Radar/Centers UK

[Marc Sieffert]

Hi, I am a bit confused about the areas dedicated to the different Radar/Center frequencies in UK. Especially the difference between for example LON CTER South 129425 and STC South 134125... what does actually STC stand for?  Is there a list of all Radar/Centers for IFR flights (Boeing...) in UK which enables also to better understand the area of responsibilities?

Thanks a lot!!

[Koen Meier]

22 minutes ago, Marc Sieffert said:

Hi, I am a bit confused about the areas dedicated to the different Radar/Center frequencies in UK. Especially the difference between for example LON CTER South 129425 and STC South 134125... what does actually STC stand for?  Is there a list of all Radar/Centers for IFR flights (Boeing...) in UK which enables also to better understand the area of responsibilities?

Thanks a lot!!

STC stands for south terminal control which controls lower flight levels around London area and the south east due to the busy airspace there. 

https://www.vatsim.uk/operations/sectors

[Marc Sieffert]

5 hours ago, Koen Meier said:

STC stands for south terminal control which controls lower flight levels around London area and the south east due to the busy airspace there. 

https://www.vatsim.uk/operations/sectors

Thanks a lot, that really helps!!

One question why is LTC_E_CTR  118 475 not on the map? This frequency was used on Vatsim.

Thanks!

[Trevor Hannant]

STC actually stands for Scottish Terminal Control - the airspace over Central Scotland or Northern Ireland (depending on any middle letter or not).

London sectors are either:

LON_!_CTR (higher, wider area control) or
LTC_!_CTR (the lower level airspace over the SE of England)

*where ! is an identifying letter.

LTC_E_CTR is lower level to the east of London:

Some sectors don't show on that page as they don't get opened except when busy.  Some sectors are not allowed to be opened until another overlying sector is open.   LTC_E_CTR is one such position - it shouldn't be opened unless it's needed to ease workload within the LON_C/LON_SC sector.

 

Edited March 7, 2021 at 06:30 PM by Trevor Hannant

[Koen Meier]

@Trevor Hannant very true but the frequency in this case was LTC south.

[Harry Sugden]

49 minutes ago, Koen Meier said:

@Trevor Hannant very true but the frequency in this case was LTC south.

Yup, different to what was in the original post - STC (Scottish TMA) is different to LTC_S (London - TC South).

The reason not all of the splits are documented on our website is because there are so many that would provide unending confusion for pilots. So we have documented our most commonly used ones and if you're ever in doubt, just drop a message to a controller to ask whether they cover a particular airport/area. But not before checking that page! 😄 

[Lenny Colton]

  

3 hours ago, Koen Meier said:

@Trevor Hannant very true but the frequency in this case was LTC south.

LTC_S_CTR is basically the LON_S_CTR lower sector (FL215 and below, though some areas towards the edge of LON_S_CTR are not part of LTC_S_CTR. Headline airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Solent (Southampton and Bournemouth) and Thames (City, Biggin, and Southend).

LTC_N_CTR is a much smaller sector, covering the rest of the London TMA (the part which falls beneath LON_C_CTR) at FL215 and below. Headline airports: Essex (Stansted, Luton, and Cambridge)

LTC_E_CTR (East - NE of London) and LTC_C_CTR (Midlands - NW of London) are not routinely opened on VATSIM but both fall under LON_C_CTR. Another controller will always hand you to these if they need to speak to you. Headline Airports (LTC_E_CTR): None. Headline Airports (LTC_C_CTR): Birmingham and East Midlands.

LTC_CTR covers LTC_N_CTR and LTC_S_CTR. It does not cover LTC_E_CTR or LTC_M_CTR.

 

STC_CTR is the equivalent of LTC_CTR for the Scottish TMA (FL255 and below). Headline Airports (STC_W_CTR): Glasgow and Prestwick. Headline Airport (STC_E_CTR): Edinburgh.

STC_A_CTR is separate from STC_CTR and covers the Belfast TMA (FL255 and below). Headline Airports: Aldergrove and City.

STC_CTR and STC_A_CTR do not cover each other top-down. Both are generally covered by SCO_CTR in their absence.

 

MAN_CTR is similar to LTC_CTR and STC_CTR but covers the North of England (FL285 and below). Their primary duties include the Manchester TMA, but extend across towards the east coast. Headline Airports (MAN_W_CTR): Liverpool, Hawarden, and Blackpool. Headline Airports (MAN_E_CTR): Leeds, Doncaster, Newcastle, Teeside, and Humberside. It is covered top-down by LON_N_CTR (not LON_NE_CTR).

N.B. MAN_CTR does not cover Norwich.

Edited March 8, 2021 at 12:46 AM by Lenny Colton

[Koen Meier]

No need to post the images tbh when a link can suffice.

[Lenny Colton]

7 minutes ago, Koen Meier said:

No need to post the images tbh when a link can suffice.

My apologies, I hoped that they would aid the description. 🙂

[Nick Marinov]

On 3/8/2021 at 2:06 AM, Lenny Colton said:

LTC_S_CTR is basically the LON_S_CTR lower sector (FL215 and below, though some areas towards the edge of LON_S_CTR are not part of LTC_S_CTR. Headline airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Solent (Southampton and Bournemouth) and Thames (City, Biggin, and Southend).

Just a small correction here. LTC_S_CTR does not cover Southampton (EGHI) and Bournemouth (EGHH) top down. Those remain with LON_S_CTR at all times when SOLENT_APP or other local ATC is offline.