active 2023-12-28 - [Enroute] Permanent Implementation of TC Midlands

[VATSIM UK Operations]

Effective 28 December 2023

Applicable to: All London TC and AC; MPC Southeast

 

Introduction

The TC Midlands upper-terminal control sector and associated position will be implemented on a permanent basis as a 'split' of London AC Daventry. From the effective date, TC Midlands may be opened as long as the AC Daventry airspace is staffed, in the same way that TC East may be opened as long as AC Clacton airspace is open.
 

Sectorisation

TC Midlands (see Figure 1, below) is an upper-level Terminal Control sector beneath the AC Daventry sector. It covers the area north and northwest of the LTMA up to the boundary with PC Southeast. It sits over the TC Northwest sector, covering airspace from FL155 or FL165 to FL215. To the northwest, it controls airspace from the designated base up to the AC Daventry sector, with the sector ceiling between FL195 and FL225.

The AC Daventry sector is amended (see Figure 2, below) to exclude the airspace now permanently defined as TC Midlands.
 

Positions

One new position is permanently established. Note that the further split of COWLY and WELIN remains an event-only configuration and requires a Temporary Instruction prior to opening.

TC Midlands - LTC_M_CTR (Relief: LTC_M__CTR)

Frequency: 121.030 MHz
RTF callsign: London Control
Coordination callsign: TC Midlands
Top-down responsibility for: EGBB, EGTK, EGNX, EGTC and TC North West

The TC Midlands position covers both sectors and also has top-down responsibility for TC North West (which has top-down responsibility for EGGW). 
 

Procedures

The introduction of TC Midlands affects the sector sequence of London TMA, EGNX/EGBB and Manchester TMA inbounds and outbounds. Amended agreements will be reflected in the vMATS Part 2 and on the Agreed Levels Diagrams, released alongside this change.

A summary of the key changes for non-Central LAG controllers:

South LAG - EGNX/EGBB inbounds and EGKK outbounds will be transferred to TC Midlands; EGNX/EGBB outbounds are only released for climb within TC Midlands airspace when TC Mids/DTY are split.

North LAG - MTMA outbounds will be transferred to TC Midlands if RFL<195 and to AC Daventry if RFL>195; MTMA inbounds may not be given further descent until over the 135-195 area of PC SE when TC Mids/DTY are split.

West LAG - no significant changes (only the FITBO 1H STAR into Heathrow is affected which is not available for flightplanning).

 

Figure 1 - London TC Midlands Area of Responsibility

Figure 2 - London AC Daventry Area of Responsibility

 

Documentation Status

The new sector will be fully incorporated into the London (EGTT) vMATS Part 2 and Agreed Levels Diagrams at implementation.