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emergency diversion airfields in the uk

GA Emergency Diversions in the UK
In March 1997 the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) published a ‘Review of General Aviation Fatal Accidents 1985-1994’ [CAP 667]. Having reviewed 166 fatal accidents in the 10 years covered, the CAA made several recommendations. Recommendation 9.2 (c) noted that “there were a number of fatal accidents where a timely diversion or precautionary landing could have avoided the accident. In the UK (and probably elsewhere) there is a culture of pressing on and hoping for the best rather than accepting the inconvenience and cost of a diversion. This culture needs to be changed, firstly by educating pilots and secondly by persuading aerodrome owners that there should be no charge for emergency landings or diversions.” (For some examples of the potential consequences of “pressing on“, see our articles ‘ Listen to the Warning Bells’ and ‘ Controlled Flight Into Terrain #1’.)

 

 

The considerable task of persuading aerodrome owners to accept Recommendation 9.29(c) was taken up by the UK Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association [AOPA], and in particular by Charles Strasser, Chairman, AOPA Channel Isles. After many years of non-stop lobbying by Charles Strasser, the majority of UK aerodrome owners, including the Ministry of Defence, have agreed to accept the recommendation and not to charge GA aircraft for genuine diversions. The GA community appreciates the considerable improvement to Flight Safety provided by the aerodrome owners and by the years of devoted work by Charles Strasser. In recognition of their outstanding contribution to UK General Aviation Flight Safety, participating airfields have been presented with a Flight Safety Award Certificate by AOPA UK.

 

AOPA have not approached London Heathrow, City and Gatwick for obvious reasons. Airports/airfields that have so far decided NOT TO IMPLEMENT the CAP 667 9.2(c) recommendations are:

 

Belfast-Intl., Biggin-Hill, Cardiff, Carlisle, Filton, Leeds/Bradford, London-Luton, Manchester.

 

The tables below list the participating aerodromes within the United Kingdom airspace. These tables have been divided so as to show airfields that are situated:

South of 52°N (Western and Southern England, South Wales and Channel Isles)
Between 52°N and 53°30’N (‘Middle’ England and North Wales)

Between 53°30’N and 55°30’N (Northern England, Northern Ireland and Southern Scotland)

North of 55°30’N (the rest of Scotland and the Outer Isles)

These divisions are intended to assist pilots with their preflight planning. They relate airfields that have accepted the recommendation in CAP 667 reasonably closely to the area covered by an up-to-date aeronautical chart. An up-to-date chart is a vital flight planning tool. An out-of-date chart is one of the most useless things to carry in any aircraft. It is suggested that pilots highlight these airfields on their planning chart so as to be aware of suitable emergency diversions along their planned route. Of course it will still be necessary to look at operating times and frequencies (for those with radio) as part of the planning process.
      A look at the number of airfields in each table will alert pilots to the fact that the density of suitable diversion airfields gets thinner and thinner as you travel further north in the UK. This should register alongside the fact that Wales, Northern England and Scotland contain large areas of thinly populated country and some impressive mountains that are inviting the unwary to commit Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) – the major killer reported in CAP 667.

Note that the concession granted by these airfields applies to genuine emergencies and diversions to airfields other than the destination airfield. Abuse can only hazard the continued success of a scheme that is designed to enhance your safety in the air.

The Tables were last updated in August 2010. The information is provided in good faith but the publishers will not be held responsible for any omissions or errors.

 

AIRFIELDS SOUTH OF 52˚N

AIRFIELDS BETWEEN 52˚N  AND  53.30˚N

AIRFIELDS BETWEEN 53.30˚N  AND  55.30˚N

AIRFIELDS NORTH OF  55.30˚N

 

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