Foot and Mouth!

[shortstripper]

It's back!

Foot and mouth has been confirmed on a farm in Guildford Surrey. Whilst no restrictions have been placed on flying, I would urge any farm strip flyers to consider their destinations if flying into or out of livestock farms. It's early days yet, and the government seems to be taking immediate action more seriously this time around.

Let's hope we avoid the same fiasco as 2001.

SS

[stickandrudderman]

I heard on the radio that there's an air exclusion zone, (presumably RAT?)over the farm.
Haven't checked the NOTAMs.

[chevvron]

There are now 2; one roughly centred on Normandy and the other on Elstead, both in Surrey near Guildford. Both surface to 3500ft amsl and 2nm radius.

[bunnywabbit]

Farnboro were advising pilots today and doing a very good job at it considering the amout of GA about.

[chevvron]

Thanks mate nice someone appreciates us! The first one at Normandy has been relaxed now.
I had a stream of arrivals which got a guided tour of Surrey as I couldn't take them over the restricted airspace due to b....y news helicopters*!

* You know who I'm talking about Smiffy.

[MikeJ]

Well done Farnborough yet again.
But why the hell the 3500ft?
Surely any bugs would be taken by the wind out of the 2NM radius before they got above 1000ft?
Would any news heli possibly want to be above 1500ft?
F and M is a very serious matter indeed, but absurd restrictions dont help anyone.

[xrayalpha]

Hi,

Fly in any open cockpit aircraft in the summer and you'll be amazed at what floats past you! And thousands of feet up.

Whether it is a matter of public perception or what, I think it a good idea that all aircraft - inclduing news helicopters - keep well away.

This stuff once blew across the Channel to the Isle of Wight, so keeping away probably won't make a difference in real terms.

But a diversion of a few miles will make a big difference in showing our support for farmers, who will be cr*pping themselves this weekend.

And farmers are a big lobby, and a big help to aviation. If there were no farm strips, there would be very much less private aviation.

At a time like this, you find who your friends are!

[chevvron]

The high altitude is apparently because they're destroying livestock and they don't want them 'spooked' by irresponsible rubberkneckers and news gatherers flying low overhead.

[MikeJ]

I am very sorry if my post could be taken as not fully supporting our farmers.
I will willingly most certainly deviate 20nm, or whatever, to help farmers who fear F & M. But this restriction had nothing to do with this. Passing through both 2nm radius zones is the A31 dual carriageway, on the Hogs Back, about 300ft above the farms, with hundreds of vehicles per hour. They were not restricted.

Both sites are below the 3500ft base of the TMA, up to which the restriction was placed. They are both just outside the step in the TMA base down to2500ft. This is an enormously congested area for light aircraft, which will generally be flying at 2000ft - 2400ft due to the nearby TMA step.

Chevron has given the real reason for the restriction, which is confirmed by the fact they were cancelled early today, as 'yesterdays news'. I just don't believe that an upper limit of 2000ft would not have met all the needs, without placing two 4NM dia cylinders of restricted airspace in front of the Heathrow - Gatwick corridor.

[chevvron]

The one at Elstead was re-introduced wef 1300 today, but only to 3000ft

[xrayalpha]

Hi MikeJ,

Didn't mean to suggest you don't support farmers.

Actually meant - by pointing out that one infection many years ago came across the Channel from France in the wind - that any airspace restriction was meaningless in so far as preventing spread of infection.

It might have a use, I thought, in helping show solidarity with our farmers.

And as has been pointed out another good reason was about animal welfare to try and stop the animals being spooked.

Very best wishes,