Pilot fined for landing at a closed RAF Valley

[Waltzer]

‘Clever’ guy giving GA a bad name.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9168267/Millionaire-fined-landing-private-plane-RAF-base-without-permission-enjoy-day-beach.html

[Thirsty]

Fine is petty change. Didn't even bother turning up for his hearing. Maybe a long term affected Covid sufferer?

[CherokeePete]

Should have had his UK licence pulled. Arrogant SOB. Total prat.

[S-Works]

Not jumping to defend the pilot and am not a fan of internet Lynch mobs reading the article in full is a bit more revealing and highlights the differences between the UK and North American flying. North America everything is open and available whereas we demand permission for everything. The pilot had only recently moved to the UK from Canada so I can see how his expectations may have been different. Probably should have invested in some quality time with an experienced Instructor to show him the ropes.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Not jumping to defend the pilot and am not a fan of internet Lynch mobs reading the article in full is a bit more revealing and highlights the differences between the UK and North American flying. North America everything is open and available whereas we demand permission for everything. The pilot had only recently moved to the UK from Canada so I can see how his expectations may have been different. Probably should have invested in some quality time with an experienced Instructor to show him the ropes.
In my reasonable experience of flying in North America (Transport Canada piggyback PPL, standalone FAA CPL), I don't recall anybody ever suggesting either that you fly without checking NOTAMs, nor that your experience of turning up at a military air base without permission was likely to end well.

G

[Waltzer]

Can you land at a closed military airbase in America or Canada then? Serious question.
I haven’t flown over there in years.

[Jhieminga]

Not when I was there...

Edit: You can, but you need to get PPR 30 days in advance, acknowledged 24 hours before and you need a "good reason".

[CherokeePete]

Not jumping to defend the pilot...
Yes you were, however you are misguided to do so.

At the time, as everyone knows, Wales was in complete lockdown so even if we disregard his total ignorance of "pilotage" like we were taught, he knew he couldn't land in Wales from England.

He's a typical bell-end and the CAA have been proven once again to either be toothless or spineless when people flagrantly, deliberately break the rules.

Pull his UK licence and all the piggybacks fall off too.

[Booglebox]

Pull his UK licence and all the piggybacks fall off too.
This guy is US / Canadian licensed with a UK piggyback, I think. The CAA would need to ask the Feds to pull it, not sure how that works.
Getting off lightly is putting it mildly. If he had tried this stunt in the US I imagine he would be wearing an orange jumpsuit for quite a while.

[Non Linear Gear]

Not jumping to defend the pilot and am not a fan of internet Lynch mobs reading the article in full is a bit more revealing and highlights the differences between the UK and North American flying. North America everything is open and available whereas we demand permission for everything. The pilot had only recently moved to the UK from Canada so I can see how his expectations may have been different. Probably should have invested in some quality time with an experienced Instructor to show him the ropes.

If you move somewhere else, you live by their rules. He broke the air navigation rules of this country. He also disregarded Coronavirus laws as mentioned.

[S-Works]

If you move somewhere else, you live by their rules. He broke the air navigation rules of this country. He also disregarded Coronavirus laws as mentioned.

Read what I said...... I was t defending anyone, just observing that I read the article and making a comparison between the US and U.K.........

Why are people always looking for a fight. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone......

[megan]

highlights the differences between the UK and North American flying. North America everything is open and available whereas we demand permission for everythingYou'll get in a heap of trouble if you try as a civilian going into a US military base without prior approval, same as what happened here at Valley, no differences whatsoever. You don't want to try it in Oz either.

[CherokeePete]

You'll get in a heap of trouble if you try as a civilian going into a US military base without prior approval, same as what happened here at Valley, no differences whatsoever.
In the US the "pilot" would have been treated as the criminal he was for landing unauthorised at a Military base, for departing again with no clearance and no permission, *and* for breaking the lockdown rules: Here he has been treated like the victim. Shouldn't be allowed near the controls of an aircraft again. Who knows what other rules don't apply to this entitled prat?

[KelvinD]

The question has to be asked "What were the RAF doing?" According to the article, the culprit was told he would have to stay at Valley overnight so ATC would be back at work and he could clear legitimately. So he got back in his plane and left anyway. How was he allowed to do that? Aren't the RAF police able to arrest someone who has trespassed onto their airfield?

[Pilot DAR]

Can you land at a closed military airbase in America or Canada then? Serious question

You can only land on a "closed" runway in a serious emergency in Canada. The runway may be closed by "X's", or Notam, your responsibility to know. Military bases, and private property runways require the owner's permission in advance - for military, 24 hours in advance, and hard to get. Private runway operators are usually more forgiving, though I do see a few private runways which are "X'd", so the intent is clear. There are a few private "company" owned airports, where prior permission is required, and rarely given - Bombardier's "Downsview" Airport in central Toronto is one. When I worked there, I did obtain permission to fly to work, but it was a big deal.

There is a private ski resort airport in the western US, which is very serious about do not land on our privately owned runway. I have read a number of news stories over the years, where a ski happy private pilot lands in anyway (probably with the: It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission approach), and is told that the plane will not be taking off - ever. I have read about planes being trucked out with the wings removed - a very strong message! But, it's private property, and well identified as such.

From what I read in the news article, I would not rush to defend the pilot, It seems his choices showed disrespect on several levels. He was lucky to be allowed to fly the plane out.

[CherokeePete]

He was lucky to be allowed to fly the plane out.
He was not "allowed" he disregarded the instruction to wait until 0800 next day when airfield manned and ATC available. Like a thief in the night he just "buggered off". Maybe HMRC should take a look at the chap for a giggle.

[flash8]

Prosecutor Elizabeth Dudley-Jones said Wood landed at the base - where Prince William was based with his RAF Sea King team - on a Bank Holiday Monday despite not having permission from the controllers in the tower.I had to re-read that, and he got away with just a fine? wtf?

Magistrates chair Alastair Langdon said: 'These were very serious offences.If he were one of the great unwashed and trespassed I'd have no doubt they'd not take such a lenient view.

[fitliker]

Call sign would indicate some medical connection as most of the tails ending in MD are usually owned by Doctors .

[CherokeePete]

most of the tails ending in MD are usually owned by Doctors .
It's a good guess, certainly fits the God complex stereotype.

[OvertHawk]

Call sign would indicate some medical connection as most of the tails ending in MD are usually owned by Doctors .

I understand that registration was affixed to the aircraft when this individual purchased it and therefore that's unlikely to be true.

[mikehallam]

My Goodness,
Leave the bloke be, he's already taken his punishment,
Covid grounding (?) has apparently made some upright never did wrong posters go into 'vindictive mood'.

[CherokeePete]

My Goodness,
Leave the bloke be, he's already taken his punishment...
4K to a bloke with a PC12 and a million in the bank is like 20p fine for the average UK, locked-down, probably furloughed, possibly redundant punter. Like the 10K fines issues to so-called celebs for busting the max6 rules at parties, this is just an inconvenient "take-the-piss" tax. Probably saved 4K when he didn't bother even going to the hearing!

Punishment should be scaled so it impacts wealthy PC12 owners *at least* as much as the skint bloke with a 1985 Cavalier for transport. Probably more so, as they *should* know better.

This is the sort of cockwomble that posts memes about Dominic Cummings and Barnard Castle, then wonders why they're [PC12 nob] despised.

[scifi]

Cut the guy some slack, this is sleepy old rural Anglesey, not Moscow. . .
.

[Pilot DAR]

Cut the guy some slack,

Maybe some slack if the pilot were compelled to land. This event sounded elective, and of low importance to be disrespecting permissions.

[TheOddOne]

Perhaps the Enforcement Branch are running scared from the recent witch hunt in a popular UK flying magazine.
It's a case of 'Damned if they do, Damned if they don't'. I bet some of those here and elsewhere looking for tougher action in this case are the same people complaining when people get taken to task over infringements and the like.

TOO

[Fl1ingfrog]

The CAA cannot punish, that is the role of the courts. This chap has been found guilty in court and punished. Magistrates cannot punish as it takes them on the day, the range of punishments is prescribed. To quote Gilbert and Sullivan: "Let the punishment fit the crime".

Should this individual continue to act in the way he did then the CAA does have a means to act directly, the "fitness to hold the licence" legislation with regard only to his UK licence. He told the court that he now holds a UK licence. Regarding the FAA licence then the facts can be reported to them by the CAA. It is then up to the FAA to take action as it see fit.