Ada Quonsett
20th Feb 2008, 10:57
A Tornado GR4 Crew from RAF Lossiemouth were part of a team involved in assisting a man in trouble flying in a Cessna 172S from the United States to Europe.
The Cessna, which was less than a month old, was on a flight plan from Keflavik to Wick when the pilot, who was experiencing difficulties due to the strong headwind, had to make the decision to fly as low level as possible. However, this became extremely difficult as the aircraft was in thick cloud at low level over the sea and running out of fuel. The pilot managed to make contact with a British Airways 747, which was en route to Los Angeles, stating his predicament and requesting urgent assistance.
The Distress and Diversion unit at the Scottish Military Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick were alerted to the problem and immediately contacted Air Traffic Control at RAF Lossiemouth to see if they could assist. On seeing an RAF Lossiemouth Tornado GR4 in the area, they passed on the message that a Cessna 172S was in distress and needed immediate assistance.
Flight Lieutenants Chris Pote and Stu Wallace from 12(Bomber) Squadron were, at that time, 20 miles north of RAF Lossiemouth conducting a training mission when they were contacted by RAF Lossiemouth and asked to help. The crew were routed outbound from Wick on a heading that would get them in line with the Cessna aircraft. Due to the lack of fuel, it was imperative that a cruising altitude with the least headwind was found for the Cessna in order for it to recover to Wick safely.
The crew of the Tornado GR4 were able to establish this by checking the wind speed at various points and heights on the Cessna's route; they relayed the information through the British Airways 747 to the Cessna Pilot. The Tornado GR4 crew advised the pilot to fly at 10,000 feet where his aircraft would be more efficient. The crew were then able to meet up with the Cessna aircraft over the North Atlantic to confirm his location. However, as they were themselves short of fuel they were then obliged to recover to RAF Lossiemouth. The Cessna landed safely at Wick almost two hours later, with very little fuel remaining.
On return to the unit, Flight Lieutenant Pote was able to contact the Senior First Officer on the British Airways flight once it had landed at Los Angeles to thank them for their assistance throughout the rescue. It then turned out that the BA Senior First Officer of the flight was a family friend of Flight Lieutenant Pote.
Flight Lieutenant Pote, from 12(Bomber) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth said:
" I was very pleased that we were able to assist a fellow aviator in trouble. It's fairly unusual for the Tornado aircraft to be involved in such an event; this sort of thing usually comes under the Search and Rescue elements of the RAF."
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=08560482-1143-EC82-2E717A300AB0A1E4
The Cessna, which was less than a month old, was on a flight plan from Keflavik to Wick when the pilot, who was experiencing difficulties due to the strong headwind, had to make the decision to fly as low level as possible. However, this became extremely difficult as the aircraft was in thick cloud at low level over the sea and running out of fuel. The pilot managed to make contact with a British Airways 747, which was en route to Los Angeles, stating his predicament and requesting urgent assistance.
The Distress and Diversion unit at the Scottish Military Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick were alerted to the problem and immediately contacted Air Traffic Control at RAF Lossiemouth to see if they could assist. On seeing an RAF Lossiemouth Tornado GR4 in the area, they passed on the message that a Cessna 172S was in distress and needed immediate assistance.
Flight Lieutenants Chris Pote and Stu Wallace from 12(Bomber) Squadron were, at that time, 20 miles north of RAF Lossiemouth conducting a training mission when they were contacted by RAF Lossiemouth and asked to help. The crew were routed outbound from Wick on a heading that would get them in line with the Cessna aircraft. Due to the lack of fuel, it was imperative that a cruising altitude with the least headwind was found for the Cessna in order for it to recover to Wick safely.
The crew of the Tornado GR4 were able to establish this by checking the wind speed at various points and heights on the Cessna's route; they relayed the information through the British Airways 747 to the Cessna Pilot. The Tornado GR4 crew advised the pilot to fly at 10,000 feet where his aircraft would be more efficient. The crew were then able to meet up with the Cessna aircraft over the North Atlantic to confirm his location. However, as they were themselves short of fuel they were then obliged to recover to RAF Lossiemouth. The Cessna landed safely at Wick almost two hours later, with very little fuel remaining.
On return to the unit, Flight Lieutenant Pote was able to contact the Senior First Officer on the British Airways flight once it had landed at Los Angeles to thank them for their assistance throughout the rescue. It then turned out that the BA Senior First Officer of the flight was a family friend of Flight Lieutenant Pote.
Flight Lieutenant Pote, from 12(Bomber) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth said:
" I was very pleased that we were able to assist a fellow aviator in trouble. It's fairly unusual for the Tornado aircraft to be involved in such an event; this sort of thing usually comes under the Search and Rescue elements of the RAF."
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=08560482-1143-EC82-2E717A300AB0A1E4