Heilcopter troubles

[A and C]

Last week a helicopter turned up at a private strip and spent 10 min hovering above the runways resulting in two go-arounds.

A microlight airstrip north of London has no end of trouble with unauthorised heilcopter landings as can be seen on another thread.

What I would lik to know is why SOME helicopter pilots think that they can use private strips without any permision?

[Flying Pencil]

Not sure what sort of reply your looking for?
SOME pilots do silly things.
SOME pilots cut people up in the circuit.
Some pilots break the low flying rules
SOME pilots wee in the shower:E
Not all helicopter pilots are shining examples of society.
You may have caught me at a bad moment but I can't see you getting anything constructive from your post.

FP.

[A and C]

Perhaps if the problem is known about in the helicopter world a bit of pressure might be applied to curb the the unauthorised use of private strips.

We are now going to put a big chain around the rotorhead of the next heilcopter that lands without permision or good reason and charge £500 a day parking and the chain will not be removed untill the fee is paid in cash.

[breakscrew]

Same post on 2 forums - my, my. Someone has really rattled your cage. Why don't you just have a quiet word with the nice people at Elstree. I am sure that whoever it was would be highly apologetic and desist from doing it again. And please don't tar all helicopter pilots with the same brush, just because one has upset you.

[Flying Pencil]

well it is the same post apart from the 'This is typical of the heilcopter mentality' part which seemed to be missed out on this forum. As breakscrew says 'please don't tar all helicopter pilots with the same brush, just because one has upset you'.
Some of us helicopter pilots do read other forums and I know this is going to upset you but some of us fly fixedwing as well some times :ok:

[ericferret]

We have the same problem with fixed wing pilots.
Some local flying instructors believe they can use our strip firstly without permission and secondly without paying a landing fee. The strip is often unmanned during the week. To add insult to injury we have received noise complaints associated with this activity.

We are investigating fitting cameras at both ends of the runway.

If the airfield is PPR then the landings are also illegal. If you can identify the culprit you can get the CAA to sort them out. They just love to prosecute G.A pilots.

ericferret

[A and C]

If it was one helicopter pilot who had done this I would just put it down as a random happening but it is not, I did say SOME helicopter pilots and that is what I meen SOME.

If you want to land then just get on the phone and get a briefing and you can land for free this way it wont cost a legitamate airfield user £75 in extra flying time because the uninvited helicopter blocked both the runways.

Unfortunatly this is becoming a regular happening and so something has to be done, if you can come up with any better ideas please let me know. Untill then it is the big chain, lock and sticker that will have to do just like a car clamping!

[NickLappos]

A and C,

I guess the invention of 'binoculars" has not reached your neck of the woods, and pprune is thought to be a better way to tell those guys what they are doing wrong!

A glance at their rej numbers and a letter from the owner, with a polite but thinly veiled threat of action would work wonders.

[Whirlygig]

If it happens regularly, have you considered that perhaps your entry in Pooley’s is not up to date or that the dissemination of your local information is not efficient? For one pilot to make a mistake is unfortunate but for many to do it looks like a cock-up on the communication front!

Cheers

Whirls

[Helicopspeeder]

A and C

I think Nick has hit it on the head. Remember your first solo nav flights when you got geographically embarrassed so you circled the first airfield you saw, frantically poring over maps and trying to figure out if it was the one you were aiming for?
I have a fixed wing mate who did the same thing, unfortunately the first airfield he saw was Edward's Airforce base, found his way home though, courtesy of four blackhawks and an F-16 who escorted him all the way!
He was pretty happy when they gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, I bet that you could find out the registered owner's phone number in less than five minutes on the internet.
Later,
Helicopspeeder

[MD900 Explorer]

Flying Pencil

SOME pilots wee in the shower

You as well.... I thought i was alone :E

MD :oh:

[Whirlygig]

You as well.... I thought i was alone :E
...and after that confession, you will be! :}

Cheers

Whirls

[roundwego]

You as well.... I thought i was alone
Who would be as disgusting as to pee in the shower when in it with someone else. Tut Tut. It makes athlete's foot sting apart from anything else.

[nigelh]

How can you be capable of running an airfield when you do not have the common sense to take a reg no off the aircraft, or was it covered over ...like mine..:ok:

[rotorrookie]

We are now going to put a big chain around the rotorhead of the next heilcopter that lands without permision or good reason and charge £500 a day parking and the chain will not be removed untill the fee is paid in cash.

For you pilots having problem with your rotorhead getting chained up here is an solution for that and its even cheaper than the landing fee.
only $229:} can fit in most cockpits or cargo holds

http://www.maxtool.com/images/DC410KA.jpg:ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

[slowrotor]

Any scratch caused by "chaining the rotor" could result in major repair cost at a minimum and unlimited liability if not noticed before an accident caused by the negligent act.

[unstable load]

I am an AME and if I found that you had in any way tampered with an aircraft that had my signature in it's logbooks or on the CofS then I would stuff that chain link for link up :mad: :mad: .

Rather buy a pair of binoculars and get the word out to the flying comunity that you are indeed a private field, rather than endangering what by all accounts looks like a bonehead who is quite likely to hop in and fly off with as much regard for a preflight as he has for your privacy and safety.

[md 600 driver]

nigelh
you big ugly sod i know you registration number
others may do if they work it out
steve
bottle of my big brothers [ md900s] shower water to the first answer

[Rushes]

Quote: 'you big ugly sod i know your registration number'

Well said md600driver!!! :ok:

[ShyTorque]

"What I would lik to know is why SOME helicopter pilots think that they can use private strips without any permision?"

I wouldn't do it. I'm sure most heli pilots with any common sense wouldn't do, either. The only answer is to ask the individuals concerned. Why not just find those actually responsible and point out the error of their ways?

Similar question to my own; why do some car and heavy van drivers think it acceptable to park on my private frontage blocking my gate and /or turn round in my driveway, sometimes dislodging paving slabs? Is it because they are rude, inconsiderate, or just downright thick between the ears?

[nigelh]

MD600 and Rushes.....you two engaged yet ?? Anyway jealousy is a bad thing....it will eat you up if you dont get over it :=

[Rushes]

Nigelh,

I was pulling your leg, ive enjoyed hospitality to the west of EGNM..... :ok:

Rushes

[WHK4]

Hi A and C.
What is a heilcopter anyway?

[ericferret]

Must be manufactured in Germany

[nigelh]

The heliport west of egnm is now strictly ppr........and in future you pay for your tea and jammy dodgers ...and dont land on the daffodiles.:=

[Rushes]

Nigelh,

Me..... daffodils........never....... that must be the other bloke.......... is the Allroad lift to the pub still included in the fee? ;)

Cheers,

Rushes

[Pilot DAR]

Hi A and C,

Perhaps a more symbolic solution would be some white and red paint applied to the offended area. The white in the shape of an "H", and the red, a circle with a diagonal bar bisecting it. Not an ICAO recognized aerodrome symbol I'm sure, but it'll get the idea across!

It will be a lot less effort than the confrontation with a pilot, or figuring out how to chain a rotor without damaging it!

Best of luck, Pilot DAR