As a serving pilot with the West Yorks ASU I view with horror the attitude of some of the replies. I have been with the unit since Oct 93 and have NEVER known of this type of rebuff during any visit.
Steve A, I remember you from the AAC and think that you were an OK guy, but, if your message is right, your run-in was SEVEN years ago??? Pardon me for saying, but that realy is taking the bat and ball home!! I applaud your concern for safety and can assure you that we have to conform to perf A standards at all times, if you have a gripe about the approach path we use mail me and we can sort something out! You state that "Most other heli pilots have kept their distance". Do you know this as a fact? more fool them if they have, because we would be more than willing to greet them, please don't presume to speak for other pilots - they can do it themselves. Rotor Nut - well done with the letter to the police authority, things do move slowly sometimes - again mail me and we can talk.You are not an irritant and we are not elitist, just professionals trying to do a job. Marco thanks for being positive, we are very busy all the time, bookings for visits and talks are running into the back end of 2002!!!! we cater for visits every day of the week if need be. Contact the visits coordinator at carr gate for some dates etc, or mail me. I can honestly say that we pay the most attention to the rate - paying public Zardoz, but unfortunately there are a few people around who seem to think that our mission in life is to disturb them ( until they get burgled ). To finish I ask that anyone wishing to talk about police heli work ( any part ) mail me and we can talk like adults with a pint or two!! Nuff said.