It's not a rumour but a fact.

We were the first aircraft in to Ankara Akinsi.

The following day, as we were preparing to depart for Incirlik, we were amazed to see the Staish's Albert overfly us inbound to Ankara International!

Oh how we laughed...

" Hope you weren't at 200' otherwise you deserved to be on the end of a boll*cking for busting min height at night."

To quote Bing Crosby in "High Society", you must be one of the newer fellows.
In the 70's, MOA was 200' day, night, IMC, whatever.

Unless the memory is deceiving me. What were we talking about?

In the 70's I was still in junior school lol :ok: (if you really want to feel old, even I've retired from the RAF now).

A couple of incidents re aircraft captains.


Mid-50s, flying from Fayid to Nairobi, the skipper called Nairobi and told them, 'Field in sight.'
'Roger, continue.' (Pause) 'Rafair M****, check your position.'
(Longer pause!) 'Rafair M**, with you shortly' . . as we altered course from Nairobi West to Nairobi International.


Different squadron, carrying a (fairly)SO, the skipper told the crew that the SO was to be addressed as the Captain and informed by crew members of any actions being taken. A while later . . . .
'Signaller to Captain . . .'
'Go ahead, Signaller'
'Signaller to Captain. I am just about to open my meal box and eat a cheese sandwich.'


Well, they seemed funny to me at the time.

In the civil world, the Air Navigation Order says (or did, I've been retired a while) "Nothing in this Order precludes the captain carrying out any actions he/she considers necessary for the safety of the aircraft, passengers and crew". That was carte blanche, but you'd better be able to justify it. Total authority, but that meant total responsibility.

At the height of The Persian Gulf War I was tasked into Riyadh International to pick up a certain General and entourage and take him to the UK. The Americans in charge of ATC said that I did not have authority to land. We orbited with missiles pointed at us for 1/2 hr before I persuaded them to let us land. I taxied to the Royal Pavilion and closed down. An American Colonel leapt on board and said, 'what are you doing here your passengers are at Riyadh Military'. I very calmly asked the Nav for the tasking file and then burst out laughing in relief - a tasking c*ck up. The Col couldn't understand my reaction, apparently I was supposed to be devastated. 'OK how long to re-fuel, file a flight plan and get over to the Military airfield' - '2 hrs'. 'How long for him to drive over here' - '1/2 hr'. 'Get him a car please'.