MATZ or Military Aerodrome Traffic Zones are the area surrounding a Military Airfield in which Military Aircraft can be easily segregated from other traffic for key parts of flight ie take off and landings. Full Details of MATZ and the associated penetration service, including controlling aerodromes, contact frequencies and hours of watch, are contained in the UK AIP ENR Section, AICs, AIP Supplements or System NOTAM. While deconfliction between aircraft is made within the best abilities of the controller, some Civilian aircraft may be flying with in the MATZ of a airfield and not be in contact with ATC. As such pilots operating within a MATZ should maintain a constant lookout at all times to avoid collisions.
Pilots requiring a MATZ, and where appropriate, ATZ penetration service must establish two way RTF communication on the appropriate frequency with the aerodrome controlling the zone when 15 NM or 5 min flying time from the boundary whichever is the sooner, and request approval to penetrate the MATZ, and if appropriate ATZ. When requested by the controller to ‘pass your message’ the pilot should pass the following information:
Pilot | ATC |
Westbury Approach, G-ABCD, request MATZ and ATZ penetration | G-ABCD, Westbury Approach, pass your message |
G-ABCD, Cessna 172, from Borton to Walden, over Middleton, altitude 2500 feet Wessex 1005, VFR, tracking to Wells | G-CD, MATZ and ATZ penetration approved, at 1500 ft on Westbury QFE 1001 |
MATZ and ATZ penetration approved, cross MATZ at 1500 ft on Westbury QFE 1001, G-CD | G-CD, report entering and leaving the MATZ |
Wilco, G-CD |
When it is not possible for the controller to approve a penetration of the ATZ, the controller shall advise the pilot. G-CD, MATZ penetration approved, remain outside the ATZ
Whilst working a MATZ unit, pilots are expected to comply with any instructions issued by controllers and maintain a listening watch on the allocated RTF frequency. They should not change heading or level without giving prior warning and should advise when leaving the MATZ. At some MATZ units, the Zone controller is responsible for MATZ penetration services.
When crossing a CMATZ it is the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that clearance is obtained to transit each individual ATZ embedded therein. The pilot, in their request for clearance to transit the CMATZ, may ask the controller to obtain such clearance(s) on their behalf. When issuing any clearance to cross a CMATZ controllers will, where appropriate, articulate clearly any approval or otherwise to transit embedded ATZs.
Pilot | ATC |
G-CD, request penetration of Westbury MATZ and ATZ and Eastbury ATZ | G-CD, penetration of Westbury MATZ approved. Remain outside the Westbury and Eastbury ATZ |