2012-08-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — The main airspace security arrangements covering the London Olympics are scheduled to be withdrawn at midnight on 15/16 August. However, a smaller set of restrictions will remain to protect the main Paralympics sites and various shorter-term airspace restrictions will cover other venues. Airspace users are also asked to be prepared for the change and a potential increase in activity as many pilots resume flying.
At 00:01 local on 16 August the Olympics prohibited (P111) and restricted (R112) airspace security restrictions are withdrawn. However, R005 at the Weymouth sailing venues remains in place until 18:00 local on 8 September. The restricted and prohibited airspace is immediately replaced by a much smaller set of restrictions covering the Paralympics that runs until 12 September. Primarily these are a smaller Prohibited Zone (P114) centred on the Olympic Park and two smaller prohibited zones over the rowing at Eton Dorney and the athlete’s village at Egham. There is also temporary restricted airspace over other venues, some of which, such as Brands Hatch, have not previously been subject to airspace restrictions during the Games.
The London Heliport at Battersea remains inside the smaller Prohibited Zone but, as during the Olympics, will have an exemption to allow operations.
Also, where airspace is reverting to pre-Olympic status, pilots may have become used to some of the changes that have been in place for the past weeks. For example, the Danger Areas at Cardington (D 206), Shoeburyness (D138) and Weston on the Green (D129) that have been closed for the Olympic period will all revert back to being active Danger Areas.
As the Olympic security restrictions and poor weather have led to a reduction in airspace activity, when the main restrictions are removed there may be a significant increase in flying. Airfields may also have been waiting for the end of the restrictions to hold events so pilots should be looking out for air shows, fly ins and areas of intense aerial activity.
All the details of the remaining Olympics airspace restrictions are available in the full Olympics airspace guide
For further information please contact Jonathan Nicholson or Richard Taylor in the CAA’s Corporate Communications Department on 020 7453 6027 or at press.office@caa.co.uk
Follow the CAA on www.twitter.com/UK_CAA and ASI on www.twitter.com/airspacesafety
Notes to Editors:
1. The Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) is a joint CAA, NATS, AOA, GA and MoD effort to investigate and tackle the major safety risks in UK airspace.
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