This proposal is for a Permanent change to the notified airspace design, and the change level is 0.
Gatwick Airport’s Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) currently promulgates four Surveillance Radar Approach (SRA) procedures which are considered obsolete for runways with alternative instrument approach procedures (ILS, LOC Only or RNP). Gatwick Airport provides ILS and Localiser Only instrument approach procedures (IAPs) to its main runway, 26L/08R, as well as 4 RNP IAPs (LNAV & Baro VNAV), in addition to the SRAs.
Gatwick Airport’s northern runway is currently served by 4 RNP IAPs (LNAV & Baro VNAV) and the SRAs. Gatwick Airport, together with its airlines and air navigation service providers reviewed the likely safety and operational impact of removing SRAs through several Flight Operational Safety Committee (FLOPSC) meetings. Gatwick Airport’s senior team assessed the operational risk of removing SRAs. The risk was deemed very low, and a decision has been reached to proceed with removal of SRA procedures from the Gatwick Airport’s AIP section and other referenced documents. Gatwick Airport anticipates that changes will be required to its published AIP AD Section text and charts, in removing the SRA procedures and other references to SRA in other parts of the AIP and MATS Part 2 . SRA numbers are reducing outside of the minimum number required to maintain ATC recency on the procedure, which is typically 100-120 per year at Gatwick. RNP approach procedures are available as an alternative to ILS and SRA and equipage of fleets who can fly those procedures at Gatwick is 100%. Gatwick Airport believes that, in accordance with CAP1616, it is required to initiate the Airspace Change protocol for a Level 0 ACP. This proposal does not form part of the plan for delivering the Airspace Modernisation Strategy which is covered under
Gatwick’s separate FASI-S ACP 2018-60.
