active 2025-07-03 - Silverstone Heliport (EGBV) - Temporary Introduction of Air Traffic Services During the British Grand Prix Weekend

[VATSIM UK Operations]

Valid Thursday 3 July 2024 – Sunday 6 July 2025

During the weekend of the Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025, Silverstone Heliport and Turweston Aerodrome have adopted the following procedures; 

A temporary ATZ of radius 2 NM centred on Silverstone Heliport (EGBV) from SFC - 2000 ft AAL (excluding the portion of airspace which overlaps with the Turweston Aerodrome (EGBT) Restricted Area [Temporary]) is established for the duration. Any aircraft within this airspace must obtain clearance from Silverstone Tower.

Additionally, two temporary restricted areas have been established. The Turweston restricted area, and the Silverstone restricted area. Both extend from the surface to 3500 ft. Traffic must obtain permission from the relevant controlling authority to enter the area. Traffic inside the Silverstone/Turweston restricted area is to maintain their own separation.

Procedures

Silverstone features two helipads during the Grand Prix weekend, the permanent one located in the centre of the circuit, and a temporary one located in the south-eastern corner of the circuit.  

The permanent Silverstone Heliport (elevation 484 ft) is located in the centre of the racing circuit and comprises a FATO - 06/24 with parking to the south of the FATO adjacent to the car parking spaces. Circuits operate to the south of the FATO at 1500 ft QNH. This heliport is typically used for television helicopters.

A second temporary heliport, known as the ‘F1 Heliport’ (elevation 495 ft) has been established in the south east corner of the circuit. It comprises a FATO - 03/21 with parking to the west adjacent to the FATO, marked 1 through 6, and B through D. Numerous aircraft may use the FATO at the same time. This heliport is typically used for VIP traffic and transfers to the circuit. The temporary heliport is shown in this video. 

Four reporting points are established - North Point, East Point, West Point and South Point as depicted in the figure below. VFR holds are established for inbound traffic at East Point for FATO 24 and 21 and South Point for FATO 06 and 03. Traffic must route via these holds to final. Departing traffic may route via any of the exit sectors at 1000 ft.  

Upon initial contact, arriving aircraft are to be instructed by tower to join (at 1500 ft) or hold (between 1500 ft and 2500 ft) and should be passed the QNH.

When aircraft have passed the south or east point, Silverstone Tower will instuct the aircraft to 'Report final with Pad'. 

Pad will either assign the aircraft a gate or be told to continue. Winds and an explicit landing clearance are omitted from the gate instruction. The clearance shall be '[Callsign] Gate 1'.

Aircraft ready to depart should be instructed to do one of the following; 

• “Hold” - hold position at your Gate
• “Line up” - lift, turn around, move forward from your Gate and line up with the FATO
• “Back up” - lift, move backwards and line up with the FATO
• “Lift and go” - from your Gate, or when lined up, lift, turn around, fly along the FATO, and climb away normally
• “Helipad lift and go” - from your Gate, line up at the FATO threshold, and climb away normally
• “Lift and go vertical” - from your Gate, move forward in line with your Gate, and climb away vertically to a safe height before continuing forwards (usually used for traffic departing directly from Gates at the departure end of the FATO)

F1 Heliport Gates

Once aircraft are clear of the FATO they will route to leave via one of the reporting points and should report leaving the frequency. If holding is in progress in the aircrafts exit sector, Pad my hand the aircraft to Tower. 

When Tower and Pad are offline, Silverstone Radio assumes responsibility for the RA(T). Silverstone Radio is not to issue any instructions and is only an advisory service.

Approved Positions

Controllers rated S2+ may control the following positions,

• Silverstone Tower - EGBV_TWR (123.330 MHz) - Responsible for Silverstone Heliport, Aston Martin Helipad, Medical Helipad, Holds, Outbound Traffic, Silverstone ATZ and the Silverstone restricted area. 
• Silverstone Pad - EGBV_H_TWR (130.280 MHz) - Responsible for the F1 Heliport, parking and FATO. Receives traffic once they have left the hold. May only be opened with EGBV_TWR online. 

Controllers rated S1+ with the FISO/A/G endorsement may control the following positions,

• Turweston Radio - EGBT_R_TWR (122.180 MHz) - Responsible for Turweston Aerodrome and the Turweston Restricted Area. 
• Silverstone Radio - EGBV_R_TWR (121.080 MHz) - Responsible for A/G services at the Silverstone Heliport (not the F1 helipad). May not be opened when Pad or Tower are online. 

Silverstone has a dedicated ATIS frequency of 121.180 MHz (EGBV_ATIS)

Euroscope files, including an SMR and a .ese file for Silverstone and Turweston can be downloaded here, courtesy of @Daniel Button

More information can be found in the AIC, however please not the times and dates of the real AIC do not apply to this temporary instruction.