Always contact local ATC (DEL/GND/TWR/APP) where it is online. There are many APP positions that cover more than one airfield top-down:

• EGAA_APP – Belfast/Aldergrove (EGAA) and Belfast/City (EGAC)
• EGGP_APP – Liverpool (EGGP) and Hawarden (EGNR)
• EGJJ_C_APP – Jersey (EGJJ), Guernsey (EGJB), and Alderney (EGJA)
• EGNO_APP – Blackpool (EGNH) and Warton (EGNO)
• EGNT_APP – Newcastle (EGNT) and Teesside (EGNV)
• ESSEX_APP – London/Stansted (EGSS), London/Luton (EGGW), and Cambridge (EGSC)
• EGSS_APP – London/Stansted (EGSS) and Cambridge (EGSC)
• SOLENT_APP – Southampton (EGHI) and Bournemouth (EGHH)
• THAMES_APP – London/City (EGLC), Southend (EGMC), and Biggin Hill (EGKB)

What is top-down?

In the absence of local ATC, area controllers provide a top-down service at airfields in their sectors. Request clearance, pushback, taxi, etc., as if there were an aerodrome controller online.

Are all airfields covered top-down?

Controllers provide top-down service at all airfields with a permanent Tower or Approach facility in the real world, including airports outside controlled airspace.

When busy, controllers may downgrade service at quieter airfields. You must contact the controller before departure to check the service provided.

If departing outside controlled airspace and joining it en route, ensure you obtain clearance beforehand.

How do I know who to call?

When there is no local ATC, contact the first listed controller below that is online (left to right priority). Callsigns may vary, so always check the frequency.

You can also refer to the sector maps in the next section.

Manchester (EGCC)

MAN_SE_CTR (134.430) → MAN_E_CTR (133.800) → MAN_CTR (133.200) → LON_N_CTR (133.705) → LON_NW_CTR (135.580) → LON_CTR (127.830)

Leeds (EGNM), Humberside (EGNJ), Newcastle (EGNT), Teesside (EGNV)

MAN_NE_CTR (135.715) → MAN_E_CTR → MAN_CTR → LON_NE_CTR → LON_N_CTR → LON_CTR

Liverpool (EGGP), Hawarden (EGNR), Isle of Man (EGNS), Blackpool (EGNH)

MAN_W_CTR → MAN_CTR → LON_NW_CTR → LON_N_CTR → LON_CTR

Norwich (EGSH)

LON_NE_CTR → LON_N_CTR → LON_CTR

East Midlands (EGNX), Birmingham (EGBB), Coventry (EGBE), Oxford (EGTK), Cranfield (EGTC)

LTC_M_CTR → LON_M_CTR → LON_C_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

London/Stansted (EGSS), Cambridge (EGSC)

LTC_NE_CTR → LTC_N_CTR → LTC_CTR → LTC_E_CTR → LON_E_CTR → LON_C_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

London/Luton (EGGW)

LTC_NW_CTR → LTC_N_CTR → LTC_CTR → LTC_M_CTR → LON_M_CTR → LON_C_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

London/Heathrow (EGLL), London/City (EGLC), Southend (EGMC), Biggin Hill (EGKB), Lydd (EGMD)

LTC_SE_CTR → LTC_S_CTR → LTC_CTR → LON_D_CTR → LON_S_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

London/Gatwick (EGKK), Farnborough (EGLF)

LTC_SW_CTR → LTC_S_CTR → LTC_CTR → LON_S_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

Southampton (EGHI), Bournemouth (EGHH)

LON_S_CTR → LON_SC_CTR → LON_CTR

Bristol (EGGD), Cardiff (EGFF), Exeter (EGTE), Gloucester (EGBJ), Newquay (EGHQ), Channel Islands (EGJJ/JB/JA)

LON_W_CTR → LON_CTR

Edinburgh (EGPH), Glasgow (EGPF), Prestwick (EGPK)

STC_CTR → SCO_D_CTR → SCO_WD_CTR → SCO_S_CTR → SCO_CTR

Belfast/Aldergrove (EGAA), Belfast/City (EGAC)

STC_A_CTR → SCO_R_CTR → SCO_W_CTR → SCO_WD_CTR → SCO_CTR

Aberdeen/Dyce (EGPD), Dundee (EGPN)

SCO_S_CTR → SCO_E_CTR → SCO_CTR

Inverness (EGPE), Stornoway (EGPO), Kirkwall (EGPA), Sumburgh (EGPB), Wick (EGPC)

SCO_N_CTR → SCO_E_CTR → SCO_CTR

Our controllers will always send you a contact me if you are entering their airspace. However, you can use the diagrams below or VATGlasses if you want to know when to call them in advance.

You should look up and plan for descent according to your expected STAR.
You can also report your expected STAR on first contact to save time.
If you need to descend before you enter an online controller’s airspace, then do so.

London - Main Positions

The main London sector groups (North, South, Central, and West) are shown below.
Sometimes these sectors are combined using the LON_SC_CTR or LON_CTR callsigns.

Example:

If LON_CTR, LON_S_CTR, and LON_W_CTR are online:

• Red (North) — controlled by LON_CTR
• Yellow (Central) — controlled by LON_CTR
• Blue (South) — controlled by LON_S_CTR
• Green (West) — controlled by LON_W_CTR

London - TMA Split Positions

We can also split off the airspace in the London area with LTC sectors.

There are four main sectors:

• NE
• NW
• SE
• SW

These may be combined using:

• LTC_N_CTR
• LTC_S_CTR
• LTC_CTR

Key Points:

• The top of these sectors is generally at FL155, but not above FL195.
• It is especially important to descend according to your STAR when only LTC sectors are online.
• Do not wait for a "contact me" before starting descent.

Scottish - Main Positions

You will most often see SCO_CTR, which covers all Scottish airspace.
The diagram below shows the two main upper splits.

• STC_CTR: Below FL255 around the Scottish TMA, covering EGPH, EGPF, and EGPK.
• STC_A_CTR: Below FL255 in the Belfast area, covering EGAA and EGAC.

Further Scottish splits may be used during events.

If you are departing from an airfield as VFR, please see the section above — "I am departing from a UK airfield".

If you want to enter controlled airspace, you must check if any controller is covering that airspace.
If yes, you need to get a clearance before entering it.

By using the altitude slider on VATGlasses, you can check for coverage.
Feel free to ask a controller whether they cover airspace if you are unsure.

London & Scottish Information

• EGTT_I_CTR (124.600) – "London Information"
• EGPX_I_CTR (119.875) – "Scottish Information"

Both of these positions are able to provide a Basic Service to flights outside of controlled airspace.
This is a type of UK Flight Information Service (UK FIS)
(see page 71 of The Skyway Code).

They are also able to arrange airspace joining clearances for IFR departures from airfields not covered top-down.

Military airfields are not covered top-down by the civilian En Route Control positions.

If local military ATC is online, you should contact them on the ground or if you are inbound.
Otherwise, if Swanwick Mil is online, they cover all airspace and airports.

EGVV_CTR (133.900) – "Swanwick Mil"
Covers EGTT and EGPX FIR airspace and airports for military operations.

If you are departing from a military airfield and joining controlled airspace in the same way civilian air traffic does,
you must get a joining clearance from the relevant civilian area sector before you enter controlled airspace.
If you are unsure who to contact, please ask a controller or check VATGlasses.

For the purpose of controller bookings,
the Primary Sectors are defined as:

• SCO_CTR
• LON_N_CTR
• LON_C_CTR
• LON_S_CTR
• LON_W_CTR

The Secondary Sectors are defined as:

• LON_NW_CTR
• LON_NE_CTR
• LON_M_CTR
• LON_E_CTR
• LON_D_CTR
• LTC_N_CTR
• LTC_S_CTR
• MAN_W_CTR
• MAN_NE_CTR
• MAN_SE_CTR
• SCO_WD_CTR
• SCO_D_CTR
• SCO_S_CTR
• STC_CTR
• STC_A_CTR

UK home-rated or visiting controllers may open either a single Primary or Secondary sector,
or a valid combination of Primary (e.g. LON_SC_CTR) or Secondary (e.g. LTC_CTR, MAN_CTR) sectors.

Further splits require the remaining portion of the Primary or Secondary sector to be staffed too —
e.g. opening LTC_NE_CTR requires LTC_NW_CTR (as the remaining portion of LTC_N_CTR) to be online.

Splits not defined in the London or Scottish FIR (EGTT) vMATS Part 2 require specific approval from the Operations Department in the form of a
Temporary Instruction
or permanent Procedure Change.