easyJet began operating from London Southend Airport in early April, using Airbus A319s operating some 70 departures and arrivals each week.
easyJet began operating from London Southend Airport in early April, using Airbus A319s operating some 70 departures and arrivals each week.
“The airport has installed radar and SSR and it would be sensible to give them a call if you are flying locally or passing through their area,” says the Light Aircraft Association’s Brian Hope. “There is no new controlled airspace so these aircraft will be operating in Class G on arrival and departure, but you can make the area safer by just letting them know you are there.”
Although routing will depend on clearance into Controlled Airspace, departures are likely to follow the blue lines on the chart (see illustration) and arrivals the brown dashed lines. Final approaches on the runway centrelines are marked on the VFR charts and are areas in which to take particular care. The bulk of easyJet movements are likely to be departures before 0800 local and returning around 1000, departing again before 1100, returning and leaving again between 1530 and 1700 and finally returning after dark, so especially busy periods will be mid-morning and mid- to late afternoon.
easyJet flights will minimise the time spent in Class G airspace by holding on the ground until they expect to be given a clearance to enter CAS, and they will limit their speed to 220kt in Class G. If held below CAS they will maintain 3,000ft. Arrivals will stay in CAS as long as possible but they will have to descend before reaching final, either for an ILS or visual approach.
“And they have helpfully painted their aircraft bright orange so they are easier for you to see!” says Brian Hope, who advises giving Southend an r/t call on 130.775 when in its area.
