Air Information Publications — Page 16, Lesson 29

I want to walk you through two key tables from the UK AIP that you’ll use every time you plan a flight into an aerodrome. These are the aerodrome communication facilities table and the radio navigation and landing aids table. Let’s start with the communications side. First, the table is titled “Aerodrome Communication Facilities,” and it’s referenced in the UK AIP at section AD 2.18. The example we have is for Oxford/Kidlington, ICAO code EGTK. The table has five columns: Service, Designation, Call Sign, Frequency in MHz, Hours of Operation, and Remarks. The first service listed is APP, which stands for Approach control. Its call sign is “Oxford Approach,” and it operates on 125.325 MHz. The hours are Monday to Friday 0830 to 1730 in winter, and 0730 to 1630 in summer, and by arrangement outside those times. “By arrangement” means you can coordinate with the unit for extended hours if needed. Next is TWR, which is Tower, or Aerodrome Control. The call sign is “Oxford Tower,” frequency 118.75 MHz. Then there’s a separate line for “Oxford Ground” on 121.950 MHz — that’s the ground movement control frequency, handling taxi clearances and apron movements. Both have the same hours as Approach. Then we have AFIS, which stands for Aerodrome Flight Information Service. Its call sign is “Oxford Information,” frequency 118.875 MHz. Notice that AFIS operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays, from 0830 to 1700 in winter and 0730 to 1600 in summer. That’s when the main ATC units are closed, and a lower level of service is provided. Finally, ATIS — Automatic Terminal Information Service. Its call sign is “Oxford departure Information,” frequency 121.750 MHz. ATIS also runs only on weekends and public holidays, same hours as AFIS. ATIS broadcasts recorded aerodrome and meteorological information for arriving and departing aircraft. Now let’s move to the second table: Aerodrome Radio Navigation and Landing Aids, from UK AIP section AD 2.19. The example is Bournemouth, ICAO code EGHH. This table has seven columns: Type, Category (Variation), IDENT, Frequency, Hours of Operation, Antenna Site coordinates, Elevation of DME transmitting antenna, and Remarks. The first entry is LLZ 08 — that’s the Localizer for Runway 08. It’s part of an ILS Category I system. The IDENT is “I BMH” — that’s the Morse code identifier you’d hear in the cockpit. Frequency is 110.5 MHz. Hours of operation are HO, which means “Holidays Only” — check the AIP legend, but here it indicates limited availability. The antenna site coordinates are given in degrees, minutes, seconds, and decimal seconds of latitude and longitude. The remarks tell you the localizer range is limited to 18 nautical miles plus or minus at 10 degrees, and 8 nautical miles at plus or minus 35 degrees of the localizer centre line. That means the usable coverage is narrower and shorter off the centreline. Next is GP — Glide Path — for Runway 08. Its IDENT is “IBMH” — note the slightly different identifier. Frequency is 329.6 MHz. Hours are HO. The glide path angle is 3 degrees, and the ILS Reference Datum Height is 53 feet. That’s the height of the glide path above the threshold. The remarks also state: “The quality of guidance provided does not permit use of the facility for coupled approaches below 350 ft.” That’s a critical limitation — you cannot fly an autopilot-coupled approach below 350 feet on this glide path. You must disconnect the autopilot and fly manually below that altitude. Then there’s L — Locator — on 339 kHz. That’s a non-directional beacon, or NDB, used as an initial approach aid. IDENT is “BIA.” Hours are H24, meaning 24 hours a day. Now for Runway 26: LLZ 26, also ILS Category I. IDENT is “I BH.” Frequency is not explicitly listed in this excerpt, but the remarks say “Freq. Paired with ILS” — meaning the localizer and glide path frequencies are paired. The GP for Runway 26 has IDENT “I BMH” again — careful, that’s the same identifier as the Runway 08 glide path? Actually, looking closely, the table shows “I BMH” for the Runway 26 glide path as well, but the remarks clarify: “I BH and I BMH. Zero range is indicated at the threshold of Runway 26 and 160 m before crossing threshold of runway 08.” So the DME — Distance Measuring Equipment — is paired with the ILS. The DME identifier is “I BMH” for Runway 08 and “I BH” for Runway 26. The zero range point is at the threshold for Runway 26, but 160 metres before the threshold for Runway 08 — that’s a DME offset you must account for in your approach calculations. The DME frequency is paired with the ILS, and the elevation of the DME transmitting antenna is given in feet AMSL — above mean sea level. For Runway 08, it’s 44 feet AMSL. For Runway 26, it’s not explicitly listed in this excerpt, but the antenna site coordinates are provided. The remarks also state “On AD Range 20 NM” — that means the DME range is 20 nautical miles when the aircraft is over the aerodrome. So, to summarise: when you look at an AIP aerodrome page, the communications table tells you which frequencies to call and when they’re staffed. The navigation aids table tells you the type of aid, its identifier, frequency, hours, and any critical limitations like reduced localizer coverage or restrictions on coupled approaches. You must check both tables during your pre-flight planning to ensure the facilities you need are available during your planned operating hours.