Low Flying

[bigflyingrob]

A big thanks to the guy in the yellow Robinson who spent a happy half hour flying at 30 feet up and down the runway at London Colneylast Sunday. He managed to stop one plane taking off and another had to go round 5 times.
A big hand of applause for getting every no fly zone we have and getting us 4noise complaints as well.
I know we are near Elstree but that does NOT make us a PFL zone. We have low wing loadings so the vortex even a Robinson generates is a real hazard.
We are right next to the Mosquito museum lads so kindly !!!! off.
Last year we had a heli land in the middle of the runway and the pilot then walked off and left it there. When asked what the !!!! he was playing at he replied he "knew it was too windy for us to fly!"
If I had been on site for that one I'd have chained the tractor to it and gone home. We are a private strip guys so it means just that. PRIVATE.
Anyone that want to come in its 129.825 or ring before hand. So far every fixed wing that's come in has behaved in an exemplary fashion and the 2 helis that asked first were perfect guests. Just the Robinsons to house train now. Must be their small rotors or something
Rob

[TheGorrilla]

Nothing a good punching wouldn't solve.

There are some thick, pig ignorant, arrogant, tosspots around in aviation. Many seem to fly helicopters too.

[goflying2007]

I would well imagine given your location this would quite likely be a training flight out of Elstree and I do believe they have a yellow R22.
Maybe a phone call to Elstree (Cabair?) would be wise idea to remind them of your location, could be a new instructor on the books who is unaware of you guys.

Don't want any private fields being closed down because of other ignorant pilots.

[Monocock]

There are some thick, pig ignorant, arrogant, tosspots around in aviation. Many seem to fly helicopters too.

Blinkin' 'eck. If i'd said that Whirlybird would have come down on me from a great height. Be careful!

[BritishPPL]

That's a shame to hear, especially with all the open space around. I know your lovely location as I have a relation living at nearby Potters Bar. Indeed he has been lucky enough to fly with one of your members. I'd like to visit your strip but its too short for a PA28 - and I expect this is deliberate decision on your part !

Could the offending Robinson not use the old runways at Raydon for PFL's? I have no idea if they are in use by anyone.

Regards
BritishPPL

[RatherBeFlying]

I fly out of a heli training base and have learned to keep a sharp eye out for them, but have to say that they're quite good about announcing their intentions over the radio -- my problem is making out all the details in a complex description

A couple days ago, a Schweitzer 300 was in hover practice not that far from the approach end of the runway and upwind in the crosswind. Me, I'm thinking he's just a little guy, but the rotor downwash made for an interesting bounce and not very good second landing -- should have landed a bit longer.

[M609]

After seeing what happened to a Grob 115 departing when a Sea King departed from the paralel TWY (125m away) without clearence from TWR (me!), I am very careful when flying close to those pesky clattering devices.......
(The Grob departed in more ways then one for a couple of seconds, to put it that way.......)

[gcolyer]

I was on short finals in to Ronaldsway last year when I noticed 2 sea kings hovering over the runway about 200m from the piano keys. I was then utterly surpirsed when I was cleared to land, and even more gob smacked when I told them I was carrying out a missed approach and then told not to. After carrying out my missed approach and explaing why, it became apparent that ATC did not realise the Sea Kings where on the runway.

You gotta watch the olive drap helicopters!!!

[foxmoth]

I told them I was carrying out a missed approach and then told not to.

I don't think ATC can stop you doing a missed approach and I am surprised they told you not to, I might have expected to explain why afterwards, but the reason you had was reasonable and I am pleased to see you did not go with them telling you not to G.A.

[gcolyer]

At the end of the day no matter what the situation PIC has the last say. it is better to still be alive to argue the toss latter.

[Whirlybird]

Blinkin' 'eck. If i'd said that Whirlybird would have come down on me from a great height. Be careful!

Whirly has been flying all over the country in an R44 all day, and is far too tired to find out what all this is about, let alone come down on anyone from a great height.

But just wait till tomorrow.........

[A and C]

Its' a helicopter thing !

This is typical of the heilcopter mentality, last week a heilcopter turned up on a private strip that I know and hovered above the runway, the result was a fixed wing had to go around.

The fixed wing then made an aproach to the other runway and................... yes you have guessed it the helicopter moved to that runway and another go around resulted.

It is quite clear that the helicopter pilot had no idea that there was another aircraft trying to land.

The next helicopter that lands without permision or good reason will have a big chain put around the rotor head and be charged £500 a day parking, the chain will not be removed untill the fee is paid in cash.

[False Capture]

.... and be charged £500 a day ...

Initially I thought that sounded excessive but then I thought about the hourly flying rate for a helicopter.

[TeeS]

I'm sorry A and C, I didn't realise that all fixed/flex wing pilots felt that way about all helicopter pilots! I am surprised non of them ever mentioned it as they were being cut out of the wreckage, loaded onto the helo and flown to hospital!
TeeS

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

We don't all hate all HELO jockeys. It is perhaps unfortunate, though, that such a significant proportion of k**b-ends seem to join the rotary community.

[A and C]

£ 500 a day ....... Cheap

If you get a car towed away because it is parked on private land it will cost about £375 to £450.

On this basis £500 seems cheap, perhaps we should charge more?

[strake]

Whist the original poster has every right to complain about the helicopter at his airfield, I think some of the following comments have more than a sniff of
"there I was..." b******t about them.
I have been flying light a/c for 24 years and I have never once thought that helicopter pilots were any better or worse than the rest of us in the private flying community.
With all the threats to our sport/hobby, the last thing we need is some idiot elitism/machineism rubbish being spouted.

[Dysonsphere]

maybe some of them forget us fixed wing types like long clear straight bits to land on

[J.A.F.O.]

I have been flying light a/c for 24 years and I have never once thought that helicopter pilots were any better or worse than the rest of us in the private flying community.
With all the threats to our sport/hobby, the last thing we need is some idiot elitism/machineism rubbish being spouted.

Hear, hear Strake. It's absolute tosh to say that helicopter pilots are idiots but fixed wing pilots must be in the right.

Live and let live chaps. If it's dangerous then tell them then and there - they may not realise - if not then shut up whining.

You'll find helicopters hovering in places for ages because helicopters are for people who like to fly but have nowhere to go.

[scooter boy]

A little more tolerance

Nothing a good punching wouldn't solve.

There are some thick, pig ignorant, arrogant, tosspots around in aviation. Many seem to fly helicopters too.

Oh dear! Planks and Egg Whisks again!
Gorilla, your attitude would seem to be based entirely on ignorance.
I bet you don't have a helicopter license - ever flown in one?
It really is a totally different ball game compared to fixed wing.

The right thing to do here would be to speak to the pilot/school in question and point out better places for them to practice hovering.
Getting all aggressive doesn't help anybody.

SB