Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum

General Aviation Discussion => General Aviation Discussion => Topic started by: Jimi182 on May 17, 2017, 02:31:35 PM

Title: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: Jimi182 on May 17, 2017, 02:31:35 PM
Hello all.

Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based?  I usually only hear planes talking to it, but today I can hear the controller talking back...
Title: Re: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: gadwall58 on May 17, 2017, 02:41:43 PM
Prestwick.

The operations room in Prestwick combines:

Manchester Area Control Centre (MACC), which controls aircraft over much of the north of England, the Midlands and north Wales from 2,500 feet up to 28,500 feet.
Scottish Area Control Centre (ScACC), which controls aircraft over Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and the North Sea from 2,500 feet up to 66,000 feet.
Oceanic Area Control Centre (OACC), which controls the airspace over the eastern half of the North Atlantic from the Azores (45 degrees north) to a boundary with Iceland (61 degrees north).
Title: Re: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: skyking on May 17, 2017, 06:20:45 PM
As far as I know Jimi, the hilltop sites (from where you'll be hearing the ground controller's transmissions) are Dundonald Hill (nr Prestwick) and Snaefell on the Isle of Man.
Title: Re: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: smudge on May 17, 2017, 08:24:54 PM
Dundonald Hill (nr Prestwick) and Snaefell on the Isle of Man.

Interesting, I didn't realise there was one on Snaefell; that would explain why I can occasionally receive Scottish controllers.

The one at Dundonald Hill beyond Troon is about 130km from Ards and masked by the Craigantlet hills:

https://binged.it/2rfSO8L

whereas Snaefell is just over 80km and a nice clear view down the lough.  Radar-horizon calculator says that a 700m elevation transmitter should give 110km, so perhaps I should point a yagi in that direction...

http://members.home.nl/7seas/radcalc.htm

Cheers for the info!
Title: Re: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: Angry Turnip on May 17, 2017, 08:44:44 PM
A behind the scenes video...........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nna9r8vVY-Q
Title: Re: Where is Scottish Control (123.775) based
Post by: skyking on May 17, 2017, 08:55:19 PM
A behind the scenes video...........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nna9r8vVY-Q

Lol!  ;D