbourne (EGBW) to Coventry airport (EGBE) and at Coventry I do 1 ILS approach and go missed and return back to Wellesbourne. Even though I never put a wheel on EGBE ...
Manders's user avatar
  • 111
15 votes
3 answers
12k views

Why aren't there direct flights connecting Honolulu, Hawaii and London, UK?

London is by far my favorite city, and many people in Honolulu apparently feel the same. An old poll (5-6 years ago) said that 50% of polled people would go to London on that flight if it existed. The ...
ALX's user avatar
  • 261
7 votes
1 answer
303 views

Which en-route services are available to UK GA pilots?

I have recently taken up flying again in the UK, and although very little has changed in the 10 years I have been inactive, the one area which seems to have changed is in the en-route services ...
Jamiec's user avatar
  • 29.1k
1 vote
1 answer
7k views

What is a good flight simulator for a beginner? [closed]

I'm in the UK and I wish to learn to fly starting with a home computer simulator. I have never flown and I am only interested in light aircraft. I need instruction from scratch: what the instruments ...
Howard Coates's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
95 views

In the UK, which ATS unit would be responsible for CTR entry clearances?

In the UK, which ATS unit would be responsible for CTR entry clearances? Would the approach controller issue them, or would the approach controller need to co-ordinate a clearance from the aerodrome ...
tim-berry's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
7k views

What is the least expensive way to become a commercial pilot in the UK?

Besides the RAF is there a way of becoming a pilot without spending tens of thousands of pounds on flight training? I'm finishing university and looking to go into a career in flying, I can't join the ...
Naim Sen's user avatar
  • 163