Low flying

Low flying is an essential skill for aircrew and must be practised in order to fulfil the tasks demanded by current operations.

RAF Brize Norton Control Zone
RAF Brize Norton Control Zone

COMPLAIN ABOUT LOW FLYING

If you wish to make a complaint about activity within the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone (pictured above) please use the following details below to register a complaint, please be aware that flying complaints are responded to within 20 working days.

Phone us: on 01993 896500

Email us at: [email protected]

Write to us: Low Flying Complaints, Operations Wing, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, OX18 3LX

To make a complaint, send the following information:

  • your name
  • full address and postcode
  • telephone number
  • date and time of the problem
  • location of the problem
  • type of aircraft, if known
  • a brief description of your complaint

If you wish to make a complaint about activity outside of the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone, contact the Ministry of Defence Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries team:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01780 417558

It is available from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. Outside these hours an answerphone service is provided. 

For further information about Low Flying please visit - https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area

Drone flying

Operators flying drones near any military airfield must ensure they are aware of the UK policy for their safe operation. The Drone Code forms part of the Civil Aviation Authority's advice and guidance to drone operators which can be found on their website.

Night flying

RAF Brize Norton operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in support of UK foreign policy and NATO commitments worldwide.

In order to meet our obligation, we have a wide-ranging infrastructure, which ensures our aircrew are trained to the highest standards. Inevitably, the maintenance of such high standards requires that we fly our aircraft in the local area, and further afield, in daylight hours, and at night.

Nevertheless, we strive to ensure that noise is kept to a minimum, especially in the quiet hours.

Viewing area

There are no official viewing areas in the vicinity of RAF Brize Norton.

Scheduled Local Training Sorties

The Scheduled Local Training Sorties documents (PDFs), for RAF Brize Norton, JADTEU, Keevil, Little Rissington, Abingdon, Weston on the Green, Farmoor and South Cerney are updated regularly and made available for your convenience.

Please note RAF Brize Norton is an operational airfield. While we are committed to minimising disturbance and informing the local community, there are times when, due to operational, security or engineering reasons, we are unable to give prior notice of airfield activity outside of normal working hours, however, we strive to keep this to a minimum.

Defence Aerodrome Manual

The Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM) contains accurate aerodrome data for RAF Brize Norton.  All airfield users, both military and civilian, are to ensure they are familiar with the relevant sections of the DAM prior to operating at RAF Brize Norton.  For further information regarding the DAM and its contents, please contact Station Operations at [email protected]

DAM - DRIVING ON THE AIRFIELD

All personnel requiring to drive or cycle on the airfield must complete training and gain an Airfield Access Permit, which is checked at the airfield entry points. For the initial issue of this permit, proof of colour perception from an optician must be provided. Training is delivered in the SBF, unless otherwise signposted, as follows:

  • Tier 1 (MT Route) & Tier 2 (all areas) each Mon and Wed at 0930
  • Tier 3 (Base Hangar to JADTEU HQ) on a Wed at 1030

All driving, cycling or walking on the airfield must be completed in accordance with the 'Orders for Airfield Access'. For information regarding these orders, and for any other related questions, please contact Air Traffic Control on 01993 897785.

RAF Brize Norton Control Zone

For information regarding the RAF Brize Norton Control Zone, please contact Air Traffic Control on 01993 897785.

Information for Visiting Aircraft

Visitor Operations

Tel: : +44 (0)1993 89 5315

Email: [email protected]

Visitor Operations Normal Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

Airfield Operating Hours: 24/7, 365.

Please Note:

PPR requests are to be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance (passenger and cargo flights must PPR 72hours in advance).

Airspace Change Proposal

UPDATE 11 FEBRUARY 2021

The CAA has today (11 February 2021) have concluded their decision on the RAF Brize Norton Airspace Change Proposal (ACP).

More information regarding the CAA’s decision can be viewed here: https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Airspace/Airspace-change/Decisions/RAF-Brize-Norton-ACP/

The primary Decision PDF can be viewed here: https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/BRIZE%20NORTON%20CLASS%20D%20CTR%20CTA%20(CAP%202089).pdf

We will take time to fully analyse the CAA’s decision and we respect the CAA’s independence in their decision.

PROGRAMME FUTURE AIRPORT

Aim

‘A 21st Century military strategic airbase employing modern infrastructure, technology and systems enabled by a collaborative team of valued individuals to enable UK Defence Operations’

Background

Following the relocation of the Hercules Force from RAF Lyneham as part of Project CATARA, Programme FUTURE BRIZE sought to address the broader issues surrounding the collocation of the Air Mobility Force at RAF Brize Norton (BZN).  Granted a broader, transformational, remit in 2013, it was renamed Programme GATEWAY (PGW).  PGW delivered some £270M cashable savings, a further £80M of cash avoidance measures and over 100 Mil manpower savings.  In 2018 to reflect the new priorities of AOC 2Gp the Programme was renamed Programme Future Airport (PFA).

Scope

The intent is to undertake baselining activity to understand what would be required to ensure that the BZN Airport of Embarkation (APOE) is resourced and configured to support the most demanding of contingent or emerging operations.  This would inform future decision making on what capability developments should be taken forward by PFA in order to develop a blueprint to take forward.  This will be underpinned in the short term by the RAF Brize Norton Support Contract 2020 (BSC20), a replacement mechanism for the BZN Initial Airport Services Contract (IASC) designed to release 172 Mil and 142 CS liabilities and maintain continuity of service until a suitable replacement is developed.  BSC20 will replace the multi-activity contract due to end 30 November 2020.

Programme Delivery

To develop a 21st Century military strategic airbase PFA is currently generating momentum with stakeholders, baselined BZN activity, output, resource and costs, the cost drivers and the capability gap between BZN’s capabilities and the MOD Demand Signal.  The outcome of this analysis will determine projects and processes required to improve the current state to reach the desired future state, having taken leading practice from industry benchmarks.  Once this blueprint has been approved and resourced by senior stakeholders, it may be taken to the market/industry with an appropriate commercial vehicle to be determined in due course.

For further information, contact the team via tel. 01993 895970

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