Landing in a friends field
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Landing in a friends field
A friend of mine has invited me to land my aircraft in his grassed private field.
There are no airspace restrictions in the area and the field looked ok when I walked it a few months ago.
Do you I need to seek permission from anyone else and/or should I advise anyone if I intend to land there?
Any other advice greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
TSM
There are no airspace restrictions in the area and the field looked ok when I walked it a few months ago.
Do you I need to seek permission from anyone else and/or should I advise anyone if I intend to land there?
Any other advice greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
TSM
Join Date: Aug 2000
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If I informed plod-u-like everytime I landed in a field, he'd be on my friends and family discount list!
You only need the permission of the landowner - you are not obliged to do anything else, let's not create further burden for ourselves or anyone else.
Stik
You only need the permission of the landowner - you are not obliged to do anything else, let's not create further burden for ourselves or anyone else.
Stik
Red On, Green On
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I read somewhere that you should also inform the local police of your intentions.
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As far as I am aware the rules for you are no different to a helicopter, and we do it all the time with the landowners permission. Any land is ok as long as you obey the 500 ft prior to your landing, 1000 ft at all times and no circuits.
If the land is not within the residential curtilege of the house (i.e. it's a field/paddock rather than a large garden) you have a limit of 28 movements in a year, otherwise you can run into issues over change of use and planning.
Obviously wires etc., all need to be surveyed but it sounds like you are on top of that.
You might want to consult your insurers just in case there are any restrictions on planned landings on unprepared fields - I'm not familiar with fixed wing policies, but it would seem like the kind of limitation of liability that a sharp insurer might insert, and there will be more risk going where others may not have gone before!
The only likely problem otherwise is if you are hurtling 100ft over someone's roof on the landing run: legal, but can make you *very* unpopular and attracts unwanted phone calls!
BW
If the land is not within the residential curtilege of the house (i.e. it's a field/paddock rather than a large garden) you have a limit of 28 movements in a year, otherwise you can run into issues over change of use and planning.
Obviously wires etc., all need to be surveyed but it sounds like you are on top of that.
You might want to consult your insurers just in case there are any restrictions on planned landings on unprepared fields - I'm not familiar with fixed wing policies, but it would seem like the kind of limitation of liability that a sharp insurer might insert, and there will be more risk going where others may not have gone before!
The only likely problem otherwise is if you are hurtling 100ft over someone's roof on the landing run: legal, but can make you *very* unpopular and attracts unwanted phone calls!
BW
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If he says he's planning to land there and has permission from the land owner, it's legal and therefore one would imagine designated. Licensed on the other hand - but then the insurance would say licensed, wouldn't it?
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Walk it again and then walk it back again. There is always a hole somwhere. This I know from personal experience. I dread one of my more balletic moments turning up on YouTube.
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A routine call to the local plod avoids an emergency response to a call from the public reporting your crash. It also gives them something to go and look at on an otherwise boring day. FWIW I would also let the local fire dept know by way of a courtesy call also.
I would also second the need to walk the ground before landing unless previously proven.
I would also second the need to walk the ground before landing unless previously proven.
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So if you propose that TSM contacts:
Plod
The fire brigade (if they are not striking)
why not go the whole hog and inform;
local press,
DHSS
council both parish and county
local judiciary.
He can't be too careful, can he?
Plod
The fire brigade (if they are not striking)
why not go the whole hog and inform;
local press,
DHSS
council both parish and county
local judiciary.
He can't be too careful, can he?
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I'd second Stiks sentiments,
It took our local plod two years to realise I have an airstrip! If it wasn't for the police helicopter actually landing in the field by chance they'd probably still never know. About a week later I had a visit from a very nice customs and excise officer to check me out. All routine stuff and no problem whatsoever. There is no obligation to inform anybody, but if you choose to do so ... be careful as it's usually more trouble than it's worth.
SS
It took our local plod two years to realise I have an airstrip! If it wasn't for the police helicopter actually landing in the field by chance they'd probably still never know. About a week later I had a visit from a very nice customs and excise officer to check me out. All routine stuff and no problem whatsoever. There is no obligation to inform anybody, but if you choose to do so ... be careful as it's usually more trouble than it's worth.
SS
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You can either go about your business in a professional and courtious manner, or you can a gash pain in the butt. The choice is yours.
That you do not haveto inform anybody does not been that a little consideration does not go a long way. The arrogant manner being displayed here does nothing to further or rather dispel the reputation of 'puddle jumpers', with their expensive toys unaware of anything beyond the end of their nose.
PS
5000 hours of aviation and counting, and have gone through my recomended procedure many times to numerous fields. I have only received one complaint, from a local primary school with comments such as "Next time please tell us so that the children can watch"!, and no I am not suggesting this is is the norm.
If you think that an aeroplane landing in a field that does not normally support aviation does not create 999 calls, you are very naive. On a similar note, if it actually was an emergency landing you would appreciate the said 999 call.
That you do not haveto inform anybody does not been that a little consideration does not go a long way. The arrogant manner being displayed here does nothing to further or rather dispel the reputation of 'puddle jumpers', with their expensive toys unaware of anything beyond the end of their nose.
PS
5000 hours of aviation and counting, and have gone through my recomended procedure many times to numerous fields. I have only received one complaint, from a local primary school with comments such as "Next time please tell us so that the children can watch"!, and no I am not suggesting this is is the norm.
If you think that an aeroplane landing in a field that does not normally support aviation does not create 999 calls, you are very naive. On a similar note, if it actually was an emergency landing you would appreciate the said 999 call.
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Tiger mate - 5000 hrs means that you obviously know much more than me and I'll bet your dad is bigger than mine, too! Funny old thing I've yet to have a complaint - from either Joe Public or the fuzz.
I am a strip owner and until the knee jerk reaction post 9/11, the Old Bill never visited my strip. They then decided to send the police helicopter over Norfolk to photograph all private strips - they now drop in regularly and waste my time. It becomes aparent very quickly that my two seat aerobatic biplane is not on their "Most Wanted" list.
You do it your way, I'll do it mine and as SS suggested, I'll have an easier life. As for you perceiving me as being gash and discourtious (sic) - I can live with that!
Go figure.
Stik
I am a strip owner and until the knee jerk reaction post 9/11, the Old Bill never visited my strip. They then decided to send the police helicopter over Norfolk to photograph all private strips - they now drop in regularly and waste my time. It becomes aparent very quickly that my two seat aerobatic biplane is not on their "Most Wanted" list.
You do it your way, I'll do it mine and as SS suggested, I'll have an easier life. As for you perceiving me as being gash and discourtious (sic) - I can live with that!
Go figure.
Stik
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Informing emergency services
I believe the emergency have asked glider pilots (via the BGA) to inform the emergency services that a safe off field landing has been made.
I wish I'd done this a few years ago when I landed in a field next to an A road. A friend had landed out at the police helicopter strip and saw the calls coming in on screen from passing drivers. They began "Glider in field" and ended as "Aircraft in field, wings off, on fire". Interestingly, none of the passing drivers stopped to see if the pilot was OK.
It was a hot day, and the only shade was under a single tree 500yds from the field gate. It nearly killed me running up as first the police, then the medic and finally the fire service arrived at 5 minute intervals (just giving me time to get back to the tree). Should have kept the firemen to push the glider out of the field, with hindsight.
As it happened, they all seemed glad of the break in what was otherwise a dull day for them, but if there had been a real emergency elsewhere
resources would have been diverted from that to my non-emergency. Next time I'll call 999 to tell them nothing has happened.
Probably worth doing the same for this field landing unless there are no neighbours to misread it as an emergency.
I wish I'd done this a few years ago when I landed in a field next to an A road. A friend had landed out at the police helicopter strip and saw the calls coming in on screen from passing drivers. They began "Glider in field" and ended as "Aircraft in field, wings off, on fire". Interestingly, none of the passing drivers stopped to see if the pilot was OK.
It was a hot day, and the only shade was under a single tree 500yds from the field gate. It nearly killed me running up as first the police, then the medic and finally the fire service arrived at 5 minute intervals (just giving me time to get back to the tree). Should have kept the firemen to push the glider out of the field, with hindsight.
As it happened, they all seemed glad of the break in what was otherwise a dull day for them, but if there had been a real emergency elsewhere
resources would have been diverted from that to my non-emergency. Next time I'll call 999 to tell them nothing has happened.
Probably worth doing the same for this field landing unless there are no neighbours to misread it as an emergency.
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I believe the emergency have asked glider pilots (via the BGA) to inform the emergency services that a safe off field landing has been made.
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So what happens if you inform the local plod and fire brigade that you will be landing and tell them to igonre the neighbours calls about a crash landing.................. fine until you crash land and they do just as they were told and leave your ass in a smouldering wreckage, very intelligent