Restricted airspace in North East - AMC? EGD? ...WTH?

Hello all, thanks for making such a helpful website! Have been lurking and reading a lot of old threads. Initially was hit with a lot of legal anxiety but now reassured from much of what I’ve read. I’m based in the North East and we have a lot of nice coast line but it’s almost all covered in a huge red area that extends out to sea on NATS (selected in white on the screenshot).

“name
EGD514 COMBAT AIRSPACE
description
[coordinates]
Upper limit: FL660
Lower limit: FL85
Class: AMC - Manageable.
Activity: High Energy Manoeuvres / Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) / Electrical/Optical Hazards.
Service: SUAAIS: Scottish Information on 119.875 MHz and London Information on 125.475 MHz.
Contact: Booking: Military Airspace Management Cell – Managed Airspace, Tel: 01489-612495.
SUA Authority: DAATM (HQ Air).”

To my reading this looks like an area that starts with a lower limit of 8500 feet (85 FL), so in any case would not apply to drones, and would be OK to fly (ignoring other considerations etc) without contacting the phone number? Have seen lots of drone footage from here so I’m presuming that’s the case, although it seems to be a fairly new restriction.

What about this smaller area, highlighted below in white?

“name
EGD512B OTTERBURN
description
[coordinates]
Upper limit: 25000 FT MSL
Lower limit: SFC
Class: AMC - Manageable.
Vertical Limits: 18,000 FT ALT.
Vertical Limits: OCNL notified to altitudes up to 25,000 FT ALT by NOTAM.
Activity: Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives / Para Dropping / Unmanned Aircraft System (VLOS).
Service: SUAAIS: Scottish Information on 119.875 MHz.
Contact: Pre-flight information / Booking: Range Control, Tel: 01912-394261.
Remarks: SI 1971/919 and SI 1980/38.
SUA Authority: DAATM (DIO).”

This extends from the surface so would seem to apply to drones but I’m not exactly clear what it is or what it practically means. Otterburn is a military base so I would expect not to be able to fly around there but the zone extends quite far from that and covers a lot of areas of natural beauty. Other than presumably an area where the military may be doing various dangerous things, does this mean that if you are planning to fly anywhere in the area you need to contact the number first?

Thanks in advance and sorry if it’s a stupid question!

Hi @thisismycatch22 , it looks as though you’re quite new here :wave:t2:

Why not nip over to the Introductions page, and say hello properly and tell us a bit about yourself. :+1:t2:

Confirmed.

We purposefully exclude these from Drone Scene because they are not relevant :slight_smile:

Speak to the people on the other end of that telephone number before attempting to fly :slight_smile:

4 Likes

If it helps, I have done this for a similar area in Wales, and the guys on the end of the phone were friendly and helpful.
I think they respect the fact that you are trying to follow the rules, and are trying to keep everyone safe

3 Likes

It is never a stupid question :grinning:

Sign up to be a member or go for the PLI and use the free Drone Scene

Its got all the info you need, It has been made by drone pilots for drone pilots

3 Likes

Hi @thisismycatch22
Otterburn ranges are extensively used (or certainly used to be) by the military for infantry/paratraining (from helicopters ).
Even if you got permission then I would be very wary about flying there without extensive lines of sight due to the above.
I’m not saying don’t fly, but just be aware due to the above.
Rob

2 Likes

In addition to the above advice, check first the height restrictions for the training area that effects you. In my case (North Sea ) it is only above 15,000.
P.

Thanks, yes I did think the area might just correspond with the Otterburn ranges and so was going to avoid those for sure but particularly on the south it extends a bit beyond what I would have thought of as the ranges on the ground. Will just avoid the whole area to be safe. Would be nice to film around Hindhope Linn though, I guess if I get bored one day I will ring them up and find out what the situation is!
Thanks all others for helpful replies as well

1 Like

It is looking like the Military Airspace is being used for training. I would check with the Managed Airspace control and see what the situation is. Military Aircraft can get really low and can come as far down as they need to when practising. I would personally always ring them just to make sure and just to inform them that you are in the area