What would you do about this idiot?
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What would you do about this idiot?
Big Hilly had a strange experience yesterday! Was driving up the M40 yesterday afternoon at 13:20 when I spotted an aircraft in my rear-view mirror!
This aircraft (a D.62B Condor – shan’t divulge the Reg at this point) was flying up the middle of the left hand carriageway at a height of not more than 200ft! He flew over the top of us and continued flying up the motorway at this height for about 3 miles and then turned right onto an easterly heading and disappeared off into the distance.
Now, I’ve seen some bloody silly stunts in my time but this takes the biscuit! Aside from the obvious distraction that he caused to the motorists (traffic on the southbound carriageway was visibly slowing down to take a look) it’s really the sort of thing that UK GA could well so without at this point in time.
To counter any possible questions – no, he wasn’t landing or taking off and yes he most definitely was ABSOLUTELY NO MORE than 200ft and yes the cloud base was a good 2000ft above him.
I have to say that when I saw it, it made me bloody furious and my blood is still boiling but, my question is this; what should I do about it? As I see it there are 3 options:
1. Do Nothing
2. Report Him to the CAA
3. I’ve obtained his home address from G-INFO – so maybe drop him a line and point out the error of his ways
What do you think fellow PPRuNers? Am I over-reacting or is this the sort of lunacy that if allowed to go unchecked has the potential to bring a whole heap of trouble and bad press at a time when GA is already under enough pressure?
BH
This aircraft (a D.62B Condor – shan’t divulge the Reg at this point) was flying up the middle of the left hand carriageway at a height of not more than 200ft! He flew over the top of us and continued flying up the motorway at this height for about 3 miles and then turned right onto an easterly heading and disappeared off into the distance.
Now, I’ve seen some bloody silly stunts in my time but this takes the biscuit! Aside from the obvious distraction that he caused to the motorists (traffic on the southbound carriageway was visibly slowing down to take a look) it’s really the sort of thing that UK GA could well so without at this point in time.
To counter any possible questions – no, he wasn’t landing or taking off and yes he most definitely was ABSOLUTELY NO MORE than 200ft and yes the cloud base was a good 2000ft above him.
I have to say that when I saw it, it made me bloody furious and my blood is still boiling but, my question is this; what should I do about it? As I see it there are 3 options:
1. Do Nothing
2. Report Him to the CAA
3. I’ve obtained his home address from G-INFO – so maybe drop him a line and point out the error of his ways
What do you think fellow PPRuNers? Am I over-reacting or is this the sort of lunacy that if allowed to go unchecked has the potential to bring a whole heap of trouble and bad press at a time when GA is already under enough pressure?
BH
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There maybe another side to this. I would hate to jumped on by the CAA if I made an mistake or had a technical problem rather than deliberately breaking the rules. However, it is the CAA's job to investigate and come to a judgement. If however he/she was being truely reckless then again it is for the CAA to deal with.
Just my view,
HWD.
Just my view,
HWD.
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BH
I guess if you are absolutely sure there was no farmstrip there and the aeroplane wasnt Landing/Taking off, and you feel so strongly about it then I suggest contacting the guy and ask him about it. As for getting the authorities involved, do you really want to go down that route? That may well publicise the incident, not something you (or any of us) would want. And if he had a legit reason, think if it was you that someone had dobbed in.......
Regards, SD..
Just had a silly thought....maybe he was lost and trying IFR...you know, I Follow Roads&Railways, and was checking out a roadsign.
I guess if you are absolutely sure there was no farmstrip there and the aeroplane wasnt Landing/Taking off, and you feel so strongly about it then I suggest contacting the guy and ask him about it. As for getting the authorities involved, do you really want to go down that route? That may well publicise the incident, not something you (or any of us) would want. And if he had a legit reason, think if it was you that someone had dobbed in.......
Regards, SD..
Just had a silly thought....maybe he was lost and trying IFR...you know, I Follow Roads&Railways, and was checking out a roadsign.
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Surely your only option is to report him. I agree it is for the CAA to decide whether he was at fault, and if he wasn't then your conscience is clear. If he was being a reckless idiot then, it can't be allowed to happen again, it tars the rep of responsible pilots, and more importantly that sort of behaviour costs lives. Although I can't see any legit reason why he would be at that height for over 3 miles, if he was suffering from a tech prob with his a/c then he should've been looking for an area suitable to land i.e a field not a busy motorway.
It's easy giving the advice but only you can make the choice.
It's easy giving the advice but only you can make the choice.
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skydriller & HWD,
I am convinced that it was nothing more than a stupid stunt. If he had a technical problem the last place I would imagine he'd want to be would be directly overhead a busy motorway (when there are plenty of green field either side which don't have bleedin big trucks and cars wizzing along them) and if he were lost, I would hope that he would keep to the right of the motorway to read the signs!
Even if there were a farm strip nearby, why on earth would he have followed the road for about 3 miles at that height and then headed off East?
BH
I am convinced that it was nothing more than a stupid stunt. If he had a technical problem the last place I would imagine he'd want to be would be directly overhead a busy motorway (when there are plenty of green field either side which don't have bleedin big trucks and cars wizzing along them) and if he were lost, I would hope that he would keep to the right of the motorway to read the signs!
Even if there were a farm strip nearby, why on earth would he have followed the road for about 3 miles at that height and then headed off East?
BH
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You that sure of your height judgement skills when driving along a motorway...
He says 500 feet, you say 200, who's to say which one of you is correct...
Did you note the registration numbers of any drivers who sped past you at 75mph as well, and when are you reporting them?
He says 500 feet, you say 200, who's to say which one of you is correct...
Did you note the registration numbers of any drivers who sped past you at 75mph as well, and when are you reporting them?
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Scottish PPL
We have speed cameras and police cars to do that for us - and there is less of a case of community awarness. There are cases of members of the public reporting speeding vehicles on motorways so its not as fair fetched as you may think!
Biggy Hill
As others have said, its a difficult one, and its up to you. If you are passionate/worried about it then I think to do nothing is wrong. I think the quick note to the owner is the simplist way. This would let him/her know that they were spotted, and you were worried about the situation, and hopefully they will not do it again - but it should mean no unwanted extra publicity from the authorities.
Happy flying
FW
We have speed cameras and police cars to do that for us - and there is less of a case of community awarness. There are cases of members of the public reporting speeding vehicles on motorways so its not as fair fetched as you may think!
Biggy Hill
As others have said, its a difficult one, and its up to you. If you are passionate/worried about it then I think to do nothing is wrong. I think the quick note to the owner is the simplist way. This would let him/her know that they were spotted, and you were worried about the situation, and hopefully they will not do it again - but it should mean no unwanted extra publicity from the authorities.
Happy flying
FW
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Personally, I'd leave it at having a quiet word with the pilot.
I once had a malicious low-flying complaint made against me by someone who gave a false name and address. I was accused of being below 50 feet AGL when I went over some poplar trees!
The case was rapidly thrown out when a phone call back revealed that the householder at that address had been on holiday at the time and knew nothing about it.
I was told that such complaints usually come down to the pilot being asked "What height did your altimeter show?" and the complainant "How did you determine the height of the aircraft?"
The complainant is then asked to state the height of a few aircraft as they pass by, and the case collapses.
I once had a malicious low-flying complaint made against me by someone who gave a false name and address. I was accused of being below 50 feet AGL when I went over some poplar trees!
The case was rapidly thrown out when a phone call back revealed that the householder at that address had been on holiday at the time and knew nothing about it.
I was told that such complaints usually come down to the pilot being asked "What height did your altimeter show?" and the complainant "How did you determine the height of the aircraft?"
The complainant is then asked to state the height of a few aircraft as they pass by, and the case collapses.
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My first thought upon reading BH's opening post on the thread was - thank goodness I was welding pointy bits on my fuselage yesterday at ths said hour.
BH - I put it to you that you don't know what height he was at - you don't know what he was doing and you don't know why he was there. You were chugging along the m'way and he was flying, perhaps a touch of envy.
If I were you I'd forget all about it.
"it made me bloody furious and my blood is still boiling"
Take a chill pill, chum - I'd rather not share the road far less the sky with someone who is so easily wound up, especially when they are NOT in possession of all the facts.
Stik
BH - I put it to you that you don't know what height he was at - you don't know what he was doing and you don't know why he was there. You were chugging along the m'way and he was flying, perhaps a touch of envy.
If I were you I'd forget all about it.
"it made me bloody furious and my blood is still boiling"
Take a chill pill, chum - I'd rather not share the road far less the sky with someone who is so easily wound up, especially when they are NOT in possession of all the facts.
Stik
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Easy,
If you've managed to trace him/her ... write him/her a polite letter and ask for an explaination by reply. Let that reply (or if no reply) decide your next action.
SS
If you've managed to trace him/her ... write him/her a polite letter and ask for an explaination by reply. Let that reply (or if no reply) decide your next action.
SS
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For crying out loud BH, relax!
Are you qualified to judge the difference between 200 ft and 500 ft whilst responsibly driving your car on a motorway?
If so, can you prove this to the CAA?
You say it made you "bloody furious". Were you involved in an accident because of this a/c? If not what was it that made you "bloody furious"?
You ask your fellow PPRuNer's if you are over reacting.
My answer is yes, you are.
I suggest you join the Pink Thread.
Are you qualified to judge the difference between 200 ft and 500 ft whilst responsibly driving your car on a motorway?
If so, can you prove this to the CAA?
You say it made you "bloody furious". Were you involved in an accident because of this a/c? If not what was it that made you "bloody furious"?
You ask your fellow PPRuNer's if you are over reacting.
My answer is yes, you are.
I suggest you join the Pink Thread.
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I'm amazed you're so wound up about this. Chill - let it go - there are far, far worse things going on every day to get your teeth into into if you feel the need to take action against someone.
SSD
SSD
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OK, thanks for the advice guys, I may just have a gentle word with the person in question and leave it at that.
Now, another poser for you all:
A chum of mine who works for a FTO received the following email this week:
I have been advised to remove the email for legal reasons
I suspect that it’s been sent to a number of organisations and I think that a copy has now been passed to SB but I mentioned to him that I would run it past people on here to see if anyone had any further suggestions.
BH
Now, another poser for you all:
A chum of mine who works for a FTO received the following email this week:
I have been advised to remove the email for legal reasons
I suspect that it’s been sent to a number of organisations and I think that a copy has now been passed to SB but I mentioned to him that I would run it past people on here to see if anyone had any further suggestions.
BH
Last edited by Big Hilly; 28th Mar 2004 at 22:15.
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Monocock,
That is precisely my point. This email was received by the FTO in question on the 26th and as I said, Special Branch have been informed, however, I’m fairly sure that this had been sent to a number of organisations and we need to be aware of it.
BH
That is precisely my point. This email was received by the FTO in question on the 26th and as I said, Special Branch have been informed, however, I’m fairly sure that this had been sent to a number of organisations and we need to be aware of it.
BH
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If I know an illegal way to pass or easy way to pass, I will do or accept any offer to get rid of these exams.
As to the offer itself, you treat it as I treated the guy who took me out to dinner in Kosovo so as to ask me to fix a work permit for his cousin.