Royal Flying

[Anthony Supplebottom]

No one on PPRuNe would give me the location of where Rainbow 1 was moved after it left Blackbushe but today, thanks to the Daily Express, I have finally found out.

Royal Family's helicopter only to be flown by Armed Forces pilots (Quite right too)

THE ROYAL FAMILY has stopped using civilian helicopter pilots on charter flights and moved the Queen’s aircraft to a new base amid safety concerns after a fatal crash in London.

Aides said the Queen’s Sikorsky helicopter had moved to RAF Odiham in Hampshire because of concerns after a chopper crashed into a crane in fog, killing the pilot and a pedestrian in Vauxhall, London, in January.

Only Armed Forces pilots will now be used on royal commercial charter helicopter flights.

Royal Family's helicopter only to be flown by Armed Forces pilots | Royal | News | Daily Express (http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/410872/Royal-Family-s-helicopter-only-to-be-flown-by-Armed-Forces-pilots)

[Nige321]

...or they could just hitch a lift in a passing N-reg 500... (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2348445/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-catch-ride-London-friends-helicopter.html) :eek:

[African Eagle]

Aides said the Queen’s Sikorsky helicopter had moved to RAF Odiham in Hampshire because of concerns after a chopper crashed into a crane in fog, killing the pilot and a pedestrian in Vauxhall, London, in January.

Maybe one has to be English to understand that article. Just how does moving the aircraft's location mitigate the risk of flying into a crane in fog?

.or they could just hitch a lift in a passing N-reg 500...

There are obviously no laws stating what the royals can do when it comes to flying.

[cockney steve]

Maybe one has to be English to understand that article. Just how does moving the aircraft's location mitigate the risk of flying into a crane in fog?

Errm....is this a trick question?

Operate from an area where there aren't a load of high-rises, cranes and people and you lengthen the odds of hitting any of them :8

Now, If you really meant to refer to the change to Military Pilots only.......Well, the cranes would bow to H.M. as her Chopper hove into range, thus clearing the way.:}

[212man]

No one on PPRuNe would give me the location of where Rainbow 1 was moved after it left Blackbushe but today, thanks to the Daily Express, I have finally found out.

I hope you can sleep well now that mystery is solved :ok:

I'm out of touch with the current TQHF pilots, but most of the names I did know were ex-military, including some ex-Royal Flight pilots and a couple of ETPS graduates - and the 76 is flown two crew - so not sure what on earth this article is based on!

[212man]

Operate from an area where there aren't a load of high-rises, cranes and people and you lengthen the odds of hitting any of them

Yes, Blackbushe is a real nightmare for those things :confused:

[aviate1138]

Summertime - media short on Royal stories........

[Anthony Supplebottom]

I hope you can sleep well now that mystery is solved

Hope to sleep very well tonight as a result! :E

Just didn't make much sense really. Almost all the head of state helicopters around the world are based a military installations which are known, ie. Marine One at Quantico etc.

Re: drivers, the chief driver used to be Chris Pittaway but I think he's moved on. Not sure about the rest of the crew, presumably someone knows - or maybe that too is top secret!

[John R81]

Having moved base specifically for these reasons, no doubt if the Royal Helicopter needs to go to / fly past an area containing risky structures such structures will be dismantled accordingly, and mantled again after the flight passes.

What a nonsense story. My children can work out that the "reasons" don't fit.

Totally off-subject but on topic for "the press don't care about accuracy so long as they have a story", here is one from Wimbledon a few days back. Scroll down tot he picture of Nicole Scherzinger...... except..... it isn't, it's one of my team.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling sprinkles some magic onto Centre Court at Wimbledon | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2348190/Harry-Potter-author-J-K-Rowling-sprinkles-magic-Centre-Court-Wimbledon.html)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<Rainbow 1>>

Callsign used under particular circumstances and not linked to the aeroplane.

[Exascot]

<<Rainbow 1>>

Callsign used under particular circumstances and not linked to the aeroplane.

We hope that you are back in action again very soon Sir.

[wannabe_whirly]

Any credence to the rumours that Prince Harry's callsign on ops is 'Rainbow Warrior'?

[Exascot]

WW I hope that you didn't jump to tbe wrong HRH here.

[Grenville Fortescue]

The article is clearly a piece of tabloid trash but may have highlighted a policy of TQHF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_transport_of_the_Royal_Family_and_government_of_the_Unit ed_Kingdom#The_Queen.27s_Helicopter_Flight_.28TQHF.29) regarding the requirements of their contractors in that the crews of aircraft supplied to the Royal Household must be ex-military. Whether this is so and whether this policy is new, I do not know.

In practical terms all this will mean is that Starspeed's civvie drivers won't be allowed in the front bit of G-BYOM (http://www.lyntons.plus.com/planes/images/g-byom130505esh.jpg) while on Royal charters.

If the BHA's Peter Norton is to be believed (http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2013-06-13/new-uk-helicopter-rules-could-hurt-struggling-industry) then the Barnes crash may serve at a catalyst for reviews to the safety and quality procedures relating to (especially) freelance charter pilots but, with regard to TQHF one supposes they already have a system for auditing potential contractors and which includes suitable vetting of their crews and overall procedures as well as their safety and quality management systems.

[HeliStudent]

Good to see the Royal MD500 in the news again!

Is this Prince William's?

A red helicopter sits in a field next to Prince Williams farmhouse near Anglesey awaiting his quick flight to London for the birth of his first child

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/06/article-2357601-1AB1926C000005DC-875_634x432.jpg

News story (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2357601/Kate-Middletons-royal-baby-date-Saturday-Heres-guide-Duchess-Cambridges-birth.html)

[Daifly]

Well there is a William Wales holding an FAA PPL(H) so you never know...

[nomorehelosforme]

Not wishing to sound like a snob but surely our future King would be using better aircraft?

[Anthony Supplebottom]

Not wishing to sound like a snob but surely our future King would be using better aircraft?

Let us be thankful that it isn't a Robinson. That would be a national embarrassment! :eek:

[before landing check list]

Not wishing to sound like a snob but surely our future King would be using better aircraft?

Better for what? MD makes a very good machine. Honestly, have you ever flown one?

[HeliStudent]

A red helicopter


I know that royals normally fly red helicopters but - and this could just be me - I think it looks a little orange in colour?

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6156/6181480045_da327dd861_z.jpg

Seems to have at least 3 landing lights on its belly - in case the baby is born at night maybe?

I like the exposed wires at the back of the instrument panel, it gives the heli a utility/economical look.

[Thomas coupling]

That article is absolute tosh! Starspeed probably hosts the countries finest ex-mil civilian pilots. As mentioned some are top of the food chain ex-mil and some are ex-ETPS. There is obviously more to this than meets the eye?

Williams "Hughes 500" is owned by a member of Pprune who frequents this site quite often. I won't divulge his 'handle' for fear of embarrassing him, but he is also a mate of Williams. It's registered to a south coast based company.

I suspect the Royal flight malarky is a political one and most certainly not a civvy Vs Mil thing! :ugh:

[Agaricus bisporus]

As the Daily Hate describes this aircraft as on a "private charter" I pose these questions.

1) How is an "N" registered aircraft engaged in a "charter" in UK?

2) Illegal operations due to registry aside how is single engine aircraft able to carry out (presumably) H24 ops commercially?

3) Why are senior Royals using singles when all recent policy seems to indicate this is not done?

The fella's kid is in line to the throne, he's in the RAF, what the f@** is the matter with using a Seaking to do the job when and as required?

pathetic.

[HeliStudent]

Well there is a William Wales holding an FAA PPL(H) so you never know..

Seems as if Daifly has done his homework.

It might not be THE William Wales but - the FAA records do show the following:

Address:

ST JAMES PALACE
LONDON SW1A 1BA

Date of Issue:

5/10/2012

So I guess he is legal to fly the 500.

It's registered to a south coast based company.

If you click on the article linked in the second post of this thread it says -

The orange McDonnell Douglas helicopter carrying William and Kate belongs to Shoreham-based Eastern Atlantic Helicopters, whose managing director Simon Oliphant-Hope is a friend of the couple.

So I don't think its like a big secret who the owner dude is.

At least the Mail finally got the colour right in their article. :)

[Jed A1]

An interesting mission. Flying a single, with your wife wife in labour in the back!

[nomorehelosforme]

I thought maroon was the preferred royal colour?

[MightyGem]

Flying a single, with your wife wife in labour in the back!
I think his wife will already be in London. It's for the "it's coming" call.

[nomorehelosforme]

Yes a national embarrassment to say the least with a *********** but surely a EC or an AW for him to rush to the birth?

[nomorehelosforme]

No haven't flown one or been a pax in one, but I'm a mere common person, surely he warrants a better form of transport ?

[Thomas coupling]

What's the matter with you lot. It has already been stated in previous newspaper reports that Will and Kate hitched a lift to London last week or thereabouts. The Hughes isn't on standby or his or a spare or anything. Simon was passing and offered them a lift - simples. Presumably, when the time comes, Will rings his mate who will fly him to London, weather permitting. What's wrong with using the venerable 500 - outstanding, robust machine.

Helistudent - what hasn't been divulged is the handle that simon uses on here. He is a very frequent poster too, and is probably having a laugh reading this.

[Thomas coupling]

He's not qualified on type.

[HeliStudent]

What are the type rating requirements for an FAA PPL(H) flying a US registered heli?

[md 600 driver]

How do know he's not rated on type. Simon was a instructor as well as a comercial pilot he could have done some FAA differences training

After all he is a very experienced pilot having flown around the world solo a few times

All I can say is go Simon

[helispeediii]

dont think faa licences are type specific, like ours, and im sure p/william would not find it hard to do a type rating, the 500 is a great machine a real pilots aircraft, you could do a lot worse than have that, in your back garden to get you to london in a hurry helispeediii

[Savoia]

Air to air helicopter aerial footage over London. on Vimeo

[Brilliant Stuff]

Very nice.:ok:

[nomorehelosforme]

Great video any idea who filmed it? I've seen that machine many times as I work adjacent to Bagshot Park where Prince Edward lives and he is quite a frequent user of this great looking machine.

[Savoia]

NMH: Filmed by Jason Hawkes who specialises in aerial photography. He has produced over 35 aerial photographic books for publishers such as the BBC, Random House and Harper Collins. His clients include brands such as Nike, HSBC, NatWest, Ford, American Airlines, Rolex, Toyota, Smirnoff, Mitsubishi and BP.

Of this little clip he mentions: "The Queen lifting from Buckingham Palace, London. Shot while we waited for permission from air traffic to start our film route."

[nomorehelosforme]

Thanks Sav, coming out of Buckingham Palace is a bit more impressive than coming out of Bagshot Park!

[Darren999]

If the prince holds a FAA PPL he can fly that 500 with no issues. As stated here the FAA doesn't require types on smaller helicopters. With a FAA PPL you can fly any single of multi engine helicopter up to 12.500 lbs.

He will surely enjoy flying that :)

[helifreddy]

The helo on the picture...is that a S-76?...and will the helo be flown from
Harry,William, Andrew and Charles?