Airspace

Flight Information Regions (FIRs)

UK Airspace is divided into 2 main areas, known as Flight Information Regions, or FIRs. The Scottish FIR, and the London FIR. The responsibility for these lies with three centres. The London Area and Terminal Control Centre (LATCC) situated at West Drayton, The Scottish Oceanic and Area Control Centre at Prestwick, and the Manchester Area Control Centre (MACC), at Manchester Airport.

LATCC covers all airpace over England, Wales and Scotland upto 55 degrees North as shown above. The region North of this is covered by Scottish. Manchester covers an area from surface to Flight Level 195 (Approx 19,500 feet) in the Manchester area, extending West towards Dublin, East to Humberside, South to Birmingham and North to the Scottish Border. Manchester also has an extra area which covers 'open' airspace over the Yorkshire area designated 'Penine Radar'

For the purposes of controlling Air Traffic in managable areas, each FIR is further split into 'sectors' for which a controller has responsibility.

Classifications

Varius classes of airspace are allocated in the UK - Grades A to G. Class A is the highest status, B, D, and E to other controlled airspace. Class C is not currently allocated in the UK. Classes F and G are uncontrolled airspace

CLASS A - Airways, except where they pass through a TMA ot CTR of a lower status. Class A is not available to VFR flights.
CLASS B - Upper airspace - Above FL245.
CLASS D - Mostly CTRs and CTAs. VFR flighrs require an ATC clearance to be obtained from ATC.
CLASS E - Allocated to the Scottish CTR. Similar to Class D but with a reduced traffic information from ATC and no ATC clearance required.
CLASS F - Advisory routes. Requires that a flight plan is filed.
CLASS G - Open FIR - or Free airspace. Includes MATZs and ATZs outside controled airspace. Flight Information and Radar services are available in Class G airspace.