First Olympics airspace supplements published in UK Air Pilot

The first set of official supplements to the UK Air Pilot on the changes to be introduced during the London 2012 Olympics have now been published.

These form the legal notification of the temporary controlled airspace, airport slot controls and the implementation of the Atlas Control air traffic service to be provided in the Restricted Zone of the security airspace.

The temporary changes to controlled airspace in areas to the South West, South East and North East of the busy London Terminal Control Area will be in place from 16 July to 15 August 2012 and will help ensure the safety of the additional air traffic movements expected during the Olympic period.

Some of this airspace will be put in place in low levels of what is currently Class G airspace. Pilots operating in this area during the Olympic period therefore need to be aware of these changes.

The slot restrictions for Instrument Flight Rules flights arrivals and departures at many of the airports in the south east of England are designed to ensure the UK’s controlled airspace and airways system do not become overloaded during the Games from the potential large increase in business and corporate aircraft movements.

Atlas Control will be the Ministry of Defence operated air traffic control service for the Restricted Zone that forms part of the security restrictions being put in place by the Government during the Olympics. This extensive operation will aim to provide a service to as many aircraft as possible while maintaining the Government’s security requirements.

As well as the AIP Supplements further information on the airspace changes being put in place for the Olympics is available at www.airspacesafety.com/olympics This information will be continually updated to as the Games approach including the addition of a full airspace guide to flying in the UK during the Olympics.