I suppose this is as good a time as any to ask a question that has always puzzled me. Why do helicopters have to hover taxi down the taxiways and get in the vicinity of the runway before they are allowed more than 10 feet off the ground ??
When we were reconstructing Luton, many was the time the plodicopter whipped by the office in the summer blowing grass cuttings in through the bog window as it swept down from the cargo area to the runway. Now at Fairoaks I often see the Surrey Police taxi down to the runway before lifting.
Surely the whole idea of a helicopter is that it doesn't need a runway ... or is that the only part of the airfield licensed to launch aeronautical conveyances ??
Obviously nobody wants a helicopter to take off blasting other things about or flying low over aeroplanes or other sensitive stuff but safety and good manners aside why not use the machine to the best of it's abilities ?
