Manston TMZ - no cause for alarm

John Brady · Post by **John Brady** » Wed May 05, 2010 6:35 pm

I am away on holiday and don't know what was in the May Light Aviation about the east Kent TMZ but I understand there has been some disquiet about its effect on flying in East Kent.

I have previously spoken to the CAA about this because the chart used in the TMZ announcement was the Manston radar vectoring chart which has lines on it depicting the minimum safe altitude in various areas around Manston. This gives the reader the impression that the TMZ covers most of Kent at those altitudes and covering the same areas but that is not so.

The TMZ will cover only the immediate areas where the wind turbines are in the middle of the Thames Estuary as shown by the lozenge shaped areas around the 3 sites on the CAA 1/2 mil chart (I think from memory). In my view this is not an issue for us.

I asked the CAA to make this clear to head off a revolt from GA but I guess this has not happened (they have been a bit busy in DAP with the volcanic ash problem and I know most ordinary business stopped). I am also remiss in not posting this sooner.

In my view the TMZ is not a problem and there is no cause for alarm

Nigel Hitchman · Post by **Nigel Hitchman** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:56 pm

John, hope you have a good holiday!!

However, I think you are too optimistic.
If the TMZ was only needed in the area of the wind turbines in the estuary, then I dont really see why it is needed at all. Surely the answer to this, is for Manston to vector their 3 transport flights per day (sorry this might be an exageration!) in areas away from the wind turbines, where their radar still works.
For the very little traffic they have there is no justification for any TMZ. A TMZ should only be permitted as a last resort, with very rigerous justification. Most of the cargo operators who use manston are coming from darkest africa or the former soviet union where they will be in a far worse situation, so they have no justification to require a TMZ. If they want it that bad, they can go to Gatwick or Stansted, or Ostende!!

barryc · Post by **barryc** » Sat May 08, 2010 9:20 am

Nigel
Your points have not been missed, Living close to the Manston area as I do, you are quite correct on the usage and user profile.

Is this a back door way of obtaining a control zone that otherwise would not be justified on traffic grounds.

Barry

ChampChump · Post by **ChampChump** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:51 am

As one who raised the alarm in some areas, I'm somewhat mollified by John's information.

As those of us around here know, Manston's minuscule movements might be seen as warranting little more than a part-time AFIS, especially as they close at brillig. Thus the mention of a TMZ did send some of us into a bit of a tizzy, even though they would, presumably, need to be offering rather more than they do now. This would cost money and I don't see how they can afford the present arrangements.

I know nothing, though. I just fly from and around nearby.

Thanks to John for pursuing this.