Runway arresting gear
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Asgard
Posts: 488
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Being an ATCO cadet at Bedford, it was my task to do the airfield inspection every morning before flying commenced. This included checking the barriers, by the simple method of calling the EFCA on the vheicle R/T and getting him to raise then lower the one under scrutiny (maybe one day I will recount the tale of how dear old George nearly got me killed, but I digress). Everything checked out very well, and the day progressed. Fast forward to some time in the afternoon when yours truly was doing some aerodrome control training, when a Hunter landed. Out popped the chute, which promptly did not develop...."Barrier, barrier" was called and with great aplomb I hit the switch, seeing the masts supporting the netting going up. All a bit superfluous, since the runway was immensely long. Hunter down to a walking pace vacates at the end of the main drag, and the pilot said "you'll need to sort out your barrier". "Looks like it's raised" said I. "Yes, the masts have gone up, but they've left the netting on the ground" He said. Spanish inquisition time later on....was I sure the barrier was alright on the airfield inspection? Could anyone verify it? Eisch.
Paxing All Over The World
The govt of the day say they want to inculcate 'British Values'. All they need to teach:
Winkle apparently said 'oh how annoying' ...
