The Rules of the Air Regulations 1990

SECTION VII AERODROME TRAFFIC RULES

Application of aerodrome traffic rules

29.  The rules in this section of these Rules which are expressed to apply to flying machines shall also be observed, so far as is practicable, in relation to all other aircraft.

Visual signals

30.  The commander of a flying machine on, or in the pattern of traffic at, an aerodrome shall observe such visual signals as may be displayed at, or directed to him from the aerodrome by the authority of the person in charge of the aerodrome and shall obey any instructions which may be given to him by means of such signals:

Provided that he shall not be required to obey the signals referred to in rule 47 of these Rules (Marshalling Signals) if in his opinion it is inadvisable to do so in the interests of safety.

Movement of aircraft on aerodromes

31.  An aircraft shall not taxi on the apron or the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome without the permission of the person in charge of the aerodrome or, where the aerodrome has an air traffic control unit for the time being notified as being on watch without the permission of that unit.

Access to and movement of persons and vehicles on the aerodrome

32.—(1) A person or vehicle shall not go onto any part of an aerodrome (not being a part of the aerodrome which is a public right of way) without the permission of the person in charge of that part of the aerodrome, and except in accordance with any conditions subject to which that permission may have been granted.

(2) A vehicle or person shall not go or move on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome having an air traffic control unit without the permission of that unit, and except in accordance with any conditions subject to which that permission may have been granted.

(3) Any permission granted for the purposes of this rule may be granted whether in respect of persons or vehicles generally, or in respect of any particular person or vehicle or any class of person or vehicle.

Right of way on the ground

33.—(1) This rule shall apply to:

(a) flying machines; and

(b) vehicles

on any part of a land aerodrome provided for the use of aircraft and under the control of the person in charge of the aerodrome.

(2) Notwithstanding any air traffic control clearance it shall remain the duty of the commander of an aircraft to take all possible measures to ensure that his aircraft does not collide with any other aircraft or with any vehicle.

(3) (a) Flying machines and vehicles shall give way to aircraft which are taking off or landing.

(b) Vehicles, and flying machines which are not taking off or landing, shall give way to vehicles towing aircraft.

(c) Vehicles which are not towing aircraft shall give way to aircraft.

(4) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this rule and of rule 17(7)(c) of these Rules, in case of danger of collision between two flying machines:

(a) when the two flying machines are approaching head-on or approximately so, each shall alter its course to the right;

(b) when the two flying machines are on converging courses, the one which has the other on its right shall give way to the other and shall avoid crossing ahead of the other unless passing well clear of it;

(c) a flying machine which is being overtaken shall have the right-of-way, and the overtaking flying machine shall keep out of the way of the other flying machine by altering its course to the left until that other flying machine has been passed and is clear, notwithstanding any change in the relative positions of the two flying machines.

(5) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3)(b) of this rule a vehicle shall:

(a) overtake another vehicle so that the other vehicle is on the left of the overtaking vehicle;

(b) keep to the left when passing another vehicle which is approaching head-on or approximately so.

Launching, picking up and dropping of tow ropes, etc.

34.—(1) Tow ropes, banners or similar articles towed by aircraft shall not be launched at an aerodrome except in accordance with arrangements made with an air traffic control unit at the aerodrome or, if there is no such unit, with the person in charge of the aerodrome.

(2) Tow ropes, banners or similar articles towed by aircraft shall not be picked up by or dropped from aircraft at an aerodrome except:

(a) in accordance with arrangements with an air traffic control unit at the aerodrome or, if there is no such unit, with the person in charge of the aerodrome; or

(b) in the area designated by the marking described in rule 44(7) of these Rules, and the ropes, banners or similar articles shall be picked up and dropped when the aircraft is flying in the direction appropriate for landing.

Flight within aerodrome traffic zones

35.—(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule shall apply only in relation to such of the aerodrome described in Column 1 of the following Table as are notified for the purposes of this rule and at such times as are specified in Column 2 thereof.

TABLE

(1)	(2)
(a) A Government aerodrome	at such times as are notified
(b) An aerodrome having an air traffic control unit or an aerodrome flight information unit	during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit or the aerodrome flight information unit
(c) A licensed aerodrome having a means of two-way radio communication with aircraft	during the notified hours of watch of the air/ground radio station

(2) An aircraft shall not fly, take off or land within the aerodrome traffic zone of an aerodrome to which this paragraph applies unless the commander of the aircraft has obtained the permission of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome or, where there is no air traffic control unit, has obtained from the aerodrome flight information unit at that aerodrome information to enable the flight within the zone to be conducted with safety or, where there is no air traffic control unit nor aerodrome flight information unit, has obtained information from the air/ground radio station at that aerodrome to enable the flight to be conducted with safety.

(3) The commander of an aircraft flying within the aerodrome traffic zone of an aerodrome to which this paragraph applies shall:

(a) cause a continuous watch to be maintained on the appropriate radio frequency notified for communications at the aerodrome or, if this is not possible, cause a watch to be kept for such instructions as may be issued by visual means;

(b) where the aircraft is fitted with means of communication by radio with the ground, communicate his position and height to the air traffic control unit, the aerodrome flight information unit or the air/ground radio station at the aerodrome (as the case may be), on entering the zone and immediately prior to leaving it.

Special Rules for certain aerodromes

36.—(1) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this rule shall apply, in addition to the other rules in this section, to the aerodromes specified in column 1 of the following table to the extent specified in column 2 thereof and for the purposes of this rule each aerodrome specified in the table shall be deemed to comprise the airspace notified in respect of that aerodrome.

TABLE

(1)	(2)
Aerodromes specified	Applicable paragraphs of Rule 36
Aberdeen	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) and (ii)
	(4)(a), (b) and (c)
Belfast/Aldergrove	(3)(a) and (b)
Belfast/Harbour	(3)(a) and (b)
Birmingham	(3)(a) and (b)
Blackpool	(3)(a) and (b)
Bournemouth	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) and (ii)
	(4)(a), (b) and (c)
Bristol	(3)(a) and (b)
	(4)(a), (b) and (c)
Brize Norton	(3)(a) and (b)
Cardiff	(3)(a) and (b)
East Midlands	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i)
Edinburgh	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(ii)
Glasgow	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(ii)
Leeds/Bradford	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) and (ii)
	(4)(a), (b) and (c)
Liverpool	(3)(a) and (b)
London City Airport	(3)(a) and (b)
London/Gatwick	(3)(a) and (b)
London/Stansted	(3)(a) and (b)
Luton	(3)(a) and (b)
Lyneham	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i)
Newcastle	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) and (ii)
Prestwick	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(ii)
Southampton/Eastleigh	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) and (ii)
	(4)(a), (b) and (c)
Southend	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i)
Sumburgh	(3)(a) and (b)
Teesside	(3)(a), (b) and (c)(i)

(2) For the purposes of any paragraph of this rule, “special VFR clearance” means a clearance given by the appropriate air traffic control unit to an aircraft for flight within airspace notified for the purposes of that paragraph if the aircraft remains clear of cloud, within sight of the surface and is flown in accordance with any special instructions given by that unit.

(3) Unless otherwise authorised by the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome:

(a) an aircraft shall not, during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome, fly within the notified airspace unless the commander of the aircraft, before so flying, obtains the permission of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome and informs the air traffic control unit, on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances, of the aircraft’s position, level and track;

(b) while an aircraft is within the notified airspace at any time during the notified hours of watch the commander of the aircraft shall cause a continuous watch to be maintained on that frequency and comply with any instructions which the air traffic control unit at that aerodrome may give in the particular case;

(c) provided that except at night and in relation only to airspace notified for the purposes of the paragraphs of this proviso, sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall not apply to:

(i) a glider which remains at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles; or

(ii) a mechanically driven aircraft without radio equipment which remains at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles, if the commander of the aircraft has previously obtained the permission of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome to enter the notified airspace.

(4) Unless otherwise authorised by the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome, an aircraft, whilst flying within the notified airspace during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome, shall remain at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles, unless the commander of the aircraft holds a licence which includes a valid instrument rating except that:

(a) if the commander of the aircraft holds a Commercial Pilot’s Licence, a Senior Commercial Pilot’s Licence or an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence which does not include a valid instrument rating and he intends to take off or land within the notified airspace, the aircraft may be flown in accordance with any Special VFR clearance given to it; or

(b) if the aircraft is an aeroplane and the commander thereof being the holder of a Private Pilot’s Licence which includes a valid Instrument Meteorological Conditions Rating, intends to land or take-off within the notified airspace, the aircraft may be flown in accordance with any special VFR clearance given to it if it remains in a flight visibility of at last 1½ nautical miles; or

(c) if the aircraft is a helicopter and the commander thereof intends to take off or land within the notified airspace, the aircraft may be flown in accordance with any special VFR clearance given to it.

Special Rules for Upper Heyford Mandatory Radio Area

36A.—(1) This rule shal apply to the airspace notified as the Upper Heyford Mandatory Radio Area.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) of this rule, unless authorised by the air traffic control unit at Upper Heyford:

(a) an aircraft shall not, during the notified hours of watch of that air traffic control unit, enter the notified airspace unless the commander of the aircraft before so flying informs that air traffic control unit on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances, of the time, position and altitude at which the aircraft will enter the notified airspace;

(b) an aircraft shall not, during the notified hours of watch of that air traffic control unit, leave the notified airspace unless the commander of the aircraft informs that air traffic control unit on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances, of the time, position and altitude at which the aircraft will leave the notified airspace;

(c) an aircraft shall not, during the notified hours of watch of that air traffic control unit, take off from or land at a point within the notified airspace unless the commander of the aircraft, before taking off or landing, informs that air traffic control unit on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances or by means of telephone of the time and position of take-off or landing and in the case of a take-off the intended track within the notified airspace; and

(d) whilst an aircraft is within the notified airspace during the notified hours of watch of that air traffic control unit, the commander of the aircraft shall cause a continuous watch to be maintained on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances.

(3) Paragraph (2) of this rule shall not apply to any balloon or microlight aircraft which is not equipped with a means of communication by radio with the ground but the commander of such an aircraft intending to fly within the notified airspace during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at Upper Heyford, shall before so flying, inform that air traffic control unit by means of telephone, of the intended points and times of entry to, take off within, landing within, departure from and the intended track and altitude within the notified airspace.

(4) Paragraph (2) of this rule shall not apply to any hang glider which is not equipped with a means of communication by radio with the ground but:

(a) the commander of such an aircraft intending to fly within the notified airspace during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at Upper Heyford, shall before so flying, inform that air traffic control unit by means of telephone of the intended points and times of entry to, take-off within, landing within, departure from and the intended track within the notified airspace;

(b) the commander of such an aircraft shall not, during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at Upper Heyford, fly within such airspace as extends from the surface to 3500 feet above mean sea level bounded by straight lines joining successively the following co-ordinates: 51°57'27"N, 001°21'53"W; 51°58'54"N, 001°09'10"W; 51°54'58"N, 001°08'01"W; 51°53'31"N, 001°20'43"W; 51°57'27"N, 001°21'53"W.

(5) Paragraph (2) of this rule shall not apply to any aircraft departing from RAF Bicester flown within such airspace as extends from the surface to 3500 feet above mean sea level bounded by straight lines joining successively the following co-ordinates: 51°56'10"N, 000°57'13"W; 51°57'09"N, 000°57'25"W; 51°53'35"N, 001°28'30"W; 51°52'35"N; 001°26'43"W; 51°56'10"N, 000°57'13"W.

Use of radio navigation aids

37.  The commander of an aircraft shall not make use of any radio navigation aid without complying with such restrictions and appropriate procedures as may be notified in relation to that aid unless authorised by an air traffic control unit:

Provided that he shall not be required to comply with this rule if he is required to comply with rule 27 of these Rules.