Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

Practice interceptions of civil aircraft

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

Practice interceptions of civil aircraft

Old 3rd Nov 2009, 15:37
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: near an airport
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Practice interceptions of civil aircraft

Hi all,
The paragraphs say, practice interceptions should not be undertaken.
What are the exemptions? Aircraft with no SLF?
Under what circumstances would a practice interception of civil aircraft be possible? Thanks.
galleypower is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 15:52
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: England
Age: 35
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why would you need to practise with any plane outside the RAF?

For large aircraft interception a C130 would suffice, and for small aircraft a grob tutor would suffice. I dno't see why you'd ever need to practise on a civilian aircraft, unless it's agreed before the flight for a pilot flying from cranwell aviation school etc.
TheOptimist is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:00
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: near an airport
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree

That subject comes up quite regularly among airline pilots ;-)
Since 9/11 this is in my opinion no longer possible, unless you don't mind to be on youtube next day. But heard the other day that in France such interceptions still take place after the ok from the airliner pilot is received. But I have my doubts...Thought you guys might know the rules.
galleypower is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:06
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 1,371
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
a C130 would suffice
Like we have loads of those available ....
Wrathmonk is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:21
  #5 (permalink)  
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Peripatetic
Posts: 17,356
Received 1,565 Likes on 712 Posts
Since 9/11 this is in my opinion no longer possible
Practice interceptions of civilian aircraft has been on the list of prohibited intercepts since back in the 60/70s.
ORAC is online now  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:30
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: England
Age: 35
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You get my point though Wrathmonk, admittedly the C130 wasn't a great choice, I just happened to be reading about them at the time.
TheOptimist is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:48
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Posts: 26,795
Received 270 Likes on 109 Posts
Practice interceptions of civilian aircraft has been on the list of prohibited intercepts since back in the 60/70s
I don't think that there can be many ex-Wattisham fighter crews who haven't intercepted the 'Norwich flier' on a few occasions!

I don't think that AirUK ever complained though. But a chum and I were once flying back from Turnhoos to Norwich in an elderly AirUK F27 - only to be intercepted by an F4 from our own squadron.....

Night 'Profit' often jammed the Neatishead Fighter Controller, so a few airliners found themselves being intercepted on such occasions!
BEagle is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 16:54
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: England
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We don't do it at all. The only civvy a/c pinged are the Cobham guys.

We did intercept a few Virgin a/c after 9/11. It was sanctioned by Mr Branson & proved to be a good learning tool. Interestingly, the a/c intercepted had no passengers onboard & were being flow specifically for the training scenario.

It was quite funny watching the F3 do it's best to turn with a 747 at high altitude... Couldn't help but suspect that the Virgin crew knew exactly what they were doing. Probably ex Tonka drivers!!
Pure Pursuit is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 17:19
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: down south
Age: 77
Posts: 13,226
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
"Practice interceptions of civilian aircraft has been on the list of prohibited intercepts since back in the 60/70s"

To the best of my knowledge, embellished flight plans are still acceptable within ICAO.
Lightning Mate is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 18:52
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
aren't the flights down to MPA in a civi-registered ac? Pretty sure they get a welcoming intercept as they approach the Islands. I've certainly been up close to an a330 down there.
gashman is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 18:55
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I intercepted Concorde in the 70s

And the BA 747s enjoyed the protection going into Stanley in the early 80s
Geehovah is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 19:16
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Uranus
Posts: 958
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
You could always do an intercept on a civvy if you're doing Targets of Opportunity (TOO), just be sure to break off as soon as you VID that its a civvy and not a mil jet!!!

Oddly enough, most of the time I have done this the civvy crew haven't even noticed - too busy looking at their laptops...now that would never happen would it?

Lawmakers seek to ban laptops, other devices in cockpits after airliner incident -- chicagotribune.com

The B Word
The B Word is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 19:22
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Muscat, Oman
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ditto Geehova. Tried for a guns solution on Concorde but one burner didn't light in the turn.

Maybe not quite civvie, but the first Tornado GR formation delivered to Saudi (via noght stop in Akrotiri) came close to being shot down for real by Lightnings on alert in Cyprus against a possible Libyan attack. They apparently had embellish on their flight plan but were in desert camouflage, swing wing and had green markings - and were enjoying trying to avoid the Historic Flight QRA that went up against them. Nobody told QRA it was practise!
Ali Barber is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 19:28
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oxfordshire
Age: 92
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Contact the Jever Steam Laundry for details but in the fifties it was reported that the battle flight intercepted a Russian a/c carrying Kruschev (Armed live Hunters) and brought home cine and also a story went around of a Comet carrying HM being filmed as a "target of opportunity".

Happy days!
Mike Read is offline  
Old 3rd Nov 2009, 20:16
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Road to Nowhere
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am sure someone will quote the exact words, but whilst PIs on civil ac are 'prohibited intercepts', but the more recent phrase included the addition of "... unless part of a pre-briefed exercise".

The change was brought in following the introduction of civil ac for target facilities and EW exercises.

There was always some discussion about what was meant by 'pre-briefed', my personal interpretation (and that generally accepted in the ground at least) was that the intercept had to be arranged before flight.

Embellished status for civil ac is not in itself sufficient to make them suitable targets (in the UK ADR anyway).

I may be a couple of years out of date, so will gladly bow to anyone with more recent info.

STH

Last edited by SirToppamHat; 3rd Nov 2009 at 21:14.
SirToppamHat is offline  
Old 4th Nov 2009, 09:10
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
May have been me flying the F27 which incidentally had the handling characteristics of a supermarket trolley - ie a mind of its own. We had no autopilot's in those days - they were removed to save weight and the cost of maintainance. Flying S&L for long periods could be a bore and as most of the controllers we spoke to were Mil and they recognised some of our voices we were frequently "embellished" by Frightenings and F4s.
I remember one occasion returning to Norwich from AMS two F4s (one piloted by an old mate whose name sounded as if he were one of my siblings) sat on my wingtips as I approached Rackheath (OM RW27 NWI) at 224kts (balls out!). As was normal pax were briefed and had noses to the windows. First officer looks up from check list/paperwork etc, spots F4's and says fk me do you think those bs have seen us. F4s depart fowards in full burner circling F27 and climbing rapidly and noisily above us.
Great days - was you one of em Beags
lights to minimum is offline  
Old 4th Nov 2009, 09:47
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: down south
Age: 77
Posts: 13,226
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Geehovah,

"I intercepted Concorde in the 70s"

In what may I ask?

LM
Lightning Mate is offline  
Old 4th Nov 2009, 09:53
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hants
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"battle flight intercepted a Russian a/c carrying Kruschev (Armed live Hunters)"

My Dad was a sumpy on 71 Sqn,Sabres, at the time, a 4 ship landed asked for a very quick TR and launched to intercept Kruschev. Later in the day a note was put up thanking the lads for the quick TRs, note removed shortly after as a potential political storm was brewing!
effects is offline  
Old 4th Nov 2009, 10:00
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 80
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LM, The MOD hired Concorde from BAC (IIRC) for a supersonic intercept practice. It flew a circuit around the North Sea at M 2.0 as a target for each fighter wing in turn. It may even have been late 60s as I recall the Notam and exercise instruction but from 1970 I was overseas.

This was also the time of 'big' exercises like Lime Jug, the first Highwood, Bersatu Pardu. We had a budget for proper training.
Wader2 is offline  
Old 4th Nov 2009, 10:03
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Wilmslow and North Yorks
Age: 53
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can we still put "Embellish" on the flight plan?

I'd be happy if you guys would like to use us for the practice (Cobham Beech 200 Flight Checker)
ComJam is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.