Behind the scenes at Southend aerodrome

In the final part of this new series, I demonstrate the procedures and typical radiotelephony when operating from an aerodrome in controlled airspace in the UK. I fly in to Southend aerodrome in Essex, and meet the team working on Southend Lower Airspace Radar, Southend Director and Southend Tower.
Disclaimer: Videos like this carry the risk that people think I'm far more experienced than I am!
In fact, I'm just a PPL, sharing my real-world experiences. While I do my best to be accurate, and follow the letter of the law, best practise and regulation, do cross-check anything you're unsure about with your flight instructor.
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Southend ATC on social media:
Facebook: / lsaatc
Twitter: / senairtraffic
Mapping:
www.skydemon.aero
About me/ FAQs / bonus features:
www.jonhunt.net/
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My recording equipment
2 GoPro Hero 5 Black
3 GoPro Hero 4 Silver
1 GoPro Hero 3+
Sony AX53 camcorder
Tascam DR-05 audio recorder
Audio attenuator 40dB
3x GoPro suction cup mounts
MiPilotPro tie down mount (approved to be fitted to G-OR by CAMO under EASA CSTAN)
Ipad mount
RAM Ipad Mini 4 holder and Yoke mount.
Editing & Graphics:
FCPX
Apple Motion
Voiceover: Rode NT USB microphone
Music:
Epidemic Sound

[@richpollock6074]

Hi Jon. I’ve watched this video a few times but today it’s has been particularly inspiring, as I completed a landing at Southend; my first landing away from my home aerodrome of Stapleford. I was initially quite anxious at the new prospect of arriving at an aerodrome in controlled airspace but this video has really helped me to grapple with the added radio calls and to keep everything calm. Thanks Jon for continuing to make these videos, they are so inspiring, and you’re brilliant at what you do! Rich.

[@ufm10xxl27]

Ah just about to go into work now. Have to save this for lunchtime. Bad weather in Ireland this weekend so no flying for me but at least Jon comes to the rescue again. Thanks Jon. Chris

[@TheFlyingReporter]

The Flying Reporter, giving pilots something to do on bad weather days.

[@JoeRichardson02]

Brilliant series, thank you very much! As a low hour PPL I can say it’s been very helpful :)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That's great Joe.

[@TheAntuk]

Thanks so much for posting this Jon. I fly from Seawing Club based at Southend and am hoping to make a visit to ATC in the next couple of months. This series and your videos as a whole have been very informative.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Pleasure.

[@flybe146]

That was fantastic Jon loved all of them in this series but this was the best, superbly filmed and edited - awesome stuff mate.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you David.

[@dancoleman8234]

Nearly got caught out myself in Southend with regards to marshal signs. Never know when you'll need them!!!

[@ac2244]

Such a great series. Well done

[@ShaneFleming]

Fantastic series. Really enjoyed it.

[@Ztbmrc1]

Really liked this series of behind the scenes!

[@andywilkins6657]

As ever, another very well produced video Jon. Very informative and helpful 👍

[@Brad_1511]

Great to see Harry Kane putting some real work in at Southend

[@68markyb]

I learned to fly from Southend many years ago . I now fly from a private site inside the zone and I have to speak with radar and director every time I fly . Nice to see the faces they are allways very accommodating . Thanks guys

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That's a pretty cool aspect I think.

[@kevchilton908]

Another top quality and very informative production Jon. A perfect ending to an excellent and extremely useful series.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Kevin.

[@altomar718]

Excellent as always Jon - Great job

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Chris.

[@avifine5361]

Would appreciate you doing a video on how you use your kneeboard

[@TristamMayes]

One of the best and most informative videos I’ve had the pleasure to watch.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Tristam.

[@JodelFlyer]

I always find the Southend controllers very helpful. Great mini series Jon

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I bet you're crossing all the time Tim!

[@speedbird737]

Another brilliant addition to the series thank you Jon. Wow didn't know about the stop bar and waiting for the lights to be switched off.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

You won't be the first, Nigel. We don't come across them mostly during training, and I don't remember it from the PPL syllabus.

[@cavok1984]

An amazing mini series Jon. This last one sent me on a nostalgic tour back to when I started my ppl at Southampton in 2004. It was an amazing experience to mix with the big boys. The RT develops very quickly learning at a fully controlled airfield.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Pete. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Petertronic]

Fascinating and information packed series, I learnt a lot!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That's brilliant. Thanks.

[@Simuvation]

Thank you for the series, very informative. It will be put to great use in my virtual world :)

[@SkyVibesAviation]

That video proved to be so helpful for my PPL training. I am still learning and my RT is far from perfect, but thanks to watching that I am definitely more confident with transiting Southend Airspace or landing. I will be doing my cross-county qualifier soon with landing at Southend so I am so glad for you posting that. Great work. Thank you!

[@davidhorobin1060]

Lovely Jon and enjoyable to watch. Many thanks. All well done. Learnt something new - didn’t know about the stop bar lights. Having had a clearance to ‘line up’ I’d have gone straight over them!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Yep, I don't remember it from the PPL theory.

[@drubug]

Great video, I did laugh as you come over short final... I was thinking he's going to experience the R23 Sink.. and sure enuff, just before the train tracks the sink comes in. Takes me back to when I did my PPL at Southend long before Easy Jet were around.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Is that a thing?! Don’t feel so bad now.

[@adrianarnold8554]

This has been a great series Jon. As a non-pilot - at least for the time being - I have found it a good education and will no doubt help me when I finally get the chance to start PPL training.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Pleased to be of help adrian.

[@av8bear385]

Thanks Jon really good series. I am based at Liverpool which is also in busy controlled airspace, above this is Manchester’s airspace. Jon is spot on with his advice. Don’t be put off from going to these types of airfield’s as the controllers are very accommodating and understanding. Plan aheads and ask if you are not sure rather than just ploughing on.

[@gordonsinclair9947]

I have fond memories of Southend. I logged my 100th hour - May 1968 - in a Cherokee, en route Southend-Amsterdam Schiphol, just me and my late and trusting mate Bob. It makes my blood run cold now when I think of the sheer innocence of it. Eight years later, almost to the day, considerably wiser and more experienced, I was in the right-hand seat of a British Air Ferries Dart Herald, for the start of what was to be three best fun years. Southend has had some 'down' years but my goodness Stobart seem to have worked wonders.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

It's a very busy aerodrome these days for sure.

[@uwllradar]

Thanks for your videos. I'm an ATC, and it's educational a lot to watch how coleagues from different country work

[@flyguyroosie]

Remember doing my flight training there back in 2005 at willow air was always in GJEET or GLSMI the airport has changed drastically. But training in controlled airspace from the beginning had it advantages for further ahead in my career

[@ClarkyAv]

Another excellent video Jon!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you.

[@tonypac123]

I designed the VCR at Southend (and many others around the UK) so good to see it in operation, great series Jon.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That's a claim to fame. Excellent view.

[@stewartwilkinsonsnr]

Great series Jon. I had the pleasure of having a flight in a Cessna 152 out of Doncaster (Robin Hood Airport) DSA EGCN one sunny summers day four years ago. My instructor Pete asked me to handle ATC as I had demonstrated to him I was fully aware of the procedures. I am please to say I carried it out with no problems. Now I can fully understand how you, as a single pilot on board work so well. You are in the “Zone”. I am sure this series will have been a great learning aid to both qualified pilots and trainee pilots . Stay safe ✈️

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Stewart.

[@FlySkies]

Great series, Jon, specially useful for us continental pilots that wish to visit your airspace!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for watching.

[@garethkennedy3488]

Great series, takes me back to PPL days! Landing on 23 at Southend is always a bit thermal on the approach, especially coming over the big industrial yards on short final - even in the bigger aircraft! Thanks for the videos.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Gareth. You should get back into light aircraft.

[@gordonbruce2416]

A highly informative series, well done.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for watching.

[@alfredwhite4133]

Great video - loving the channel!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Alfred.

[@letsseeif]

Very much enjoyed. from an old pilot in Melb Australia.

[@johnfielding001]

Wonderful!

[@richnash82]

Brilliant video. Very interesting.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Richard.

[@IrishManJT]

Excellent Sir!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks!

[@nathiscocks1323]

Good video, nice to see a face with a familiar voice having flown in and out of Southend during CPL and IR

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Nat.

[@DAllan-lz3lg]

I fly into Southend (regional jet) regularly and your post about keeping the R/T crisp is so true, not just for SND of course. So many GA pilots bumble through their contact with approach etc “er we’re presently tracking towards ..er em...ah.... we intend ...blah blah”, meanwhile we’re on a downwind or base for the ILS.. Everyone has to learn of course, but your video is spot on. Planning is key, have a plan B. Top advice.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think also, to be fair to many GA pilots, the airspace around London outside controlled airspace is tricky, the ATC coordination poor/non-existent between units, and so we are constantly having to pass this and that to everyone, so those calls often end up being rather long. A standard call to transit controlled airspace from outside is very long, whereas, if we had a coordinated system, we wouldn't have to keep filing airborne flight plans, which takes up most of the time. But yes, be as quick as you can!

[@AviatingWithMel]

Great series, really enjoyed it :)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Melanie.

[@billsmith8660]

Great video Jon!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Bill.

[@flyguyroosie]

Remembering my training there with Willow Air thanks for this video

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Pleasure.

[@A380Super]

Great video. I spent a while flying the A320 from Southend and found them a really friendly group of people.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

They are a very friend bunch!

[@jeffbridges666]

Very nice , thanks for sharing 👍

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Pleasure.

[@rforey]

Fab series

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thank you Rob.

[@ninebobsvids]

Great series Jon, just "binge watched" all four. Top quality production as always. I'm learning at Nottingham EGBN and haven't done a land away yet so have only experienced Air/Ground radio calls. Full ATC does look a bit scary but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I do have the advantage of having done some radio presenting in the past so I'm a fairly confident speaker and used to the discipline of having a good idea of what it is you're going to say when you open the mic, which helps a lot with RT. Keep up the good work, the channel just keeps getting better.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Simon. I find full ATC easier. Just do what you’re told!

[@Sjoram]

Just a matter of familiarity. Learning at Southend (pre-Class D) I'm used to the ATC/Radar environment. By contrast, I'd probably find lesser controlled environments more intimidating due to unfamiliarity!

[@plumbdog1964]

Fantastic video Jon, I have actually flown into Southend in my Quik (flexwing)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Hopefully there was enough runway for you!

[@SimDeck]

Ok Pass on runway 36. 3 Wire trap. Well done. Great Case 1 recovery.

[@Sjoram]

Not been flying in a few years, but was learning at Southend 2002-2005/2012-2015... Great bunch that are on the whole very helpful and patient with students/those less familiar. I remember an incident with a non-based pilot that was struggling to follow even basic taxi instructions. A real test of patience for the controller who maintained utmost professionalism, unlike some exchanges heard in the US! Line up & wait clearances with an Airbus to backtrack & vacate were a favourite too - Orange A319 with landing lights on heading towards you before turning off! 🙈 Good to see some of the 'new' faces here too and put names to familiar voices.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think that's a mark of a great controller. Patience and understanding in the circumstances you describe.

[@davidhorobin1060]

Superb Very useful film - thank you

[@markplane5994]

Nice to see this in action at an airfield. At home I have an ADS-B receiving station, so can relate to what goes on with the radar controllers, as I see aircraft on my screen around the Manchester area (50 miles all around)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Mark.

[@graemecatty9921]

Very useful thank you.

[@SimonSNB]

Really interesting video, very well produced

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks for watching Simon.

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

Great video! Thank You :-)

[@MervynPartin]

Absolutely fascinating. I have a lot of respect for air traffic controllers, and I know that there is no way that I could do their job. By the way, I used Southend Airport many times as a passenger and once for a flying lesson- very nice airport.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Glad you found the vid interesting Mervyn.

[@dansage]

17:33 - was never taught that 😳. This video has been well worth watching.

[@lightning1988]

Nice landing Jon 😊

[@TheFlyingReporter]

It was a fun one!

[@andycampbell5491]

Another good video Jon. Feel free to pop into EGSC sometime, i have a lovely PA-32R called Sally who loves to fly up the East coast utilising our excellent LARS service to Humberside/Teesside for some approach training.

[@jandebie5056]

Not able to fly, i find these video’s very interesting, in order to make comparison with private plane flying in Belgium. Hope to encounter you one day in Antwerpen (EBAW), nice controlled airfield, beautiful town and over 100 types of beer ! Thank you John for uploading !

[@TheFlyingReporter]

You had me on ‘beer’

[@MrHitoro]

EBAW is indeed a very GA friendly airport. The beer is excellent in Belgium, and Antwerp is a beautiful city. I can't wait to fly back in there myself. I also find myself at EBOS a lot, and have been to EBKT. If you see G-BAPX it might just be me.

[@jandebie5056]

Thank you Darren, for the compliment. I will have a lookout for G-BAPX or even when I hear you on the Sony scanner on 135,20. Fly safely sir !

[@MrHitoro]

@@jandebie5056 Paters Vaetje is my favourite bar in Antwerp :)

[@MrHitoro]

Is there a way to get to the centre of Antwerp using public transport? We always used a taxi in the past. Thank you.

[@MrSeebsy]

Thanks I did my PPL at EGTO in 91...... Southend never had that controlled airspace around it like it does now.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

The airspace never stands still!

[@richarddastardly6845]

UK atc are ruthless, any small thing they’ll write you up, the US is much more forgiving

[@springbok4015]

South Africa as well, they're pretty strict and the CAA don't mess around.

[@richarddastardly6845]

Rob Potato - Wow, i imagined it’d be the other way round

[@togacontrol6153]

There not ruthless. We just have strict procedures. Which are easy enough to follow

[@liammcguire4522]

Out airspace is MUCH smaller and therefore more dangerous. I’m US you can pootle about much easier.

[@liammcguire4522]

Out airspace is MUCH smaller and therefore more dangerous. I’m US you can pootle about much easier.

[@EuroAviators]

Again a very good video! The UK is truly something different from the rest of Europe. This repeated "basic service outside controlled airspace" etc. stuff is quite funny. Waiting for lights to go off on the holding point, even though you've got a clearance to "line up" is also a typical UK restriction?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think that stop bar rule is in SERA. (2) At a controlled aerodrome an aircraft taxiing on the manoeuvring area shall stop and hold at all runway-holding positions unless an explicit clearance to enter or cross the runway has been issued by the aerodrome control tower. (3) An aircraft taxiing on the manoeuvring area shall stop and hold at all lighted stop bars and may proceed further in accordance with (2) when the lights are switched off.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

To be fair to the controller, the film was edited, with their input, to ram home the point. In real-time, the clearance, and the extinguishing of the lights was coincident. So no error on the part of the controller.

[@EuroAviators]

@@TheFlyingReporter You're right, we did some research, it's in SERA.3210. Good to know, never heard of it before! However, there is also an ATCO rule on this matter: 4.5.5. Aircraft or vehicles should never be instructed to cross illuminated red Stop Bars when entering or crossing a runway. This explains why we never had to deal with this rule before, since all of the airports we know don't use them and/or switch them off before a clearance gets issued.

[@richardkaberry8790]

Great video and series thanks Jon. Just a thought...assume you filed a flight plan into Southend? Would be great to do a video on filing a flight plan...when it’s compulsory or just desirable etc. Keep up the excellent work!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Only a 'pass your message' airborne flight plan (abbreviated flight plan)

[@neilmurgatroyd3197]

Great vids John, but come one, you HAVE to include the Goodwood ATIS. They have a guy whose been kept in stasis since 1939, but he still does the ATIS! WHY isn't this an internet meme? The guy is awsome!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I haven't been to Goodwood for a long time, I need to re-visit to experience this for myself.

[@johnhodgkiss9882]

Great video. Please do some more informative video.

[@LisaSargent03]

It's also nice to see that Stanford-le-Hope is situated in the purple zone. Whatever that means.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think it's to do with the London airspace from memory.

[@LisaSargent03]

@@TheFlyingReporter I thought it was something to do with Stapleford, because they use this corridor along with the Dartford bridge route all the time.

[@henryspurgeon385]

@@LisaSargent03 it's a coordination line/space that we have with the Thames controllers. Relevant for IFR aircraft and for controller information only 👍

[@littlelawson06]

Great video as always! On a slightly different note though, I was wondering if you had ever played around with your upload timing to get more views on your videos? Assuming most of your viewers are British would it not make more sense to release at 18:00 UTC? Then it’s closer to the top of people’s feeds when they sit down to watch some KZbin in the evening...

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Maybe Robert. The timing fits in with my schedule at the moment, and there doesn't seem to be any loss. I've tried different times and dates, and it's still work in progress.

[@simonjohnwilson]

Fantastic video can I asked when it was filmed ? Spring? Year?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

A month or so ago.

[@mrscreamer379]

Busy? Its not busy. It just has larger aircraft frequenting it. Go somewhere like Stapleford or White Waltham on a Saturday afternoon when there's 11 in the circuit doing touch and goes. Southend is the opposite of busy because the landing fees are higher. Most people stay away. Its not like they made you orbit for 25 minutes. They brought you straight in ... cos its not busy. Same with the radio. You aren't fighting to get a word in edge ways. You've got the sky to yourself.

[@kevinhughes9801]

Great video thanks! How do you record your cockpit audio with the gopros please?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

There is a section in my FAQs about this. www.jonhunt.net/faq/

[@ranh71]

LOL, my wife said I have a man-crush!! Great video again thanks Jon :)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

My husband will be having words!

[@paulejbuckley]

interesting inflatable sheep behind the controller in the radar room as you interviewed him!!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Surprised no one else has spotted it before you Paul!

[@Sterlingjob]

Heathrow next?? Mid morning?!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Hmmm.

[@Sterlingjob]

The Flying Reporter If go up the tower I’ll ask!!

[@jakobeng1303]

are you sure the startup you mean isn't the flightplan startup at 15:28 ?

[@woutpeterse1337]

Hi Jon, How do you record your Skydemon shots? Screencapture or so? And welcome in The Netherlands...

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks. Just the screen recording facility on the ipad.

[@jamescaley9942]

It is always good to know ATC has your back, compared to uncontrolled airspace where it is all down to pilots to see other traffic. In the case of GA there is only 1 pilot to do that as well as navigate.. How that system is allowed in the age when I can track a smartphone location with GPS is beyond me.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

In fairness, the system sort of works most of the time. Be aware though, that you are not completely protected in controlled airspace VFR. Pilot must still keep a keen lookout.

[@07pollee2ndtime]

16:29 What, XL426 the vulcan you mean?!

[@lerouretan1937]

I think that we learnt to fly at a similar time in life, although most of my flying is in France, often in controlled airspace, and almost always in contact with a comprehensive FIS. However I sometime feel a tad "abandoned" when flying in England in UK FIS / uncontrolled airspace, that in the South East of England always seems to flip to "Basic Service" = not a lot if I refer to the CAA missive (I am told by other pilots flying out of EGKA that this due to staff shortages...). Your videos are a great help and reference when flying in England, but on this one I was expecting something just after 19:55: ATC said Leaving controlled airspace, Basic Service outside. but didn't give a frequency; I was expecting to hear "contact London Info on 124.600" and you didn't close the frequency. Did I miss (understand) something?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Greetings. Southend can give a basic service outside controlled airspace. They cannot give a basic service inside controlled airspace, so they are telling me the point at which a radar controlled service ends and a basic service begins.

[@lerouretan1937]

Good evening Jon, I would have needed to request clarification had I been flying, but that may be because I am not so familiar with UK ATC handovers. You were talking to Southend Director who said that there would be Basic Service outside the controlled airspace; are you saying that Southend Director would continue to give Basic Service outside of his controlled airspace until further notice? I am used to having ATC (in LFMD) hand over to SIV/FIS before leaving the CTR and clearing to higher altitude; it is that bit that I am missing. I also fly quite a bit in military controlled airspace who have the same practice. BRGDS, Peter

[@TheFlyingReporter]

@@lerouretan1937 Hi again. Yes, they're offering me a basic service outside controlled airspace. Any unit, bar an air/ground can offer you a basic service. What you probably don't know (why would you) Southend is the lower airspace radar service for the region 30 miles around Southend, so the offer a radar/FIS service. You'd know this if you had studied the lower airspace radar services in the UK. I'm not an apologist for this fractured system we have here. It annoys the hell out of most of us too.

[@LisaSargent03]

I hope James wasn't flying GBNUT at the time, lol.

[@hashimiqbal6822]

How did you organise these visits?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I just asked. I think they do tower visits for pilots.

[@rolemodel04]

Harry Kane switched jobs ?

[@henryspurgeon385]

Thanks Dan, I get that a lot 😂

[@romeo9017]

Aerodrome?

[@joebloggs8785]

One difference compared with flying in the US I noticed on this channel is that you are often very low; I assume this is a consequence of the busy airspace around London. I would not feel comfortable cruising at 1500ft, that doesn't give you much gliding distance in the event of an engine failure.

[@Sjoram]

The base of London's LTMA Class A airspace is as low as 2500' in some areas around the west of Southend's airspace.

[@Barabyk]

Yes, most of the time we fly low in general - apart from airspace limitations, most of the time the cloud base will keep us low.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

We are restricted to not above 1500ft AMSL on departure from Redhill because of London Gatwick controlled airspace.

[@AlchemistRL]

Lol I can see the aerodrome from my house 😂

[@RosssRoyce]

“Level 1400’. Lol” this controller is too much into “levels”

[@RosssRoyce]

@Michael John Dennis Here in France is different, they tell us to use levels when higher than the Transition Alt. Beneath that they tell us to use "Altitude", like this there is an agreement that it is a QNH derived Alt. When we climb higher than the transition they tell us to put the Altimeter on standard 1013 QNH and report levels. And all that is still VFR. Not sure how it works in England though, anyways made me laugh (affectionately, not mocking, cuz controller and other fols on vid look very kind!)