ABOVE: The magenta scallops show the boundaries of the TMZ
It is reported that the CAA is making information on Transponder Mandatory Zones (TMZ) more easily available to pilots. A Transponder Mandatory Zone is airspace where the carriage and use of a transponder is mandatory unless some form of exemption has been obtained. Over the last few years, the number of TMZs has grown considerably but, alongside their proliferation, information about their whereabouts has not kept pace.
Their increased use is part of a general push to increase use of Electronic Conspicuity (EC) devices. EC is a generic term for the various methods of making aircraft electronically visible to each other as well as the air traffic service units, and the push for EC and the rise of TMZs is probably due in part to the increase in the number of drones.
Up until now detailed information on individual TMZs has not been especially easy to find, but from 27 November a new table can be found in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) in section ENR2.2 section 4. This table contains the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the TMZ, as well as the controlling authority, the appropriate radio frequency and any associated remarks, information and references.
PHOTO: NATS
