We did a 3 year review of close proximity activities for BHAB ( 2000-2003) so that they could remind the DOT and the MOD what the state of play was. It concerned emergency services helicopter operations Vs puddle jumpers and military FW and RW activities.
Observations:
Most HEMS outfits failed to submit sufficient data.
Most police units relied heavily on TCAS
The MOD made the right noises but couldn't convert words to action (citing IRAQ on both occasions as an excuse for no cash).
Ironically, I have a letter here from Portillo when he was defence secretary (in early 90's) defending his position which was that there wasn't enough of a threat to take precautionary action.
AIRPROX and its machinery is a joke . A toothless waste of government money. I have lost count of how many people have filed for near misses only to be issued with the standard response letter stating that it has been looked into and the incident has been declared category C (no risk of collision).
We recently, nearly collided with a pair of jaguars which were flying at 420 kts at 250' in below minimum weather limits (4km)and they admitted it - no risk of collision?????
As I said some time back, On average there is a mid air between mil and civvy every 6 years. We are a year overdue
Cat A takeoffs.
Crab - normally you come out with some sterling stuff. But this time you really are talking bollocks mate.
You might have an ATPL(H) but you've never practiced it in anger so you haven't a clue what you're on about. The mil take off going fwd. If something happens (not necessarily the donk stopping) then a mil pilot is committed to landing into unknown territory AND at relatively high fwd speed.
Commercial helos transition backwards, because its been proven that the landing spot is (a) safe (you've just taken off from it) and (b) there is little or no run on speed. Guess which is safer. The CAA care about passengers, the Mil don't.
Don't slag off civvy performance profiles unless you understand them. Now get back to talking sense
And the threat of being taken out from behind whilst transitioning, by a FJ is ludicrous. Do you know of any FJ's at 300+ knots transitting at <120' ???
