Mandatory zones (RMZ & TMZ)

The calls in this exercise

1. Prompt 1 of 5

   You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, approaching the Beccles Radio Mandatory Zone — 4 miles north at altitude 1500 feet, VFR routing to your next reporting point. Establish two-way communication with Beccles Radio before you enter the RMZ.

   The point to get right: An RMZ requires two-way radio contact to be ESTABLISHED BEFORE you enter (see CAP 413 Ed 24). Two-way is achieved only once you have passed your callsign, aircraft type, position, level, flight rules and intentions — and received an acknowledgement from the unit. e.g. 'Beccles Radio, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 4 miles north, altitude 1500 feet, VFR, routing to your next reporting point, request to enter the RMZ'.

2. Prompt 2 of 5

   You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, 2 miles north of the Beccles Radio Mandatory Zone boundary at altitude 1500 feet. You have called Beccles Radio twice with no reply. Transmit blind to say what you are doing about it.

   The point to get right: You may not enter an RMZ until two-way communication is established (CAP 413 Ed 24), so the decision is already made for you: stay outside. Say so, blind — 'Beccles Radio, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, transmitting blind, 2 miles north of the zone, altitude 1500 feet, no contact, remaining outside the RMZ to the north, G-ABCD' — sent twice, as CAP 413 §2.88(7) requires for a blind transmission — and keep trying them while you hold off.

3. Prompt 3 of 5

   You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, 6 miles west of the Norwich Transponder Mandatory Zone at altitude 2400 feet, VFR, with a serviceable transponder on Mode Sierra. Make your initial call to Norwich Radar to enter the TMZ.

   The point to get right: A TMZ may only be entered with a serviceable transponder operating on the notified mode — Mode S, or Mode C with altitude reporting selected (SERA.6005(b)). Saying so in the call is good practice rather than a required phrase, because it is the transponder itself, not the words, that is the condition of entry: 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 6 miles west, altitude 2400 feet, VFR, transponder serviceable Mode Sierra, request entry into the TMZ'. Wait for 'pass your message' if they ask for it. Without a working transponder you need their permission first, or you remain outside.

4. Prompt 4 of 5

   You are G-ABCD established inside the Beccles RMZ, now leaving it to the south, and you want to change frequency to Norwich Tower. Tell Beccles Radio before you retune.

   The point to get right: Inside an RMZ you must maintain two-way contact with the notified unit, so a silent frequency change is not an option. Tell them you are leaving and where you are going — 'Beccles Radio, G-ABCD, leaving the RMZ to the south, changing to Norwich Tower, G-ABCD' — and wait for their reply before you retune.

5. Prompt 5 of 5

   You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, approaching a TMZ but your transponder has failed. You are 5 miles west at altitude 2000 feet. Make the call to the controlling unit to request entry.

   The point to get right: With an unserviceable transponder you cannot meet the TMZ requirement, so you must request permission to enter — e.g. 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 5 miles west, altitude 2000 feet, transponder unserviceable, request entry into the TMZ'. The unit may approve (possibly with conditions) or refuse, in which case you remain outside.

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