Kyprianos Biris
1st Apr 2001, 13:42
First post in PPRUNE (excellent organization)
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(Subject should read 1991 sorry !)
Its 22nd March 1991 on a PA28R200 flight from Bristol EGGD to Stapleford EGSG 1830L (night already) with 102 hours (+IMC , Night, Multi ratings) in my experience as a UK PPL holder.
Its rainy with some low cloud and turbulence and I am coming back with 3 friends on board.
I was not in contact with any ATC when I was approaching the NW tip of Heathrow's CTR. The plan was to follow a NE track from a VOR (can't remember now !) and when intercepting LAM Track 090 to turn right for stapleford thus keeping clear of Heathrow's zone.
After the turn I realized that I had set my VOR to LAM track 080 (or less - can't remember now) instead of 090 which meant that by then I was already in the Heathrow zone !
The (rain and turbulence)was pouring hard and I kept somewhere around 1500~2000 ft to remain visual while passengers were a bit worried but still trusted me !
Straight away I turned left to North and when I made sure (by VOR) that I was clear of Heathrow area I turned back East for Stapleford.
I never contacted Heathrow VFR (119.90 I think it was) beacause I was ashamed but kept squawk 4321 (UK VFR code back then) all the way to Stapleford.
On arrival an Essex Police car was waiting for me with a message to Call Heathrow chief ATC for the details and also to make sure they (Police) keep my details.
On the phone call with the "chief" at Heathrow I explained the situation and although he was quite hard on his words towards me , he stated that he would not take further action and asked me to be very carefull in the future.
I had (as he said) approached Heathrow as close as 3 miles with a VFR code at ~2000ft (had ALT encoding ON) while a 757 was held still on 27L for about 1 minute for its takeoff clearance.
At that point they saw on radar that I turned directly North thus figuring out what had happened :-)
So the question ... does anybody from here rememeber anything or was he/she on watch that day ?
The aircraft was G-IPJC
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Kyprianos Biris
[email protected]
Athens, Greece
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[This message has been edited by Kyprianos Biris (edited 01 April 2001).]
-------
(Subject should read 1991 sorry !)
Its 22nd March 1991 on a PA28R200 flight from Bristol EGGD to Stapleford EGSG 1830L (night already) with 102 hours (+IMC , Night, Multi ratings) in my experience as a UK PPL holder.
Its rainy with some low cloud and turbulence and I am coming back with 3 friends on board.
I was not in contact with any ATC when I was approaching the NW tip of Heathrow's CTR. The plan was to follow a NE track from a VOR (can't remember now !) and when intercepting LAM Track 090 to turn right for stapleford thus keeping clear of Heathrow's zone.
After the turn I realized that I had set my VOR to LAM track 080 (or less - can't remember now) instead of 090 which meant that by then I was already in the Heathrow zone !
The (rain and turbulence)was pouring hard and I kept somewhere around 1500~2000 ft to remain visual while passengers were a bit worried but still trusted me !
Straight away I turned left to North and when I made sure (by VOR) that I was clear of Heathrow area I turned back East for Stapleford.
I never contacted Heathrow VFR (119.90 I think it was) beacause I was ashamed but kept squawk 4321 (UK VFR code back then) all the way to Stapleford.
On arrival an Essex Police car was waiting for me with a message to Call Heathrow chief ATC for the details and also to make sure they (Police) keep my details.
On the phone call with the "chief" at Heathrow I explained the situation and although he was quite hard on his words towards me , he stated that he would not take further action and asked me to be very carefull in the future.
I had (as he said) approached Heathrow as close as 3 miles with a VFR code at ~2000ft (had ALT encoding ON) while a 757 was held still on 27L for about 1 minute for its takeoff clearance.
At that point they saw on radar that I turned directly North thus figuring out what had happened :-)
So the question ... does anybody from here rememeber anything or was he/she on watch that day ?
The aircraft was G-IPJC
------------------
------------------------
Kyprianos Biris
[email protected]
Athens, Greece
------------------------
[This message has been edited by Kyprianos Biris (edited 01 April 2001).]