I spoke to the acting-head ATC as well as the Controller on duty Saturday morning, and a very easy and practical procedure is required by them.
As mentioned in the previous post, Goose's place is inside the Wonderboom CTR and we have to comply with the rules regarding operations in controlled airspace. The airport and it's airspace "belong" to the City of Tshwane and as such, the Airport Management needs to be informed as well. This said, it is just a formality to keep the airspace safe. It can become very busy in the CTR and everything possible must be done to keep it safe. I'll talk to the Airport Manager to inform him about our plans and the procedure set out by ATC.
As far as costs are concerned, Airport Management has assured me that no billing is done for overflights, that is traffic talking to ATC but not landing at Wonderboom.
OK, Here is the procedure you as a pilot have to follow.
Never enter controlled airspace without clearance, this is very important. So check your map and see where the boundries of the CTR are. If the Tower Frequency (118.35) is busy and you don't get a chance to transmit, orbit outside the CTR until you get a chance to talk, or fly around the CTR.
If your airfield is South of Wonderboom and you wish to fly through the CTR, no problem, just tell them. Report at Mamelodi 5000' or below, give your registration number, number of people on board, departure point and destination "Goose" or "private airfield east of Rooiwal Power Station". They will clear you through the CTR, give you QNH, advise on other traffic, and ask you to report at Roodeplaat Dam 5000' or below. As soon as you reach Roodeplaat, report your position. They will ask you to decent to 4600' and report at Petro-port. From there you will be asked to maintain 4600' and report 2 miles out from Goose. Then your final report to Wonderboom, 2 miles out, and they will tell you to land at Goose "own discretion" and enjoy your breakfast.
Please remain on the Wonderboom Tower frequency 118,35MHz.
Pilots flying in from the West, North and East are not going to go through the Wonderboom CTR and do not ask for clearance for overflight as above. BUT please give the tower a courtesy call by giving the same information as above when you are 3 miles from Goose. Maintain 4600' through General flying Area 1 please, and transmit on the standard frequency as required in the GF 124,4 MHz. Only change to Wonderboom 118,35MHz when 3 miles out, then remain on the Wonderboom Frequency.
The main concern is having many aircraft concentrated in a small area which is directly in line with departure and arrival routes to and from Wonderboom. Fixed wing traffic will be routed over us at 5000' or above and choppers must know about us since they are often on the same altitude.
Hence the importance of your courtesy call, to get QNH and traffic info, and for them to know about us.
Please keep the frequency non-congested and open for the Wonderboom traffic. Keep a listening watch and keep your eyes open. After your final talk to Wonderboom keep quiet and land. NO RUNWAY INSPECTIONS PLEASE. If you have to do a go-around for safety sake, OK. But stay below 4600'. We land from North to South if the wind allows. Remember the unmarked power and telephone lines as Goose warned. Gooses altitude is 4000' on the Wonderboom QNH.
Departure will be from South to North and we tell ATC AFTER DEPARTURE what our intentions are so they can give us Info and warn other traffic. We do not ask Wonderboom for departure clearance 'cause they can not hear or see us when we are on the ground at Goose's. If you want to route through the CTR, ask for clearance as above. If routing through the GF tell them that you are changing to 124,4 maintain 4600' until more than 3 miles away from Goose's. Then normal GF procedures
Please fly safe and be careful. And please enjoy the morning with Goose and Co. Many thanks to Goose and Mother Goose (oops
) for the invite
. And thanks to Wonderboom ATC for easy procedures
.
See you there.
