RT practice Route 2

Route 2: Swansea to Compton Abbas

You’re going to listen to the calls a GA pilot would make on route from Swansea to Compton Abbas.

This leg entails leaving Swansea - which is an ATC aerodrome in Class G  Airspace. G-BATC needs clearance through the Cardiff Control Zone (Class D),  and then through the Yeovilton MATZ.

Listen to the relevant exchanges between pilot and ground (links are in the text).

Audio 1. Departure from Swansea The fact that there is ATC at Swansea means asking clearance to depart (NB, not “take-off”)  and then to inform Swansea of the change course after  take off. Note the items which the pilot MUST read back – taxi instructions, Runway in use, QNH, clearance to take off.

Audio 2. Next G-BATC has to contact Cardiff Radar. “Contact” rather than “call” because his Flightplan has been passed by Swansea and he therefore doesn’t need to pass his details again.

Audio 3. This  being a Traffic Service, the  ATC Informs the pilot of traffic in the  vicinity – but it is up to the pilot to decide what avoiding action to take

Audio 4. Now the pilot needs to talk to Yeovilton in order to seek clearance through the MATZ . As before, note what parts of  the  clearance the pilot reads back

Audio 5. Yeovilton Radar gives clearance conditions and G-BATC presses on to Compton Abbas, which has an Information Service, not ATC. Compton Information lets pilots know of other traffic in the circuit, gives weather conditions but cannot give clearance to land – responsibility remains with the pilot.