Moving a pool

[118.9]

Can anyone help give me a lead? I need to have a fibreglass swing pool (10.70 m x 4.20 m) lifted and carried for about 1 km in the Henley-upon-Thames rural area (road too narrow).

[Farmer 1]

You'll find it much easier if you take out the water first.

[Whirlygig]

If it's not a daft question; if the road is too narrow, how did it get there in the first place?

Cheers

Whirls

[Capn Notarious]

The depth measurement must be narrower than the width. So get it on that face atop wheels. What about a boat trailer? Please submit pictures.

[Aesir]

Contact your local helicopter operator and have him sling your pool.

I have done that often. It´s often the easiest way and if you count all the cost of getting a truck (lorry) with crane and personnel for several hours versus a 10 min sling load for helicopter its easier to just pay for the helicopter to do the work.

Although I´m not that familiar with UK regs, the trouble for you people getting permits and such may be prohibitive for such a job in your area!?

In normal countries where helicopter´s are just seen as work equipment like any other tractor or lorry this kind of job is a no brainer. The pool probably doesn´t weigh more than about 300 - 500 kg so its a JetRanger job.

JetRanger costs about 700-800 UKP/hr so ask a local operator how much ferry time and how long he would figure on slinging that pool one km.

Best of luck.

[tangovictor]

i can remember assisting with the delivery of a " steam locomotive" on an artic, Marlow side of Henley a few years back, Im sure a plastic pool, wouldn't be a problem, for any pro haulage company.

[Low Flier]

Would the route include crossing a public road with the underslung load?

If so, you've got a problem. CAA doesn't much like the idea of a load potentially being jettisoned onto a public road.

[SASless]

In normal countries where helicopter´s are just seen as work equipment like any other tractor or lorry this kind of job is a no brainer.

Are you suggesting the UK is not normal?

Low Flier....have you considered blocking the road way for the two minutes the lift will take? Just as happens for other events like car wrecks, parades, moving livestock from one pasture to another, for example?

[Bladecrack]

Aesir,
Wouldn't have said that slingloading 500kg was really a Jet Ranger job? :hmm:
Maybe you were thinking of a B407:confused:
BC.

[Miragepilote]

Slinging a pool by helicopter requires a company specialising in slinging that type of large loads, either by using mirrors or preferably vertical referencing. Ensure they have the right helicopters, slinging equipment and suitably rated and qualified pilots.

Slinging it like a bath the downflow of air will double to quadruple the pools "weight" due to the helicopters downwash, to a point where the helicopter could end up in a situation where it cannot lift the "relatively light load". Turn it upside down and the downwash might cause it to "fly" in circles at the end of the strop.

Rigging, nets, strops, length of strops should also be chosen carefully and attach in such a manner as to prevent damage to the pool and the surrounding terrain and property by downwash.

Get permissions from CAA, Council and neighbours and have indemnities signed as required. Think about insurances etc.

Just a couple of pointers to think about.

It is a specialised job and damage could easily occur. If care is not taken and it can turn out to be an expensive exercise where it might leak so badly at the end that it will only be good for an extra large sand box for the kids or litterbox for the cats... hehehehe:)

Good luck!

[bladewashout]

Sounds like it would be cheaper to build a new pool in-situ at the new site and scrap the old one!

BW

[Twiddle]

I wanted to sling load my kids tree house under a 44 but my friend said the accident would make such an amazing AAIB report that hed have nothing to do with it!

Wish I'd built the damn thing in situ now, the cofg is about 8 foot in the air and other parents are wary of thier kids playing on the thing :ugh:

[ATN]

Due to rotor downwash, the sling must be at least 30m long, with a swivel hook and 1 rope 5m long at each corner.

Cheers

ATN

[Twisted Rigging]

Low Flyer & 118.9

I'm sure you will find that roads are not a problem, however any vehicles or persons on the road will be. As is any persons, property, vessels, built up area etc. etc. that could be encountered anywhere en-route. You must have a dead clear route between sites. I have often had to wait for traffic to clear to cross a road.

Long range zig-zag fuel planning can be a pain.

[Aesir]

Are you suggesting the UK is not normal?


SASless: you know what I mean.. with all the restrictions and permissions for every little thing that is needed in the UK & many other European continent countries ;)

Wouldn't have said that slingloading 500kg was really a Jet Ranger job?

Bladecrack: Yes sure. many JetRangers can lift 500 kg, expecially early model Agusta´s Bell 206A converted to B. It´s not easy lift and it help´s to have cool temp´s and some wind but it can be done in some JetRanger´s within limits.

I would suggest slinging the load vertically to avoid downflow and certainly long line. Close all roads that need to be crossed and get the job done with fast. Though the sling flight itself wouldn´t be much faster than about 20 kts I guess but hey it´s only one km.

[118.9]

Thanks all, most helpful (even the sarcasm was funny). Some missing context; the problem is that the lane from the main road is too narrow with a canopy of trees.

Final question, anyone know of good operators in the Henley (South Oxfordshire) area, i.e. the Reading/HighWycombe/Maidenhaed locale?

[Aesir]

118.9.. Do you have an idea of the weight?

[Bravo73]

118.9,

Helicopter Services at Wycombe Air Park might be able to help you out. They've done a bit of slinging with a Squirrel in the past.

+(44) 01494 513166. Ask for Leon.


HTH,

B73 :ok:

[starcrest]

Thanks Bravo, much appreciated:D

[170']

Starcrest
Check your PM's.....Sorry Starcrest...I meant 118.9

[118.9]

Thanks all, have managed to get two quotes. RAF Benson at £5000 ph and an operator near Birmingham at £750ph. Not managed to get hold of Leon yet but thanks Bravo73, I will keep trying.

I'll update once the lift is complete.

[Hughes500]

If it is no more than 500 kg I can do it with a 500 but the route and permission from the bods at the Belgrano may be interesting ! PM me

[2Sticks]

Leon at Helicopter Services even moved a giant dinosaur for a theme park once!
2Sticks

[118.9]

Thanks very much Sticks and 500. I am almost embarassed, but financially relieved, to report back that the neighbour, after being quite hostile, agreed to "thin" the trees so with some pushing and bending of remaining branches we got the pool in by truck yesterday.

[Twiddle]

Damn, thought somebody was going to sling load my treehouse!!!!:E