It's "Visit ATC" time (again)

[FlyOnTrack]

A couple of years ago the CAA's AIWG (Airspace Infringement Working Group) organised a coordinated 'visit ATC' event, where ATC units, especially those with radar rooms, were encouraged to host visits by local pilots. These visits are often available anyway locally if your club or school requests it direct from your nearby ATC, but this event was to put dates out on offer. It was over-subscribed.
It's happening again - go to www.airspacesafety.com and look at the news (bottom left). There are already some ATC units and dates there for the end of May, and more to come.
Numbers on any one visit are bound to be limited by practical problems of large groups. It is therefore likely that this round of visits will be limited to qualified pilots, with schools/club encouraged to ask their local ATC unit for visits through the year for students as part of their training.

[macconnacher]

As a member who has just passed his ground radio licence and will eventually be let loose as "Leicester Radio" I do hope that these visits will include an explanation of what can be given at many airfields that LAAers visit where a purely A/G service is given.

I have noticed in my training that many pilots who live on an ATC or AFISO operated airfield seem to expect to be cleared to do this and that when the A/G operator is not allowed to do these tasks: we give advice but the decision is the pilots.

[FlyOnTrack]

I do hope that these visits will include an explanation of what can be given at many airfields that LAAers visit where a purely A/G service is given.

If anyone is taking a valuable place because they want to learn about AGCS fields, perhaps they should go to such a field for a chat instead!
I can't imagine the ATC personnel at these radar units planning to spend time telling visiting pilots (who should already know anyway) what AGCS can offer them! This is a once in a while opportunity to learn what happens inside Controlled Airspace and radar rooms if you don't really know.