Lower Airspace Radar Service

A Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS) is a free service available to all aircraft for the provision of the radar element of UK Flight Information Services (UK FIS). This is usually available within approximately 30 nm of each participating Air Traffic Service (ATS) Unit to all aircraft flying outside controlled airspace up to FL100, within the limits of radar/radio cover.

Unless a participating ATS Unit is a 24-hour one, the service will normally be available between 0800 and 1700 in winter and 0700 and 1600 summer, Mondays to Fridays. However, as some participating units may remain open to serve evening, night or weekend flying, pilots are recommended to call for the service irrespective of the published hours of ATS. If no reply is received after three consecutive calls, it should be assumed that the service is not available. A list of participating units and times of availability can be found in the UK AIP, en-route section ENR 1.6. 

Whilst designed for the provision of a radar service, LARS units do provide Basic Service to transiting aircraft, and this makes up a high percentage of the traffic loading.

Periodic reviews of LARS service provision are conducted, and these reports can be found below.