Microlighters

In July finally decided to do the whole contact tower and route through controled airspace.

Got to the edge of langebaan weg airspace and tried to contact approach, no answer. Tried tower, still no answer. I realise I probably should have telephoned first.

But what do you do in that situation, proceed assuming the tower is unmanned? Proceed as maybe they cannot hear my punny microlight radio? In the event I turned around.

Simple

If below 1500ft agl use 124.8. If above call Langebaan Approach on 122.5. If no answer stay on this freq and use the normal TIBA process, i.e. broadcast to traffic as per 124.8. I have done this a number of times.

When you call them sometimes they take a few minutes before answering.

If they do answer don't bullsh!t them as to where you are, they can track you from your broadcast. If you don't understnd the guy ask him to repeat, don't be shy

I beg to differ

If below 1500ft agl use 124.8. If above call Langebaan Approach on 122.5. If no answer stay on this freq and use the normal TIBA process, i.e. broadcast to traffic as per 124.8. I have done this a number of times.

Yes under 1500ft AGL use 124.8 at all times. Above 1500ft use 122.5 and if they are not there, continue to broadcast on 122.5

Because our radios are not so good, it may be that they are there, which is why I always phone before entering the space -
0227062911
0227062259

Routing via Pinedene from Microland to Harties we cross AFB Waterkloof airspace, most weekend mornings there is no one at the tower when we head west, we then do all the proper calls and treat the area in the same way we would treat Special rules. i.e. call heading, alt, intentions etc.

I have asked the ATC when we come back, they usually only go on shift at 9am, unless there will be known flight activity, in wich case they will get there early and will be able to tell you about said activity!

So in this case I guess no ATC tend to be good news.

Langebaan possibly the same?

Yes, agree with both since you are sayin the same thing, 122.5.

If G. Nel did your Radio License then you would also know that you must phone them before the time, hate to see an Astra intercept you at 300 KIAS....

I also fly into their space regularly over weekends, sometime also in week, they have never refused me passage and many times they are doing ATC trainig and welcome the practice.

Thanks... Jup, G Nel did my radio license so I do know to call ahead. Unfortunately it was abit of a spontaneous thing and did not have thier number. In hind site I could have just landed on the beach and called directory enquiries...

Must say I was rapidly loosing faith in my radio/ intercom at the time aswell so was nervous they weren't hearing me. Got an airmagic system now so when I am back will plan, call ahead and proceed with confidence... :D

Thanks for the number BTW

So is Langebaan always manned?

Biggles wrote:
So is Langebaan always manned?

NO, rarely over weekends, just about never on Sundays and normally only until 10:00/11:00 on Fridays. I can understand why you loose faith in your radio. Sometimes when manned they also "disappear" from air for 10-20 minutes at a time....

gertcoetzee wrote:

If below 1500ft agl use 124.8. If above call Langebaan Approach on 122.5. If no answer stay on this freq and use the normal TIBA process, i.e. broadcast to traffic as per 124.8.

Gert that's what I meant, just didn't come out right. I meant stay on 122.5 but use the same broadcast messages as you are used to using when on 124.8. Read my message again

Yip thats what you said. I read it wrong.