Anyone living near a SAR flt will be used to seeing the duty crew fly around the local area on Christmas Day with a cheery santa in the door waving at the kids. At Chivenor we usually pay a flying visit to a children's hospice nearby and most other flights will have similar places that get a santa wavex every year.
It can't happen today though because of MOD jobsworths who have seen fit to instigate the following limitations (reprinted verbatim from the signal):
The UKLFS will close at 231700Z Dec 08 and reopen at 050700Z Jan 09.
With the exception of SAR aircraft, no military aircraft are to use the system for non-operational flights during the period stated above without prior approval from MOD DAS (LA).
SAR training is permitted: however, overland low flying outside MATZ is to be limited to the minimum necessary to maintain currency. No overland SAR training is permitted during the public holiday periods below.
From 242359Z to 270700Z Dec 08 and 312359Z Dec 08 to 020700Z Jan 09.
This is a total closure of the UKLFS (GL- 2000ft agl). This closure also applies to all helicopters (excluding the stated SAR exemptions), operating below 2000ft agl.
In previous years, SAR flights have had proper exemptions and, since helicopters are not deemed to be low flying until below 500ft agl, even closure of the UKLFS still allowed us to do a limited wavex (overshoot from approach to land etc).
This year the added paragraph about helicopters below 2000ft and the no overland SAR training during the holiday periods means that a wavex is just not feasible. especially with a cloudbase today of less than 2000' agl.
Thanks MOD - I am sure the kids at the hospice wish you a very Merry Christmas
