Flight Plan

Sherburn - Shobden

The forecast didn't look too bad, but it was definitely going to be cloudy or overcast with a little rain. I therefore anticipated a lowish cloud base and decided not to fly initially to the TNT (Trent) VOR as the land elevation there was around 1,300 ft. Instead I planned a true track from Sherburn of 188 to the north western corner of Derby (45 miles). My safety altitude would be 1,400 ft and I planned to fly at 2,000 ft to keep below East Midlands CTA at 4,000 ft. My pinpoint would be Sheffield City airfield (20 miles) to work out any track error.

I pencilled in the next two legs - down to Telford and overhead Stafford, then straight down the valley to Shobdon. Then I realised this would take me into Shawbury AIAA and, according to one of the NOTAMS, kiting was going to be taking place a few miles south of Telford up to 1,900 ft. Also would it really be safe to fly across what appeared to be a narrow steep sided valley in less than excellent weather conditions under VFR?

I pondered whether it would be equally problematic to skirt Birmingham's CTA and fly over Wolverhampton\Halfpenny Green ATZ. I decided turning at Stafford for Kidderminster would provide an even wider berth around the two gliding sites en route (Seighford & Cosford). Also I would be well clear of the CTA sections starting at FL65 and could fly under the CTA section at 3,500ft. From Kidderminster I'd then have a clear run to Shobdon.

So I planned a leg from Derby to Stafford (25 miles) with a safety altitude of 1,600 feet and a planned altitude of 2,000 ft to keep me safely under East Midlands CTA section at 2,500ft. My pinpoint would be Utoxeter Racecourse, 15 miles along track.

From Stafford to Kidderminster (32 miles) the safety altitude would be 1,700 ft with a planned altitude of 2,500 ft to keep me well under Birmingham's 3,500 ft CTA section but safely above Halfpenny Green's ATZ. The pinpoint would be Wolverhampton\Half Penny Green airfield (17 miles)

Both the 27 and 09 circuits were flown to the south of Shobdon airfield, so the final leg from Kidderminster (24 miles) would also set me up nicely to arrive on the dead side of the airfield. I noted that the circuit height for fixed wing was 1,000 ft and the downwind leg was flown south of the two villages Pembridge & Eardisland.

Radio-wise I figured I would probably need to talk to Fenton Approach, Doncaster Radar, East Midlands Approach, Shawbury Radar, possibly Birmingham Radar and Shobdon Air/Ground