This is what it takes to operate the tower radio either as a Ground Radio operator or as a Flight Information Service Officer [FISO]. This is based on research I carried out last summer when I was thinking of offering my services in Denham Tower, and I have recently updated it with the CAA.
- GROUND RADIO OPERATOR: It is necessary to obtain an Aeronautical Radio Station Operator Certificate of Competence to CAP452 [fee about £50 (Helicopter Services at Wycombe 01494 513 166)]. A PPL with an RT licence can obtain a Ground/Radio Certificate of Competence from the CAA, free of charge, by applying on CAA Form SRG 1413 at the address given on the form. Telephone enqiries to 01293 573 355. A licensed airfield operator has the authority to VALIDATE a Ground/Radio Certificate of Competence for use at that airfield only.
- FISO: Details of the FISO licence requirements are in CAP427 which can be downloaded from the CAA website. The procedure consists of:
- Download application form SRG1414
- Complete first page only to apply:
- to take the next quarterly Law & Procedures exam [fee £55] for the issue of …
- to take the next Navigation & Meteorogy exam [fee £55] – pilots are exempt
- for a FISO licence – subject to passing the exam [no licence fee payable at this stage]
- Note: applicants also have to have an Aeronautical Radio Station Operator Certificate of Competence – see 1 above
- If you pass the Law & Procedures and other necessary exams the CAA will issue you with a FISO licence [fee £49]
- That FISO licence is for life but to be of any use it has to be:
- VALIDATED
- MAINTAINED
- VALIDATION involves completing Page 2 of the form SRG1414 to apply for a Validation Examination by a CAA ATS Inspector at a specific aerodrome [fee £302] subject to:
- A certified log of 40 hours ‘hands-on’ experience under supervision of a qualified operator – maximum 4 hours in any one day [see CAP427 Chap 2 Para 5.2] .
- No ‘on the job’ training prior to the issue of the FISO licence at b.(ii) will count towards the Validity Exam requirements.
- If you pass the Validity Exam you apply to the CAA for your FISO licence to be VALIDATED, against which the CAA issues an ENDORSEMENT of the licence.
- This Validation qualifies you as a FISO FOR THAT PARTICULAR AIRFIELD ONLY
- MAINTENANCE involves:
- Exercising the privileges of the licence at least once every 90 days [see CAP 427 Ch 2 Para 6.1.1]
- A Competence Check every 24 months [CAP 427 Ch 2 Para 7.1.2]
- MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:A UK Class 3 CAA medical certificate [fee £75-£100]. Pilot air medicals issued under JAA regulations and will not do. BUT, a PPL with a JAA Class 1 or JAA Class 2 Medical Certificate can obtain from the CAA by telephone, free of charge, the separate UK Class 3 medical certificate necessary to operate a tower radio. Tel 01293 573 700/1 medical/3 Certification or e-mail < medicalweb@srg.caa.co.ukThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >. When renewing a JAA Class 1 or JAA Class 2 medical it is possible to ask your AME at the same time for a UK Class 3 medical certificate at the same time which he will usually do for ‘a small additional fee’. Note: before long the medical requirement for ground radio work will be a DVLA medical certificate issued by a GP equivalent to those issued for NPPL pilots/HGV drivers. It is unlikely that any CAA medical certificate will be accepted in lieu of this GP-issued medical certificate – because they are handled by separate agencies. Not only that, a pilot taking his air medical examination will not be able to ask his AME for a DVLA/NPPL licence ‘on the side’.
- APPLICANTS must be over 18, have a sound knowledge of English and be fluent in the English language – which is more than many pilots have!
- TOTAL OUTLAY £611, or £506 for a pilot with the usual examptions.
Anybody who goes to this much trouble and expense to help pilots is worth our respect.