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And Now For Something Completely Different: AFIS and Air/Ground


Andy Ford

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We are pleased to announce the release of our AFIS and Air/Ground Moodle course. This course is designed for members that want to try their hand at something a little different from your average aerodrome. These aerodromes are a hotspot for light and VFR traffic and often aren't large enough (to the relief of many) for the big tin. A big thank you to Callum Presley and Alex Hodgkinson for creating the course and also to Sebastian Wheeler and Ollie Latham for reviewing and adding the exam questions. All S2 rated members are welcome to log on AFIS and Air/Ground positions at any time. Similarly, controllers of all ratings are able to self-enrol on and view the Moodle course.

As always, the callsigns use the following format:

AFIS: EGXX_I_TWR

Air/Ground: EGXX_R_TWR

The type of service at each aerodrome is published on the aerodrome charts.

Didn't We Just Have A Long Forum Discussion About S1's?

As originally suggested by Richard Williams a few weeks ago, we are now opening up AFIS and Air Ground positions to our S1 rated controllers (with a caveat, see below). In doing this, we believe that we'll be able to give S1's a chance to start thinking and planning over a wider area and practise some skills ready for their S2 training - such as Traffic Information, Wake Information and Basic Services. We're also keen to give S1's a chance to try something different and we can allow S1s to do this without taking mentoring resources away from elsewhere through Moodle.

This new policy for S1's will be enforced in the form of an informal endorsement process. As follows:

  1. In order to be eligible to take the Moodle exam, the member must have acquired a total of 50 hours controlling on ground and delivery positions in the UK.
  2. Once the hour requirement is met, the member submits a ticket to the helpdesk asking to be enrolled in the Moodle exam
  3. The member must pass the exam at the end of the Moodle course and informs the training department that they have passed
  4. The endorsement is then granted

We decided to do it this way for the following reasons:

  • Competencies such as traffic information are only mentored practically at an S2 level, so we need some form of check (Moodle) to ensure that the member has read and understood the material.
  • Controlling ground and delivery at the members chosen training aerodrome is somewhat more conducive to preparing for S2 training.
  • We wanted the hour requirement to be different to the requirement for a Gatwick Ground validation, to allow members that are interested in both to focus on one thing at a time.

The only official list of S1 rated members endorsed on AFIS and A/G positions may be found on the CTS. S1 rated members should indicate in their controller info that they are validated on AFIS and A/G positions when logging on to these positions.

In order to put scope on the validations, we have restricted the positions on which S1's may exercise it. This is based on the AIP and airfields for which documentation and charts are available. This list may be expanded,  if demand is high. The list is as follows:

  • Andrewsfield (EGSL)
  • Bedford (EGBF)
  • Blackbushe (EGLK)
  • Chichester Goodwood (EGHR)
  • Coventry (EGBE)
  • Cumbernauld (EGPG)
  • Dunkeswell (EGTU)
  • Duxford (EGSU)
  • Elstree (EGTR)
  • Fairoaks (EGTF)
  • Gamston (EGNE)
  • Haverfordwest  (EGFE)
  • Kemble (EGBP)
  • Manchester Barton (EGCB)
  • OId Sarum (EGLS)
  • Rochester (EGTO)
  • Stapleford (EGSG)
  • Swansea (EGFH)
  • Thruxton (EGHO)

As always, if you receive a service from once of these aerodromes, please provide feedback on Core, so we can pass it on to our students.

 

 

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Alex Hartshorne

Posted

Just now, Andy Ford said:

My bad - duly removed!

I was trying to work it out... lol! Cheers

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Sebastian Wheeler

Posted

1. Many thanks to all, especially @Andy Ford, @Callum Presley, @Alex Hodgkinson

2. Will there be a sector file update to reflect this, by adding SMR's for use by AFIS, or will it be done using charts?!

3. Any chance we can add EGHP (Popham) or EGHO (Thruxton) in place of Wycombe? ;) 

 

again, many thanks to all, See you on the scopes!

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38 minutes ago, Sebastian Wheeler said:

1. Many thanks to all, especially @Andy Ford, @Callum Presley, @Alex Hodgkinson

2. Will there be a sector file update to reflect this, by adding SMR's for use by AFIS, or will it be done using charts?!

3. Any chance we can add EGHP (Popham) or EGHO (Thruxton) in place of Wycombe? ;) 

 

again, many thanks to all, See you on the scopes!

Thruxton added. For the moment there are alternatives such as charts and FSX tower view (there may be some very old outlines in the sector file though!). I’m sure the sector file team would be grateful if any budding AFISOs want to add the smr for their favourite Aerodrome!

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Lewis Hammett

Posted

21 minutes ago, Sebastian Wheeler said:

Great! @Lewis Hammett see you there! ;)

Yes mate; it will be good to do Thruxton. As I fly out of there regularly. Pretty excited about this.

If sector file team  wants to contact me for accuracy I’m here to help. Also the differences that Thruxton A/G phraseology have compared to the rest of the UK e.g when boscombe down is active.  

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William Grimsley

Posted

Brilliant news, thanks guys! Can't wait to be a part of this! :)

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4 minutes ago, Anthony Lawrence said:

Did you just chisel off Cornwall from the rest of the country, @Andy Ford?

Not intentionally, I promise! The list was based off of the AIP (though I do appreciate that there are other aerodromes down south!) :P

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Henry Cleaver

Posted

What about the centre of the GA universe - Halfpenny Green EGBO? Charts and plenty info are available.

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Alex Hodgkinson

Posted

giphy.gif

Excellent news! Glad to see this come to fruition.

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George Peppard

Posted (edited)

Stapleford Radio's frequency is 122.800MHz - how is that going to work?
2e65ea.png

Other than that - glad to see how this will work out!

Edited by George Peppard
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Just now, George Peppard said:

Stapleford Radio's frequency is 122.800MHz - how is that going to work?

Other than that - glad to see how this will work out!

 

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Simon Kelsey

Posted

As a note to this -- having been on the network a bit today it's been lovely to see so many of these airfields online! Hope you all got a bit of traffic and remember - staff it and they will come!

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Andy Ford

Posted (edited)

We've reached double figures - a big congratulations to the 10 controllers who now hold the validation :)

Edit: Make that 11... Someone else passed just as I was typing :P

Edited by Andy Ford
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Sebastian Wheeler

Posted

Good job to all so far!

 

Just wondering @Andy Ford what the plans for progressing this are? Can we expect more fields anytime soon?

 

 

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Andy Ford

Posted (edited)

If demand is high and once we've had time to get feedback from people, we may look to expand. For the next few weeks my priorities are going to be the S2 Moodle and rewriting the S3 syllabus - so we’ll see how everyone gets on in the meantime :)

Edited by Andy Ford
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Simon Kelsey

Posted (edited)

The issue with using the AIP of course is that you essentially rule out any unlicenced airfields, which obviously make up quite a large proportion of A/G type places!

However, in most cases the necessary charts and information can be found simply by checking the airfield website.

As obviously we wouldn't want the administration for this to get out of hand -- may I suggest that a way forward in time might be for those wanting to add a particular field to the list to locate a link to said information and post details in this thread (or wherever is deemed appropriate) -- that way all that should be required should be a quick check of the link from an approved person to then edit the post above and add the airfield (and perhaps the link to the procedures)? This would be beneficial to both ATC(/AFISOs/A/G ops!) and pilots :)

Edited by Simon Kelsey
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Sebastian Wheeler

Posted

agreed! 

the problem with this however, is many sims don't have the unlicensed fields in them anyway, so to staff these fields would probably generate little traffic. I'd love to see more that are in the sims though.

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Charlie Watson

Posted

Andy,

You're making some fantastic progress and changes in the department - keep up the good work and its exciting to see where things will go with you in charge!

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William Grimsley

Posted (edited)

Andy,

Do you know when this may be fixed? No rush! ;) 

79270e3df3bc9abd9127f391c64747c1.png

Edited by William Grimsley
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It’s on the backlog with Web - no ETA at this time :)

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