REDUCING AIR RISKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 6

REDUCING AIR RISKS

RULES rrO AVOID COLLISIONS

Eleyised regulations for radioequipped, aircraft, designed to reduce risk of collision in conditions of bad visibility, have been issued by the Air Ministry, writes Group Captain X. G. S.•/Payne in the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post." ;•'.■'■ Such conditions are deemed to exist when the horizontal visibility is less than HOO yards by day, or when the navigation lights of another plane cannot be seen at that distance at night. Controlled zones have been established for some time around various aerodromes. Aircraft are not allowed to' take-off, fly, or land within these zones, except under the direction of the aerodrome Air Traffic Control, when conditions of bad visibility prevail. Theimposition of the controlled zone regulations is notified by the call sign Q B I, broadcast to other aerodromes and airaraft concerned, and included in hourly weather reports. The letters Q B I are also displayed on a panel on the side of the control building at the aerodrome. To prevent," as' far.'as possible, risk of collision, Air Traffic Control officers are empowered to order aircraft on different routes to fly at various heights and, if necessary. to delay their arrival at their destination. A HALF-HOUR MARGIN. Thirty minutes before they are due to arrive, pilots must notify the Air Traffic Control of their estimated time of arrival. Aircraft will be allotted an orfler of landing in accordance with this information. Machines on special duty and scheduled air transport planes normally receive precedence over private aircraft. Priority is also given to pilots requiring to land Owing to engine trouble .or for any other imperative reason. Pilots must request permission to enter the', controlled zones; When this is granted, they should indicate, at aerodromes where this is applicable, whether they require the assistance of radip-^beacon approach systems in making their landing. An aircraft which has entered the controlled zone may be requested to leave it on account,* for example, of excessive delay in landing. .

Private and other aeroplanes not equipped with radio are not allowed to fly inside a controlled zone, except with the prior permission of the Air Traffic Control officer, and then only on such courses and at such heights as hfe may decide.