Airmanship, today at Lydd. (Lack of)

[basil faulty]

Today, I had the mispleasure of flying from Lydd, the level of airmanship was absaloutly appalling. From the long eze flying the wrong way round the circuit to the idiot in a Saratoga not listening out, even the visiting police helicopter flown by so called professionals clearly had the radio turned down.
come on guys and girls we can do better. As a 16,000 hour FI and commercial pilot I was emabarresed to be a licence holder.
To add to the pain the airport have no avgas until Tuesday/Wednesday, the airport management need a rocket up thier backsides for that one, if the company I work for have to transit for fuel I do hope they send them a huge bill.

Its not difficult, if you haven’t flown for a while, even if you are legally current, go and do some flying with a decent FI, if you are new to an airfield, get a brief from a local pilot, don’t just jump in and hope for the best. The worst culprits were 2 high performance a/c that need to be flown with high levels of competence and airmanship, if you can’t cope, sell them and give up.

Well done to the controller for keeping everybody apart.

There could so easily been some people not at home tonight enjoying a glass of wine because of absolute stupidity.... I hope I never see it this bad again!

Standards have clearly slipped in the 30years since I started.

[Right Hand Thread]

Oooooh, this’ll be good.

[dont overfil]

Ditto 400 miles away. Must be a full moon.
four separate incidents.

[patowalker]

i agree standards are falling. It should be 'Airmanship (lack of) at Lydd today. :)

[Cows getting bigger]

I blame SkyDemon (other products are available). :ouch:

[ShyTorque]

Fine weather often brings out the Muppet Show, especially after a period of poor flying conditions.

[NorthSouth]

Ditto 400 miles away. Must be a full moon.
four separate incidents.

Oh do tell

[Flyingmac]

I was accused of pedantry the other day after having words with a pilot for flying a circuit making position reports to the reciprocal. Two other aircraft making the correct calls. His words were "You all knew what I meant".
This from a guy who habitually announces he's backtracking to the hold when in fact he's on the taxyway. He's by no means unique.

[Sam Rutherford]

position reports to the reciprocal

Eh??

[runway30]

position reports to the reciprocal

Eh??

”You all knew what I meant”

[Genghis the Engineer]

I haven't been to Lydd for years. What's the food like there these days?

G

[Sam Rutherford]

When I was there yesterday with my Saratoga...

:)

[ivorPhillips]

Sunday has a carvery with all the usual trimmings, well worth having, the rest of the week the usual cafe fare
but quite eatable, :)

[Sam Rutherford]

Sounds as if the circuit was something of a carvery yesterday!

[ivorPhillips]

The circuit hasn’t changed in the 20 years i have been going there so it’s down to P!ss poor planning on the visiting pilots,
ATC are excellent but cannot help with pilots that haven’t read the AIP and should know better IMO

[meleagertoo]

Perhaps there's something funny in the water at Lydd.

I tried to do a "B" rating there many years ago and the Seneca lost it's brake fluid overnight. Almost total brake failure - maybe 5% left. Unwilling to delay by finding some on a Sunday the "instructor" opined that as we were only doing touch and goes we didn't need the brakes!
I kid you not!

[Flyingmac]

position reports to the reciprocal

Eh??

Like 'Downwind 27' when he's downwind for 09. No point you playing dumb. I know full well you're not.

[Sam Rutherford]

I'll bank the 'not dumb' (thank you). Unfortunately though I hadn't understood your description. It's now clear.

I can understand getting it wrong (it happens). Curious though that it was defended - an apology might have been more appropriate.