Questions tagged [uk]

For questions specifically relating to the United Kingdom.

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Where are some of the most challenging airfields in the UK?

I fly Microlights and am used to short strips, I can land at airfields such as Brown Shutters and Clench Common without much strain. What are some of the most challenging airfields in the UK for light ...
Cloud's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
236 views

Can I share ACARS messages online?

ACARS messages are transmitted via radio just like normal ATC communications are. In the UK, for example, it is illegal to listen to and broadcast ATC chatter. Does the same apply to ACARS? If an ...
user38116's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Does rain affect VFR criteria?

Does rain affect VFR criteria? In other words, if visibility is 1500m or more and you are in sight of the surface, but there is heavy rain, can you still fly VFR? Here is an example of the conditions ...
Cloud's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
46 views

What's the most cost effective way to keep a PPL current with Ultralights?

I hold an NPPL(m) - which is a UK license for Micro/Ultralights only. I wish to "upgrade" (sadly there is no formal upgrade path) to a PPL so that on occasion, I can hire 4 seaters. My ...
Cloud's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
76 views

Can I log CO-Pilot and Multi-Pilot hours as a safety pilot?

I am working for a UK airline as a First Officer. I have in my roster some flights where I am acting as safety pilot for FO's conducting line training. I am wondering if I can log my hours as CO-Pilot ...
Talktomegoose's user avatar
26 votes
6 answers
9k views

Why are hangars so high?

Or, to be more precise why was the Type-C hangar so tall? Built in the 1930s across many airfields in the UK, it was built with a higher roof (11 m) than any contemporary aircraft. (higher even than ...
ConanTheGerbil's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
159 views

Can I identify as a student pilot when I'm not? [duplicate]

A few months ago, my original flying instructor took me to a busy airport (Gloucester) as I wasn't comfortable going there by myself for the first time as a low-hours pilot who only really uses grass ...
Cloud's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
105 views

Is a 3 seat Microlight build possible?

Many Microlights have weights of no more than 450kg, as that was the old weight limit. Now that the limit is 650kg, it seems to me that would be enough weight to add an extra seat (80kg for the ...
Cloud's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
601 views

Is the UK still part of the ECAA since Brexit?

Is the UK still part of the ECAA (European Common Aviation Area) since Brexit? For instance is it possible for a Spanish Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holder to operate a scheduled commercial flight ...
Knathuul's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
235 views

What do I need to do to fly a Microlight to France?

I wish to fly a C42 to France from the UK. I can file the flight plan from Skydemon, but I have an NPPL, so I believe I need to obtain permission from French authorities and maybe do other things. ...
Cloud's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Cross crediting experience: Holder of ATC Instructor’s Qualification to NPPL(A) (SSEA)

I formerly held an ATC Instructor’s Qualification valid for the Vigilant Motor Glider through the RAF Volunteer Gliding Squadron System. I was a B1 Instructor until 2014 with 440 hours. I would now ...
Daniel's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
5k 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
305 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
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2 votes
1 answer
105 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
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1 vote
1 answer
84 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
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0 votes
1 answer
219 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
956 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
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0 votes
0 answers
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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
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5 votes
1 answer
186 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
30 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
245 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
362 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
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8 votes
0 answers
651 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
78 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
774 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
265 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
3k 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
3k 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. ...
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1 vote
1 answer
127 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
4k 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
1k 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's user avatar
  • 260
1 vote
1 answer
309 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
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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
  • 3,854
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
90 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
391 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
347 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
65 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
  • 28.1k
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
505 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
721 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
128 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
  • 12.6k
2 votes
1 answer
599 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
  • 512
4 votes
1 answer
378 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
  • 4,193
5 votes
1 answer
232 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
14k 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
816 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
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