Neil666 - allthe points you make are very valid I think, however I should just point out that the Police Optica and crew of two which was tragically lost was on its first operational mission and was operating out of Bournmouth - not Lee-On-Solent.
Lee-On-Solent has an EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD. In living memory, which is at least 28 and 38 years of operating on the airfiled, LEE's most experienced flyers do not recall any incidents leading to injury, hospitaliation or even a trip to A&E. The PNGC itslef has operated for 57 years, have around 4 million launches - and a great safety record.
Despite Hampshire Constabularies' assertions of Health and Safety Concerns and "Incidents" there are no Mandatory Occurance Reports that substanciate such claims. The filing of an MOR is a legal requirement following an incident so where are they?
No Risk Assessments have been forthcoming to substantiate the H&S assertions either. The ELFA, and the Executive Leader for Fareham Borough Council has requested , from the Chief Constable, copies of the H&S materials supporting the police decisions. Such have yet to be received and locally there is strong suspicion that such do not exist.
It is not at all clear that DfT-MCA, SEEDA, or Erinaceous did anything at all other than simply accept at face value Hampshire Constabularies statements regarding H&S concerns... ...and have been happy to repeat them:
From the Erinaceous report:
"
5.2.3 There are considerable health & safety issues relating to air traffic control, the operation of the airfield and access to it by the general aviation community in particular which, in our opinion, must be addressed as an immediate priority."
"5.3.1 A strong case has been put forward that the operational and health & safety issues documented at Daedalus can be overcome by removing all gliding activity.
Who put that case forward? On what grounds? And how do LFA an others get past this loop of chasing down an spurious Health and Safey claim which the non-aviaiton organisations have (thus far) swallowed hook line and sinker?