ADC | RAF Fairford (EGVA)¶
Taxiway Restrictions¶
Taxiway C is unlit and is therefore only available during daylight hours. Taxiway C is unavailable for use by aircraft with a wingspan of 27m/90ft or greater.
Parking Stands¶
Station based aircraft shall know where they are parking and shall be instructed to “taxi back” to their parking spot. For reference, heavy bombers generally park on the South side of the airfield, and U-2 and cargo transport flights (C-17; C-5) park in the Northern Loop.
Other aircraft may be instructed to park anywhere on the airfield, as determined by TWR.
IFR Departure Clearances¶
All IFR departure clearances require coordination with Brize APP, and therefore shall be given during taxi. There is one SID for each runway:
- MAXOB 2A for Runway 09
- MAXOB 2B for Runway 27.
IFR departures such as aircraft on OAT flight plans shall be individually coordinated with Brize APP. The preferred departure method is a vectored departure routing (usually runway heading) or a direct routing to the initial fix on the flight plan.
The initial climb for all IFR SID departures is FL50. Vectored departures shall be given an initial climb by Brize APP, which shall be no lower than 2300 ft AMSL. An example of each IFR clearance (standard and non-standard) is provided below.
Radiotelephony - IFR via SID
RCH4591, depart Fairford via MAXOB 1B departure, climb and maintain FL50. Departure frequency 127.255. Squawk 3730.
Radiotelephony - Non-standard IFR
GRIM 41, on departure fly runway track, climb and maintain FL80. Departure frequency 127.255. Squawk 6401.
Departure Releases¶
It is the responsibility of Brize APP to provide releases for IFR traffic that ensure adequate separation between departing aircraft. In the absence of a controller providing Radar services, aircraft operating under IFR may depart with a 2-minute departure interval, except when multiple aircraft are departing in formation. Speed group separation must also be always taken into consideration.
Aircraft operating under VFR are subject to release from Brize ZONE, except traffic remaining within the visual circuit which does not require a release. Aircraft already in the visual circuit which then request to leave the Brize CTR shall be coordinated with Brize ZONE on an individual basis, at the earliest opportunity.
Wake turbulence separation is to be applied in accordance with MATS Part 1.
Departure Hand-off Order¶
All traffic shall be transferred to the relevant Brize controller once TWR deems the aircraft “clean” of traffic known to them. IFR GAT (traffic routing via the ATS Route Network), OAT and IFR training flights shall be transferred to Brize APP (127.255 MHz). VFR departures shall be transferred to Brize ZONE (119.005 MHz) once clear of the Fairford ATZ and visual circuit.
In the absence of Brize APP, IFR departures are to be transferred in accordance with the following sequence:
| Callsign | Position Logon | Controller Identifier | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swanwick Mil West | EGVV_W_CTR | VVW | 127.450 |
| Swanwick Mil Bandbox | EGVV_CTR | VV | 133.900 |
Radiotelephony
The radiotelephony callsign is "Swanwick Mil" for all the above Area positions.
Under normal operations, and in the absence of Brize APP, departing aircraft shall be instructed to monitor UNICOM after departure. Alternatively, TWR may coordinate with London AC West to “bridge the gap” for aircraft with GAT flight plans routing via CONKO or KISWO, or London TC Midlands for traffic via DTY. Aircraft with OAT flight plans routing via one of the defined Radar Corridors or other routings shall be transferred to UNICOM after departure and are expected to freecall the relevant London AC/TC controller prior to their crossing.
Note
TWR controllers should be aware that "bridging the gap" must be agreed by both controllers and is not to be considered as normal procedure.
Inbound Proceduers¶
Fairford IFR inbounds shall be pre-noted to Fairford TWR on initial contact with Brize DIR. Brize shall provide the Callsign, Approach Type and Expected Approach Time. Brize DIR shall call Fairford TWR with a 10 NM range check on the arriving aircraft. On receipt of the range check, Brize DIR may transfer communications to Fairford TWR. Inbounds are deemed coordinated through the small portion of the Brize Class D CTR that the Fairford 27 approach track passes through.