What happened
On July 1, 2013, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight following a route between several Polish aerodromes, including EPRJ, EPKA, EPRP, EPKPEPNL, EPKR, and EPRJ. After departing from EPKA, the pilot maintained an altitude of 3,000 feet AMSL while flying toward Szydłowiec.
During the flight, the pilot experienced difficulties establishing radio contact with FIS Warszawa. Once communication was successfully established after passing Szydłowiec, the pilot was notified that the aircraft had entered the MATZ EPRA C airspace. The controller instructed the pilot to either exit the zone immediately by turning west or to climb to 3,500 feet AMSL to clear the airspace boundary. The pilot complied with these instructions immediately.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight planning process and the navigational tools used by the pilot. The inquiry focused on why the aircraft entered the controlled airspace and evaluated the validity of the flight routes used by the flight school.
Findings
- The primary cause of the airspace infringement was inadequate flight planning regarding altitude and route, resulting from the pilot's use of an outdated aeronautical chart.
- A contributing factor was the use of a pre-established "standard VFR route" used by the flight training center. This specific route had been developed prior to the implementation of the MATZ EPRA C zone and did not account for the new airspace restrictions.
Safety action
- Flight instructors and crews must be reminded during pre-flight briefings of the mandatory requirement to use current aeronautical charts.
- The flight training center's internal "standard VFR routes" must be reviewed and updated to reflect current airspace configurations.