- Light aircraft pilots flying in the Manchester area have been provided with possible areas for further consideration to improve the safety and efficiency of the Manchester Low-Level Route (MLLR) in a new report from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
- The MLLR provides pilots with a direct route through the airspace where Manchester and Liverpool airspace adjoins, without the need for pilots to fly over high terrain or water.
- The report offers valuable insights into the use of the MLLR, its current use, and presents proposals for potential improvements to the airspace.
Light aircraft pilots flying in the Manchester area have been provided with possible solutions to improve the safety and efficiency of the Manchester Low-Level Route by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
As part of its function to review airspace classification, the regulator has published its comprehensive report on the Manchester Low-Level Route (MLLR).
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s report offers valuable insights into the MLLR, its current use, and presents proposals for potential amendments to the airspace.
Areas for further consideration include raising the upper vertical limit, amending the airspace classification, and the possible implementation of restricted airspace.
The MLLR is a 4 nautical milewide volume of airspace that extends from surface to 1300ft Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) between Manchester and Liverpool. It provides a convenient north/south route for light aircraft and General Aviation pilots flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
This route allows pilots to transit through Manchester's airspace more efficiently, avoiding routes over the high terrain of The Pennines or Liverpool Bay.
Jon Round, Head of Airspace, Aerodromes and Air Traffic Management at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
"Our in-depth review has examined the Manchester Low Level Route, and these proposals show real potential for improving safety and efficiency for the General Aviation community, while also helping its users understand how they need to currently operate in it.
“Further work is necessary to allow us to take any of these options forward, and our report is an important step as we review any prospective improvements to this piece of airspace.”
The regulator will now explore these proposals further and continue to work closely with stakeholders, including Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport and their air traffic control providers, as well as the local General Aviation community.
Notes to editor
- The report is available on the Civil Aviation Authority website
- Proposals for further consideration include:
- Re-classifying the airspace from Class D to Class G.
- Increasing the MLLR's upper vertical limit from 1,300' to 1,500'.
- Creating a Restricted Airspace structure south of the M56 to incorporate a speed restriction. Additional constraints are also under review.
- Partnering with the North West Local Airspace Infringement Team to reassess Visual Reference Points (VRPs), to aid in preventing airspace infringements and potentially expand the lateral limits of the airspace.
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