Exercise H · RT practice for UK pilots
Services & MATZ
Requesting an air traffic service, and crossing a Military Aerodrome Traffic Zone.
5 prompts, worked here at Norwich (EGSH). In the app the same prompts use your own home aerodrome and callsign.
The calls in this exercise
Prompt 1 of 5
You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, 8 miles south of Beccles at altitude 2400 feet, VFR en route to your next reporting point, and want a radar service with traffic information only. You are calling Norwich Radar. Make the initial call requesting the service.
The point to get right: Establish contact, then request a 'Traffic Service'. Under a Traffic Service the controller passes traffic information but you take your own avoiding action. e.g. 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, request Traffic Service'.Prompt 2 of 5
You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, 5 miles east of Beccles at altitude 2000 feet, VFR in good visibility, routing to your next reporting point. You only want general information and are happy to look out for yourself. Call Norwich Radar.
The point to get right: Request a 'Basic Service'. Under a Basic Service you remain entirely responsible for your own collision avoidance — traffic information is only passed if the controller happens to have it.Prompt 3 of 5
G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 5 miles east of Lakenheath, heading 270, altitude 2000 feet on QNH 1013, routing VFR to your next reporting point. You want to cross the MATZ ahead. Make your initial call to Lakenheath Radar.
The point to get right: Request 'MATZ penetration'. Pass type, position, heading, altitude with the pressure setting and your routing. e.g. 'Lakenheath Radar, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 5 miles east, heading 270, altitude 2000 feet QNH 1013, VFR to your next reporting point, request MATZ penetration'.Prompt 4 of 5
Lakenheath Radar replies: G-ABCD, Lakenheath Radar, BASIC SERVICE, SQUAWK 5261, Lakenheath QFE 1009. Read it back.
The point to get right: Mandatory readbacks: the squawk and the pressure setting. e.g. 'Basic Service, squawk 5261, QFE 1009, G-ABCD'. Set the QFE for the MATZ stub as instructed.Prompt 5 of 5
You are G-ABCD, clear of the Lakenheath MATZ to the north-east and no longer needing the service, continuing en route to your next reporting point. You want to change to Norwich Radar. Make the call to leave Lakenheath Radar.
The point to get right: Report clear of the zone WITH the direction, then request the change, naming the station you are going to: 'G-ABCD, clear of the MATZ to the north-east, request frequency change to Norwich Radar'. Wait for approval before you retune. En route, the next station is a radar or approach unit, or a FIS — not an aerodrome Tower, which only controls its own circuit and surface.
Now say them to a controller
Push-to-talk, at your own aerodrome. The AI controller answers and the grader tells you what CAP 413 says about each call.
Prompts and notes are written in our own words against CAP 413 (Edition 24) and the UK AIP. Frequencies are for training only. Practice aid only — not the official FRTOL test and not a guaranteed pass. Always defer to CAP 413, your instructor or examiner and the CAA; check the current UK AIP before flying.