Recommended safe distance from airports?

[corvidae]

Hi all, I';m just starting to fly in the UK having moved back after 5 months in Ireland. I started flying multis when I was out there, and it was nice that there was plenty of open space to fly at and nothing in the sky to worry about.

Now that I';m back home, where I live now, I';m right on the flight path into or out of Newcastle airport, so obviously I want to make sure I';m flying a safe distance away. I was wondering what people';s recommendations would be for a minimum distance (or indeed if there';s a set in stone legal distance.) Thanks!

[Jonnyw2k]

I don';t think its a clear answer but this is all I could find:

At flying sites very close to airports and aerodromes, liaison should be maintained with the airport authorities to determine any special precautions needed and, in special cases, to agree safe model flying heights.

Note: Models under 7 kg are not subject to any specific legal restrictions in this respect but you must always remember that Articles 55 and 56 of the Air Navigation Order apply at all times and possible conflict with full size aircraft MUST be avoided.

I think that is taken from the BMFA handbook which I found the quote elsewhere, this time referencing diferent articles of the same Air Navigation Order:

Model Flying Heights and Interaction with
Full Size Aviation
(a) At flying sites very close to airports and
aerodromes, liaison should be maintained with the
airport authorities to agree any special precautions
needed. For instance, in certain cases, safe model
flying heights might need to be arranged.
(b) Models under 7 kg are not subject to any specific
legal restrictions in this respect but you must always
remember that Articles 138 and 137 of the Air
Navigation Order (which cover endangering) apply
at all times to all models and possible conflict with
full size aircraft MUST be avoided.
(c) You do, however, have rights as model flyers
and the operators of airports and aerodromes may
not simply say that you cannot fly without giving
very good reasons. In any situations where they will
not listen to your case or where a reasonable
compromise cannot be reached you should contact
the BMFA office as soon as possible for assistance.

Air Navigation Order: https://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=226

PART 19 PROHIBITED BEHAVIOUR
Endangering safety of an aircraft
137 A person must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft,
or any person in an aircraft.
Endangering safety of any person or property
138 A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any
person or property.

Article 55 and 56 seem to point to piloting the plane:

Flight crew licence requirement – Exception for pilot undergoing training or tests in non-
EASA aircraft
56 (1) Unless the certificate of airworthiness in force for the aircraft otherwise requires, a
person may act as pilot of a non-EASA aircraft registered in the United Kingdom for the
purpose of undergoing training or tests for the grant or renewal of a pilot's licence or for
the inclusion, renewal or extension of a rating without being the holder of an appropriate
licence, if the conditions in paragraph (2) and either paragraph (3) or (4) are satisfied.
(2) The condition first referred to in paragraph (1) is that no other person is carried in the
aircraft or in an aircraft which it is towing except:
(a) a person carried as a member of the flight crew in compliance with this Order;
(b) a person authorised by the CAA to witness the training or tests or to conduct the
tests; or
(c) if the pilot in command of the aircraft is the holder of an appropriate licence, a
person carried for the purpose of being trained or tested as a member of the flight
crew of an aircraft.
(3) The conditions secondly referred to in paragraph (1) are that the person acting as the
pilot of the aircraft without being the holder of an appropriate licence:
(a) within the preceding six months was serving as a qualified pilot of an aircraft in any
of Her Majesty's naval, military or air forces; and
(b) the person's physical condition has not, so far as the person is aware, so deteriorated
during that period as to render the person unfit for the licence or rating for which
the training or tests are being given or conducted.
(4) The conditions thirdly referred to in paragraph (1) are that the person acting as the pilot
of the aircraft without being the holder of an appropriate licence:
(a) holds a Part-FCL licence or a pilot's, a flight navigator's or a flight engineer's licence
granted under article 64;
(b) the purpose of the training or tests is to enable that person to qualify under this
Order for the grant of a pilot's licence or for the inclusion of an additional type in
the aircraft rating in that person's licence; and
(c) the person acts under the supervision of another person who is the holder of an
appropriate licence.

Flight crew licence requirement – Exception for non-EASA balloons
55 (1) A person may act as pilot in command of a non-EASA balloon within the United Kingdom,
the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, without being the holder of an appropriate
licence granted or rendered valid under this Order if the conditions in paragraph (2) are
satisfied.
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that:
(a) the person is the holder of an appropriate licence granted or rendered valid under
this Order in all respects save that the person has not within the immediately
preceding 13 months carried out as pilot in command at least five flights each of
not less than five minutes duration;
(b) the person acts in accordance with instructions given by a person authorised by
the CAA to supervise flying in the type of balloon being flown ("the instructor");
(c) no person is carried other than the instructor, unless the instructor is carried and is
the holder of an appropriate licence granted or rendered valid under this Order
entitling the instructor to act as pilot in command for the flight; and
(d) the balloon is not flying for the purpose of commercial air transport, public transport
or aerial work other than aerial work which consists of the giving of instruction in
flying or the conducting of flying tests

[corvidae]

Great, thanks very much for the info :) I think I';ll just play it safe and head a few miles off into Northumberland, the scenery up there would make it worth it anyway!

[Prometheus]

Somewhere on this forum I remember seeing a map that showed the airport and it';s no fly zone. It wasn';t that long ago and it was publicly available info.

cheers

P>

[soggybottoms]

the area in pink around NE airport is a CAA class D airspace; but I can';t believe they would be bothered about a UAV below 400';

[corvidae]

Cool, can I find that sort of map on the CAA website, or elsewhere?

[Hands0n]

NOTAMS website may be a useful place to check out such detail: http://notaminfo.com/ukmap

[powerlord]

You can buy CAA airmaps from most paragliding shops.  Updates usually come out in Feb.  Airspace is split into north/south England,  and Scotland.  These show everything you need.  If you switch on default airspace and everything else on notaminfo.com you will also get a lot of this info.  You can also download xcsoar for Android or iPhone for example and UK airspace into that.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[powerlord]

Soggybottoms: airspace has lower and upper limits.  If the class d is from sfc,  then you are banned from any flying.  Whether it';s an rc plane,  a paraglider or a balloon. 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[Ynot6]

notam info is a good site, i keep it on my bookmarks bar. you can filter in or out many different zones, restrictions etc.

[Balders]

you can also get a plugin for google earth, showing all UK restricted airspaces etc. Gives a great 3D view of differing heights of certain restrictions etc. Search for Lloyd Bailey SUA I think.

[Benjamin Kenobi]

http://www.skydemonlight.com/