Today sees the launch of the European Campaign on Airspace Infringements. Follow the link below to watch the videos developed by EASA and the CAAs of Belgium, Finland and the UK. There is also a posters (for your GA Club Noticeboard) and flyers as well. Visit the EASA stand at AERO to learn more.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/airspace-infringement
Share your own ideas and experiences in how to avoid airspace infringements.
There seems to be much discussion about how pilots can reduce infringements, but little about the simplification of airspace to make it easier for pilots to avoid. There are many examples of airspace that steps up or down in small segments that sometimes are almost obscured by other chart details.
All pilots know that they must avoid airspace unless they have an appropriate clearance, so pilot education is not the solution to airspace busts. The solution lies in simplifying, or standardising, the shape of controlled airspace and in removing "traps". A good "flight following" service (as in the US) would also be useful, but I accept that this is unlikely to be funded.
I think that good preparation is the right way how to avoid airspace infringement. If pilot has enough and correct information, proper planning is the key stone of flight de-confliction.
I found Netbriefing from HungaroControl as a nice tool for easy to understand and effective planning tool keeping all necessary and valid information on one place with chart background. One stop shop system I would say. Easy to plan and avoid restricted or segregated areas for VFR flight fromLZNZ Slovakia, via Hungary to LJMB Maribor ...
The planning resources in the UK are quite good, and all pilots are taught to prepare (most know the acronym PPPPPP), but things don't always go to plan. Sometimes it's necessary to divert because of weather and sometimes people become "temporarily uncertain of position" for whatever reason; no amount of preparation will prevent this happening. If you don't agree that some airspace is almost designed to catch-out GA pilots then look at the airspace around Southampton as an example of the problem.
As an instructor and examiner for over thirty years (now retired) I am convinced that simplification and/or standardisation of airspace shape, especially around regional airports, would have a major positive impact on flight safety.
Additionally, it seems that the "listening squawk" system is popular with pilots and has prevented a number of busts.
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well EGHI terminal area is complicated, I understand. But simplification of the airspace is sometime contra to airspace design required by /or for IFR procedures as we know. It is usually not a goal to complicate airspace design.
I can understand your points, but it is matter of training as well how to handle situation "temporarily uncertain of position" and not even this situation can be reason to make threat for other traffic due to airspace infringement.
One of the mission of ANSP regarding VFR traffic is to deliver proper and easy to understand information about airspace constrains and availability. And I just pointed out to nice solution I found.
Thanks for the information about the HungaroControl tool. We will look to add to the Airspace Infringement Webpage with more information on the different ANSP tools available across Europe.
Good idea.
We all need fresh and valid information, particularly now, in this part of the year when peak season is starting for VFR/GA community.
As far as I know, Albania is on the similar way as well. So the way from North to South via east part of Europe could be "paved" by correct and fresh information in close future I hope.
Summer migration of VFR flihgts will be more safe and could be, most important, "conflict free".
I'll get the our (EASA's) Safety Promotion to finalise the collection of links to webpages from the ANSPs as a matter of priority.
Though it doesn't offer flight planning Spain's Enaire has its Insignia AIS service which is a major step forward. However, in this area the airspace is less congested.
My very personal view is that Swedish ATC in general need to change their attitude away from this "it's the pilots problem/responsibility, to be more service minded towards VFR flying. My personal experience is that Norway, Germany etc. is far far better with a more friendly and helpful approach on this matter.
News to Share!
Deal all,
A link to the videos by the Swiss CAA FOCA was added today May 24th in EASA | Airspace infringement: https://www.easa.europa.eu/airspace-infringement.
As many pilots from Europe and beyond will enjoy the summer flying in Switzerland, please promote these videos among your colleagues and friends, together with the FOCA Staysafe platform and Facebook site:
http://staysafe.bazl.admin.ch/;
https://www.facebook.com/FOCA.StaySafe.
Congratulations to FOCA for this excellent and very informative material!
Michel
Dear all,
Jozef Jankovic made a very good suggestion here above!
In line with John Franklin's commitment, I have the pleasure to inform you that a list of ANSP and NAA Flight Plan Filling portals, Flight Planning and Navigation, Flight Information Services (FIS) and Airspace Infringement portals have been published on https://www.easa.europa.eu/airspace-infringement.
Several ANSPs and NAAs across Europe also provide digital maps, flight planning software and Apps that will make your flight preparation easier and more accurate. We encourage you to use them!
Best,
Michel
OK, friends,
to improve information about ANSP flight planning and FPL filling portals let me provide you more detailed information. It is maybe not so crucial now, when weather is going to close real GA season by low clouds and low visibility, but you can be ready for next season to fly in area of middle Europe. It looks that Hungary and Poland (better say Hungarocontrol and PANSA) are step forward and ready to provide visual web-based tools for pilots. Basic feature of their systems is "airspace conflict mitigation" by other way, this tools are really strong instrument against airspace infringement phenomena taking FUA concept and tools into real aviation world. In the list the Hungarian system is considered as "Flight Plan Filling Portal" but features of their system are far ahead including weather information, weather radar picture on the different digital map background, easy flight creation, calculation and planning including Flight log, drawing and document production as pdf file.
Flight plan filing (FPL creation) is just one of options.
As far as I know, Albania is just about to start the same sort of service very soon. There is some geographical overlap in both system coverage so for now I am virtual able to create flight from Gdansk to Portoroz via Hungary without problem (FUA/LARA/CAT information are available only for Poland and Hungary of course).
It looks that idea to create "easy to fly" corridor in North - South direction is coming to real life.
Service is free of charge, supporting safety and cooperation, registration is required.
Hungary
https://www.netbriefing.hu/login.php
Poland
https://iwb.pansa.pl/login.php
And let me know your opinion and/or even similar tools available in other countries.
Dear Jozef,
Thanks for the addiitional information. We are working on a major update to improve the EASA website with a Safety Promotion Portal that will have much more information on these kinds of things. This will be launched early next year.
Hi John,
good idea.
For now I am just sharing important information in GA community to improve lack of useful information.
Airspace deconfliction is sort of necessary improvement we need in the airspace. I like ANSP tools as they are the most reliable source of information.
Finally somebody (real ANSP) is taking care about GA operations ... isn't it fantastic?
btw. I forgot to say that both ANSP are providing above mentioned services in English and local language as well.
Huge improvement.
Inspiration from Switzerland probably.
Excellent initiative!
Thanks Joseph for the info!
Best,
Michel
I get your point HFD and partially agree; by the way in the FAA system you receive flight following “as far as practical and loadwork permitting”, meaning you and only you as a pilot remain responsible, being the pilot in command. Better solution, and much easier than VFR flying, is flying IFR. It is only when you have learned to fly IFR you realise that flying VFR is nearly impossible due to the dense airspace. Nearly impossible to fly VFR in Europe single pilot. I have been flying 35 years and am a FAA CFII/MEI single multi land and-seaplanes
Yvan Pieters ATSOCAS can be good, but in the UK the service providers are often too busy or under-staffed. In FR there is much less traffic but it seems not unknown for the controllers to forget about a "customer", so I don't know how reliable the service is.
I agree that IFR is much simpler than VFR once you are "in" the system (which isn't always easy when departing from a small airfield) in an appropriate aircraft, but it's clearly wrong to say that VFR is "nearly impossible".
@HFD: IFR departing from a smaller airfield is not difficult at all. Call departure by telephone for an airway clearance. Never had any problems last 3 decades. Apparantly you do not fly VFR in busy or unknown airspace to you, because I can assure you the chance for busting airspace is a severe risk then. Aviate, Navigate and Communicate does not go well single pilot then. Happy landings.