Landing on beaches
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
Below the high tide mark is legally crown property - I've never yet seen a ruling from HMQ that says you can't, nor ever had a complaint on the occasions when I have landed on a beach. (That said, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything saying I can either!).
A word of warning however, get the aircraft properly hosed off with clean water asap afterwards, especially the wheel/brake/undercarriage assembly.
If on the other hand it's a licenced airfield (Barra for example), or an unlicensed strip (such as Pilling sands) just follow the published local procedures as you would for any other airfield. Both of those should be in your neck of the woods and are just about big enough to land a 737 on - if you can't find anything published on Pilling, look up the local microlight clubs who use it for training (it's a great place to do a PFL!).
On the practical side, the sort of shallow ridges you get below the HT mark on a dry beach can disrupt ground effect and make your flare and landing a little abrupt, and aiming points for your landing can be hard to maintain, as can any realistic judgement of how much beach you've got left. But it is tremendous fun.
G
A word of warning however, get the aircraft properly hosed off with clean water asap afterwards, especially the wheel/brake/undercarriage assembly.
If on the other hand it's a licenced airfield (Barra for example), or an unlicensed strip (such as Pilling sands) just follow the published local procedures as you would for any other airfield. Both of those should be in your neck of the woods and are just about big enough to land a 737 on - if you can't find anything published on Pilling, look up the local microlight clubs who use it for training (it's a great place to do a PFL!).
On the practical side, the sort of shallow ridges you get below the HT mark on a dry beach can disrupt ground effect and make your flare and landing a little abrupt, and aiming points for your landing can be hard to maintain, as can any realistic judgement of how much beach you've got left. But it is tremendous fun.
G
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Dorset
CBLintonAnd you did it very well, too, if the pictures are to be believed!! 
There are a number of beach threads (of which this is one) - IIUC, you have to ensure that you get PPR from the owner, research the tidal state and the condition of the ground then just do it!
Good point from GtE regarding ownership below the HWM.
[Edited to note concurrent posting with Geng the Eng]
There are a number of beach threads (of which this is one) - IIUC, you have to ensure that you get PPR from the owner, research the tidal state and the condition of the ground then just do it!
Good point from GtE regarding ownership below the HWM.
[Edited to note concurrent posting with Geng the Eng]
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: the north
Re below the tide marks. Some councils reckon they hold sway over this - In Sefton North of Liverpool the Rangers get very snotty as they say that laws etc exist to stop use. They also stop hovercraft and kite/sail yachting.
Also sites such near Nuclear power stations are NO GO now as I presume the concrete might be brittle and break if a light a/c or microlight bumped into it.
Also sites such near Nuclear power stations are NO GO now as I presume the concrete might be brittle and break if a light a/c or microlight bumped into it.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Dorset
Treadigraph cblinton is a man of some repute on this forum (and in Shoreham!). The thread covering his award from the CAA for his actions following a con rod failure in a Bonanza departing Shoreham has been here and the oriignal thread on the incident was here, also a picture is below
. Hence all the banter about beach landings!
. Hence all the banter about beach landings!
