The Rules of the Air Regulations 1990

SECTION VIII MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL RULES

Special Rules for Cross-Channel air traffic

38.—(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of rule 22, during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit for the time being notified for the purposes of this rule, the following special rules shall apply to the airspace notified for the purposes of this rule as the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace.

(2) The commander of an aircraft who intends to fly within the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace shall before so flying cause to be communicated to the appropriate air traffic control unit a flight plan containing particulars of the time at which and the level and track on which the aircraft is intending to pass through the said airspace and such particulars of the intended flight as may be necessary for search and rescue purposes.

(3) The commander of an aircraft shall, before the aircraft enters the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace, inform the air traffic control unit serving that part of the said airspace which the aircraft is about to enter on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances, of the time, position and level at which the aircraft will enter that airspace, and when the aircraft leaves the said airspace, shall inform the air traffic control unit serving the airspace which the aircraft is leaving, on the said frequency of the time, position and level at which the aircraft is leaving the said airspace.

(4) Whilst flying within the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace, the commander of an aircraft shall:

(a) cause a continuous watch to be maintained on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances;

(b) measure the level of flight by means of an altimeter set according to the system notified for the said area; and

(c) comply with any instructions which the appropriate air traffic control unit may give in the particular case.

(5) Paragraphs (3) and (4)(a) of this rule shall not apply to mechanically driven aircraft which are not equipped with radio capable of operating on the radio frequency therein referred to. Such aircraft shall not fly over any part of the English Channel within the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace.

(6) These special rules shall not apply to any glider which remains at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud, in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles and outside that part of the Cross-Channel Special Rules Airspace between the surface and 4500 feet above mean sea level which falls within the airspace notified for the purposes of this paragraph of this rule.

Special Rules for air traffic in the Upper Flight Information Regions

39.—(1) The following special rules shall apply to the airspace notified for the purposes of this rule as the Upper Airspace Special Rules Area.

(2) The commander of an aircraft who intends to fly within the notified airspace shall, before so flying, cause to be communicated to the appropriate air traffic control unit a flight plan containing particulars of the time at which and level and track on which the aircraft is intended to pass through the notified airspace, and such particulars of the intended flight as may be necessary for search and rescue purposes.

(3) The commander of an aircraft shall, before the aircraft enters the notified airspace, obtain the permission of the appropriate air traffic control unit.

(4) While flying within the notified airspace, the commander of an aircraft shall:

(a) cause a continuous watch to be maintained on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances;

(b) measure the flight level by means of an altimeter set to 1013.2 millibars; and

(c) comply with any instructions which the appropriate air traffic control unit may give in the particular case.

(5) These special rules shall not apply in relation to any glider flying within the notified airspace.

Special Rules for air traffic in the Scottish Terminal Control Area

40.—(1) For the purposes of this rule “the Scottish Terminal Control Area” comprises the airspace notified as such and “the relevant airspace” means that part of the Scottish Terminal Control Area which is above 6000 feet above mean sea level.

(2) The commander of an aircraft who intends to fly within the relevant airspace shall, before so flying, inform the appropriate air traffic control unit on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances, of the time, position and level at which the aircraft will enter that airspace and, when the aircraft leaves the relevant airspace, shall inform that unit on that frequency of the time, position and level at which the aircraft is leaving the relevant airspace.

(3) While flying within the relevant airspace, the commander of an aircraft shall:

(a) cause a continuous watch to be maintained on the notified radio frequency appropriate to the circumstances;

(b) measure the level of flight by means of an altimeter set at 1013.2 millibars; and

(c) comply with any instructions which the appropriate air traffic control unit may give in the particular case.

(4) This rule shall not apply in relation to any 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.