VBFC Pilots

Basic VBFC Flying Information

When flying for VBFC, it is desired that you either fly with your PID callsign (CLFxx), or that you fly with a registration corresponding to the aircraft you are flying. You can find a fleet list in the "Aircraft" section. When flying with a registration, always remember to remove the hyphen, i.e. G-TEBZ becomes GTEBZ as flightplans etc are not filed with hyphens in the callsigns. When flying IFR you should always use your PID as a callsign.

When flying the Learjet VP-CRB for VBFC Air Charter, you do not need to use your PID as a callsign as this aircraft generally operates as VPCRB.

VFR Flying

When flying VFR from Bristol, you must depart via a Visual Reference Point (VRP). Generally best to depart via a VRP on the edge of the CTR/CTA or just outside it, as then when you advise the controller you are at that point, he/she will know you are leaving Bristol controlled airspace.

Bristol VRP's are:

• Barrow Tanks Reservoirs
• Bath Racecourse*
• Cheddar Reservoir*
• Chew Valley Lake*
• Churchill
• Clevedon*
• East Nailsea*
• Hicks Gate Roundabout*
• M5 Avon Bridge*
• M5 Sedgemoor Services
• Wells Mast*
• Frome
• M4 J18
• Radstock*
• Weston Aerodrome*

*These are the recommended VRP's to use for departure.

To obtain a chart showing these VRP's, go to www.ais.org.uk and download the Bristol Control Zone and Control Area chart. Alternatively, see the information below if you use VFR scenery:

This is a screenshot of the area surrounding EGGD (using VFR photographic scenery). Below you will find a key to the various VRP's:

Here is a closer view of the surrounding area of EGGD, showing just the areas in the close vicinity to the airfield:

*Blagdon Lake is not a VRP, but may be used as an unofficial VRP on VFR Rejoins.

IFR Flying

When you are starting out, IFR can be very complex, so its best to steer clear of IFR until you feel confident enough!

When flying IFR in a light aircraft, you can pretty much pick any route you wish, within reason! For example, if you wanted to fly to Gatwick (EGKK) but couldnt be bothered to route via airway L9, then you could easily leave Bristol CTR/CTA on a direct track to SFD VOR then pick up a TIMBA1G arrival. There are many similar possibilities for most aerodromes, however, when flying longer distances it is preferred that you fly via the correct CAA Standard Route.

If you want to carry out Instrument Training then you can pick any random routing departing and returning to Bristol. For example, you could route DCT EXMOR N864 BCN DCT BRI, or DCT ALVIN L9 BADIM DCT BRI just for practice or training purposes. There will be a full list of training routes available once the training section of the website has been created.

Bristol and Cardiff now have SIDs and STARs (as of 31st August 2006). Here's a list of the SIDs and STARs for Bristol and Cardiff:

Bristol SIDs:

Runway 27:
BADIM1X (To join airway L9 eastbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BTS D4.5, at or above 3000 (8.2%), turn right onto 089°, to intercept HON VOR R219 at 6000 to BADIM.
BCN1X (To join airway L9 westbound and N864 northbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BTS D4.5, at or above 3000 (8.2%), turn right to intercept BCN VOR R150. Cross BCN D20 above 4500, cross BCN D15 at 6000 to BCN VOR.
EXMOR1X (To join airway N864 southbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BTS D4.5, at or above 3000 (8.2%), turn left onto track 225° towards SOMOT. to intercept BRI NDB(L) QDR 247° to EXMOR. Cross SOMOT above 3500, I-BTS/I-BON D15 above 5500, EXMOR at 6000.

Runway 09:
WOTAN1Z (To join airway L9 eastbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BON D4.7, at or above 3000 (7.9%), turn left to intercept HON VOR R213 to WOTAN. Cross HON D63 at 6000.
BCN1Z (To join airway L9 westbound and N864 northbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BON D4.7, at or above 3000 (7.9%), turn left to intercept BCN VOR R125. Cross BCN D30 above 4500, cross BCN D15 at 6000 to BCN VOR.
EXMOR1Z (To join airway N864 southbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-BON D4.7, at or above 3000 (7.9%), turn right onto track 268° towards SOMOT to intercept BRI NDB(L) QDR 247° to EXMOR. Cross SOMOT above 3500, I-BTS/I-BON D15 above 5500, EXMOR at 6000.

Cardiff SIDs:

Runway 30:
BCN1A (To join airway L9 east/westbound and N864 northbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4, at or above 2300 (8.0%), turn right to intercept BCN VOR R214, cross BCN D15 above 3500, cross BCN D11 above 4500, cross BCN D6 at 6000 to BCN VOR.
EXMOR1A (To join airway N864 southbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4, at or above 2300 (8.0%), turn left onto track 130° to cross BHD VOR R005 above 3500, intercept BHD VOR R009, to EXMOR. Cross BHD D51.7 at 5000.

Runway 12:
ALVIN1B (To join airway L9 eastbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-CDF D4.5, at or above 2600 (8.2%), turn left onto track 002°, cross BCN D19 above 3500. Intercept CDF NDB QDR 060° to ALVIN above 4500. Cross HON D65.2 at 6000.
BCN1B (To join airway L9 westbound and N864 northbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4.5, at or above 2600 (8.2%), turn left to intercept BCN VOR R168, cross BCN D18.5 above 3500, cross BCN D14 above 4500, cross BCN D6 at 6000 to BCN VOR.
EXMOR1B (To join airway N864 southbound): Climb straight ahead. At I-CDF D2, at or above 1350 (8.2%), turn right onto track 220° to cross BHD VOR R012 above 3500, intercept BHD VOR R009, to EXMOR. Cross BHD D51.7 at 5000.

Bristol STARs:

BRI1A (N862/4 from the North): MONTY/NOKIN-RETSI-AMRAL-RILES-DOBEM-BRI. Be FL160 at AMRAL (10nm before RILES).
BRI1B (L9 from the West): STU-AMMAN-BCN-BRI. Be FL170 10nm before AMMAN.
BRI1C (From the East): CPT-POMAX-BRI. Be FL220 by CPT descending FL120.
BRI2D (N864 from the South): BHD-TINAN-EXMOR-BRI. Be FL160 by TINAN.
BRI1E (N864 from the North*): TALGA-BCN-BRI. Be FL160 10nm before TALGA.

Cardiff STARs:

CDF1A (N862/4 from the North): MONTY/NOKIN-RETSI-AMRAL-RILES-DOBEM-CDF. Be FL160 at AMRAL (10nm before RILES).
CDF1B (L9 from the West): STU-AMMAN-BCN-CDF. Be FL170 10nm before AMMAN.
CDF1C (From the East): CPT-ABDAL-BRI-CDF. Be FL220 by CPT descending FL120.
CDF3D (N864 from the South): BHD-TINAN-EXMOR-CDF. Be FL160 by TINAN.
CDF1E (N864 from the North*) TALGA-BCN-CDF. Be FL160 10nm before TALGA.

*Only available to aircraft joining N864 below FL145,15nm north of TALGA, or when N862 is unavailable due to gliding north of RILES.

© Copyright Dan Adams 2011