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Old 22nd Jul 2009, 09:22
  #18 (permalink)  
ExSp33db1rd
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Smaller Antipode
Age: 89
Posts: 31
Received 22 Likes on 14 Posts
Are they interested in helping you not to make sub-optimable landings ?
No.

Are they interested in promoting recreational aviation in your local area ?
No.

Are they interested in creating a 'scary' story so that the Great British Public will rise up in terror and try to get recreational aviation banned everywhere, lest you fall on their houses, and schools, and hospitals ?
YES.

I once had a major failure in a 747, returned to departure airfield, deliberately didn't tell ATC anything, and they were canny enough not to ask. 5 minutes from landing I declared an emergency, so that the fire trucks and ambulances were on hand - we didn't need them, no disaster, but still the Press had time to scramble a helicopter to follow us down the approach and be ready to film the fireball. Around 3.00 am the following morning the Press rang one of the stewardesses, we were in a foreign country, and pretended to be a relative of one of the passengers, and ringing from our home counry. they will stop at nothing to get a sensational, headline selling newspaper.

Be polite, or they will roast you, but be firm - NO. They can get all they want from the AAIB public report. Have sod all to do with them.

Be Warned - no good will come of it.
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