Spikey Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 It's over 40 years since I had anything to do with real aeroplanes and NOTAMs so I'm basically clueless here but I was just struck with a thought ... When a BBMF formation transits to an air display or whatever, is a NOTAM filed? And if so, is it possible for the likes of me to see the plain language version online? I keep trying to work out the best way of getting my glasses and my act together in time to get into the garden before they're just a receding noise, albeit a lovely one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Generally not. The display will be be the subject of a NOTAM giving the location, timing and horizontal and vertical airspace restriction that will be in force. The Formation will have entered it's proposed flight plan into the civil/military ATC system (that will give call sign, aircarft type, no of aircraft, and if flying in formation). For example, when the Red Arrows travel around only Red Lead transmits to ATC but every time there is a frequency change, the formation checks in with the leader before he proceeds to talk to ATC. The flight plan is not available to the general public unlike the NOTAM - assuming that you have access to a source of NOTAMs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 NOTAMs are published on the CAA website. FlightRadar is always worth a look to see if you can spot anything of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Williams Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Actually I think the Red Arrows movements are allways NOTAMd, not just the display locations but the transits between them, as they are not a particularly manoeuvreable unit when transiting in formation. (They certainly were about 30 years ago when I nearly flew into them, despite reading the relevant NOTAM, and waiting on the ground until I thought they were well clear of my intended route, only to find I had confused Zulu time (used in the NOTAM) and British Summer Time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Posted by Olly P on 03/09/2014 20:42:27: NOTAMs are published on the CAA website. FlightRadar is always worth a look to see if you can spot anything of interest. The Canadian Lancaster has certainly appeared on flightradar24 - eg. when it arrived here in early August, and when it flew (with the BBMF Lancaster) from Biggin Hill to Southend 2 or 3 weeks ago. But the BBMF Lancaster did not appear on flightradar24, and I've never seen XH558 on there either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff-C Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I seem to remember seeing a NOTAM for Red Arrows transit. It might have been because they were operating around London en route from one airshow to another. I have a feeling it may be because they operate low and fast through VFR and Class G airspace. I have not really paid much attention recently, but the likes of Obama and Air Force One are NOTAM for airport closures and movement restrictions. He has a moving airspace restriction around him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Cheers chaps. It's actually the Lancasters + escorts that I'm mainly interested in. I was just wondering if I could get more of a clue as to when they might be over our neck of the woods than working out a likely course and timing based on their published times for various airshows or whatever. I did try flightradar a couple of times but to no avail, but I'll give it another go this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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