Radio Mandatory Zone (size of a CTR) Southend from 18/7/2014

[Zodiac]

Another thought, incouraging GA pilots to make radio calls to Southend may give Southend the ammo they need to justify an ATZ by the large number of GA movements they will appear to deal with taking their time and attention away from Easy jet operation. Or am I just suspicious!

[Brian Hope]

I think I'm right in saying this is the first serious use of an RMZ in the UK, and I suppose it is in effect a halfway house to controlled airspace. I believe it has the potential to weaken Southend's argument for controlled airspace because they only have a small number of CAT movements and the RMZ gives them the known environment they seek. I just hope people use it correctly and accept the relatively infrequent requests to alter track or orbit if Southend has a biggie to get in or out. Being local we transit this airspace often and the ATC guys are helpful and obliging, and we are in return. I see no sense in being anything but. Nor am I a conspiracy theorist, an RMZ seems a reasonable solution to the problem of mixing a relatively small number of CAT with sport and recreational aircraft in the open FIR. Let's make it work and show that it is all that is required.

[Zodiac]

I hope you are correct Brian, time will tell!