ATC853

On a busy Monday morning after a major public outdoor event resulting in busy helicopter movements to and from London, the Heathrow/Thames controller repeatedly admonished callsigns requesting ‘Traffic Service’ in accordance with ATSOCAS* norms. The claim was made that “We are not part of the LARS system so I will only provide you Basic Service”.

It is during these busy periods where the majority of the onshore helicopter industry are operating in and out of controlled airspace frequently, and in the vicinity of it without wishing to enter, that we are faced with high density traffic and elevated risk of mid-air collision. This is the exact time we need Traffic Service, not when it is quiet. There is clearly a culture across ATS units with radar to a) refuse to provide Traffic Service, b) refuse to provide any service (Bristol, Cardiff, Solent) or c) when claimed too busy immediately downgrade some in receipt of Traffic Service to Basic. The airspace immediately in the vicinity of Controlled Airspace is often the highest risk for mid-air collision especially if not using the same frequency due to lack of service.

Also there are increased instances of controllers of Controlled Airspace instructing callsigns to ‘change enroute’ or ‘QSY enroute’ immediately upon exiting a Class D area. This reduces the safety margin greatly with no knowledge of what is awaiting in the uncontrolled area outside and often no other ATS unit to transfer to in order to get service, let alone Traffic Service. ‘London Information’ cannot provide this. Again in this instance often controllers ignore requests by crew to remain on their frequency effectively trying to force them away. Solent and Bristol are particularly regular offenders. The ATSOCAS* system is as a result often ineffective, and the majority of units driving this are contributing to the risk of collision. Per CAP774 all ATS have a duty of care to crew, passengers and all those airborne in their vicinity. This appears to be ignored and must end. If crew aspire to only get Basic Service then perhaps the ‘Listening Squawk’ should be promoted more, allowing ATS units to improve the necessary standard. Ultimately we are at ever increasing risk and this culture will result in more fatal collisions in UK airspace.
*CHIRP Note: Air Traffic Services Outside Controlled Airspace (ATSOCAS) has now changed to UK Flight Information Service (FIS).