zkdli:
The pilot was given a clearance through controlled airspace via the london eye enroute to his destination which was not in the London City or London CTR. The minima regarding aircraft inbound or outbound from an airfield in the zone therefore did not apply. He was give a choice between VFR or Special VFR - this allowed the pilot to comply with either criteria. He was given a maximum altitude to fly in the zone.
Elstree to the London Eye goes through the London CTR and R157 - the Eye is inside R157. A clearance into the London CTR cannot be VFR, it can only be SVFR or IFR. And the report says "At 0755 hrs, G-CRST was put under radar control as it entered the London CTR." So there is surely a question of what kind of clearance was offered and how that might have affected the conduct of the flight.
readgeoff, re the decision to go to Redhill, NB that AFTER his client told him Battersea was open, the pilot texted his operator asking if Redhill was still clear, but the AAIB notes that the reply "Yes it’s fine still here" "was not read". So the pilot had no confirmation of conditions at Redhill, but had some inkling that Battersea might be possible. So I can't see that it necessarily indicates any kind of commercial pressure mindset. Couldn't it equally have been the client showing concern for the pilot, knowing he had taken off despite the client's advice, and trying to do his best to find somewhere for him to divert safely? He went to the trouble of phoning Battersea - apparently unprompted.
NS