I shall divorce her.....

[S-Works]

skyviews. Your comments are well made but I am still not sure I would agree that single pilot photo work is safe.

I have friends who are multi thousand hour ariel photo work guys and they always work 2 crew as they believe that a pilot taking photographs does not have sufficient situational awareness to be safe.

[skyviews]

bose-x

I started with a photographer and had the same opinion as many posts here, it wasnt safe!

However after 3 mobths of going round in left hand orbits ask yourself this question,

How mind numbingly boring does it get when the aircraft is trimmed and effectively flys itself?

Yes you have temps etc to monitor but it doesnt stop you from becoming relaxed or when youve not had any traffic passed to you by the FIS.

Ive worked a military service before without a single transmission for over an hour, plus there are two of you so a false sense of security can occur where two eyes are better than one!

But single crew your workload is so high you never have time to relax your edge is constantly there, temps/pressures/carb/photo/lookout.

The best method I have found for the military aspect is to call the local FIS provider on entering an area, inform them that you are in the area and if unable to keep two way radio that you will call ops normal hourly. This works very well, often i can here the station inform me of traffic but unable to reply.

Wales is a great place to work I have a beautiful shot of a hawk 100ft below me near valley.

Incidently Last year I had an encounter that was far to close for my liking ( wake turbulance expeirenced by two f-16's passing apx 15-30.ft under me) And guess what I was recieving a FIS.

See and avoid boys see and avoid!!

[IO540]

That's because an FIS is essentially worthless. Take London Info; most of the people that talk to them are PPL students with instructors, PPL students flying solo, new PPL holders who were taught to call up everybody en-route, people going abroad chatting about flight plans. I reckon at least 90% of the traffic doesn't talk to them; if they did the service would collapse.

[Final 3 Greens]

IO

I think that you are being a little unfair.

Sure, the FIS experience is a little variable, but if you are in a AIAA and taking it from the mil or local vis, its far better that your description of London Info, although I agree that the latter has its issues!

[Right Stuff]

So, skyviews, let me get this straight - you're making a strong case for single pilot ops and then admitting you've had two very near misses with fast jets.

I think you've unwittingly settled this one for us!

[witchdoctor]

Are you sure it was that close and not just because you were peering at them through a telephoto lens?

[skyviews]

NO thats not what i was doing.

I happened to be to crew at the time and getting FIS BLAH BLAH
and I still had a close encounter.

My arguement is there is little to be gained (IN MY OPINION) by two crew and the only time I have had an issue with this is when i was two crewing and thats in 2 1/2 years.

I trust myself and myself only when Im up there no matter who im flying with.

Regards

[Sliding member]

I think Skyviews, that you have to remeber that FIS is purely info only, if you call them up (most LARS stations)and ask for that they often aren't intrested in you, often all you get is the regional and maybe a squark code. I normally find its upto me to maintain listening watch and interperate where potential conflicts may be. Expecting to be told of every conflict is a bit much to ask.
It doesn't fill me with confidence to think A/C are flying around with the pilot looking down a 'photo lens.