So it was Kemble
...I mean the airport that TOT was at when he had that run-in with the farmer-in-the-hat which spawned that...er, "spirited" discussion in another thread.
I should have known. It sounded familiar. Lovely country over there. Nice airport. I once flew a 206B there (Warren Aviation?), G-Bravo Papa-something. And I flew gliders at the nearby Cotswold Gliding Club. I look forward to going back.
But what a noise-sensitive area! Runway 31 is not even supposed to be used except by request. I always took that to mean that the pilot had to request it; curious that the tower assigned it to you. If I recall, A-429 runs right along the airport boundary. And there are buildings on the southeast side of the road just to the right of the final, a farm just under the extended centerline, and some big buildings on the airport property just to the left (south) of the runway. Not a great situation.
But the threshold for runway 31 is displaced about 175 metres, ensuring that arriving aircraft will have some altitude as they cross the road. So the question becomes: Where were you shooting your approach for, TOT? The start of the pavement or the displaced threshold? If the latter, then you were still probably about 200 metres (600 feet) out on finals when you saw that irate farmer.
200 metres and 75 feet. Let's say 70 feet since you probably weren't going to actually touch down on the runway but come to a hover, eh? My calculations put you at a 6 degree approach angle. Double a plank's slide, but still awfully shallow for a heli.
I humbly submit that, given the extreme noise-sensitive nature of the area, you might have held a trifle more altitude as you approached the field. Even holding 100' until you crossed the road would've only required a descent angle of about 11 degrees. Well within the capabilities of your 269A, I'm sure. Even shooting slightly beyond the numbers would've worked too.
Oh, if it wasn't Kemble then I take it all back.
But it was, wasn't it?
Okay PF#1, that wasn't bad. We'll give you ONE more chance. But you're on probation. You better brush up on your butt-kissing skills. Old Man Rotor and TC may never speak to you again! And please don't upset GLSNightPilot. You know how cranky he gets right after he wakes up when he's working.