UK Civil Aviation Authority approves Manchester Low-Level Route airspace change |
The MLLR will be replaced by the North West Transit Corridor, and reclassified as Class G airspace Restricted Area, to be known as EGR323 North West Transit Corridor, with specific restrictions starting 20 February 2025.
The new North West Transit Corridor will continue to provide crucial north-south routing for aircraft, enabling them to navigate efficiently between Manchester and Liverpool Airports’ adjoining Class D airspaces.
The changes, which aim to reduce the risk of mid-air collisions and improve airspace management, will take effect from 20 February 2025. This coincides with the expiration of the current exemption in this airspace, Official Record Series 4 (ORS4) No.1596.
The amendment includes:
- Reclassifying the current Class D MLLR airspace to Class G uncontrolled airspace.
- Implementing a Restricted Area within the reclassified airspace that will limit the speed and weight of the aircraft, as well as having visibility and QNH setting restrictions.
- A maximum altitude within the Class G airspace of 1500ft – 200ft higher than the previous MLLR permitted.
- Creating Class G airspace 0.65 nautical miles wider to the east than today’s MLLR boundary.
The regulator’s decision to reclassify this portion of airspace follows input from the general aviation community, air navigation service providers, and local airports as part of its function to review airspace classification.