Light aircraft crash in Andover (merged)
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From my sources it was nothing to do with Thruxton (no fixed-wing arrived or departed all day despite the BSB on), although it crashed near the A303.
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Thread Starter
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He added that the light aircraft had come down in the field without causing any damage to power cables or other structures, and away from houses or farm buildings.
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From the CAA website.
Okay, it's not strong, but it's advice.
All pilots are advised not to fly until clearance has been received from the Met Office and should check NOTAMs.
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A "clearance" from the Met Office.
Gosh, that sounds really important.
I never knew the MO issued clearances.
I should re-sit my PPL exams. Obviously the 3000 euro Hungarian ones didn't prepare me for flying in the United Kingdom.
Gosh, that sounds really important.
I never knew the MO issued clearances.
I should re-sit my PPL exams. Obviously the 3000 euro Hungarian ones didn't prepare me for flying in the United Kingdom.
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GDF - "and straight away they jump on the ash theory "
quote BBC - A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "It is too early to say whether ash was a factor but it will form part of the investigation."
sounds just the opposite to me
quote BBC - A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "It is too early to say whether ash was a factor but it will form part of the investigation."
sounds just the opposite to me
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The current NOTAM says
Perfectly good advice and I certainly wouldn't fly at levels where I thought I might encounter ash but this is certainly not advice not to fly. Also, since when did pilots refer to the CAA website rather than NOTAMs before undertaking a flight and if the CAA think the MO issue clearances maybe they should resit their airlaw.
I'm fairly angry about this and the BBC's coverage of it as it suggests very strongly that the commander of this aircraft who obviously can't defend him or herself must have been acting irresponsibly. This is an implicit and quite unwarranted slander. I'll be very surprised indeed if the VA turns out to have had anything at all to do with this accident and though I can kind of understand the BBC getting the idea that nothing should be flying if that's what the CAA are telling them they tend to accept the CAA as infallible authority. stions
DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH VA CLOUD WITHIN THE UK FIR, VFR OPERATORS SHOULD
OPERATE EXTREME CAUTION AND MUST ASSURE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR FLIGHT
CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE FLYING.
OPERATE EXTREME CAUTION AND MUST ASSURE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR FLIGHT
CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE FLYING.
I'm fairly angry about this and the BBC's coverage of it as it suggests very strongly that the commander of this aircraft who obviously can't defend him or herself must have been acting irresponsibly. This is an implicit and quite unwarranted slander. I'll be very surprised indeed if the VA turns out to have had anything at all to do with this accident and though I can kind of understand the BBC getting the idea that nothing should be flying if that's what the CAA are telling them they tend to accept the CAA as infallible authority. stions
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No - the casual listener will put the 2 items together and assume that ash is a likely cause.
It would have been better not to have mentioned anything, but a sloppy journo would probably have asked a stupid question that led to this answer.
It would have been better not to have mentioned anything, but a sloppy journo would probably have asked a stupid question that led to this answer.
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No - the casual listener will put the 2 items together and assume that ash is a likely cause.
It would have been better not to have mentioned anything, but a sloppy journo would probably have asked a stupid question that led to this answer.
It would have been better not to have mentioned anything, but a sloppy journo would probably have asked a stupid question that led to this answer.
I think that the general public would more than likely be of the view that an aircraft which crashed during a period when severe airspace restrictions are in place across much of Europe (and have been the top story of most news bulletins for near two days) must have been as a result of volcanic ash. Most people are going to put the two together and reach the conclusion that the two are related. I actually believe in this case the media are highlighting that it is far too early to determine the cause of the accident and I think it is prudent that people are made aware of this.
That said, it should not detract from the fact that two people lost their lives today in tragic circumstances and my thoughts are them and their families. Very sad indeed.
Anyone with an IQ of at least 2 digits will make the association of "ash" with "aircraft accident" at the moment. We've all seen the interviews with Moody. To say "It is too early to say whether ash was a factor but it will form part of the investigation" is a correct and perfectly reasonably thing to say, and all one can possibly say to stop people rushing to conclusions.
I don't think that is "crap", nor is is sloppy journalism.
Neither the Hampshire Police spokesman nor the Beeb are likely to be expert enough to say "we can rule out volcanic ash as a factor", and frankly neither am I. Perhaps you guys are?
I don't think that is "crap", nor is is sloppy journalism.
Neither the Hampshire Police spokesman nor the Beeb are likely to be expert enough to say "we can rule out volcanic ash as a factor", and frankly neither am I. Perhaps you guys are?
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Although you'd have to be deaf, blind and silly at the moment not to be aware of the volcanic activity affecting us all, there is no mention in the TAF's or the UK METAR's, which seems a slightly odd omission.
Perfectly good advice and I certainly wouldn't fly at levels where I thought I might encounter ash but this is certainly not advice not to fly.
wsmempson: agreed, the only reference I can see is in the Form215 info where it says "VA - check advisories, VA SIGMETS, ASTAM and NOTAM".
Which reinforces my comment to 150commuter. We are told there is ash between SFC and FL200 over the UK. But at what levels?
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Please tell me why if volcanic ash is such a factor for piston engines why the motorways are not clogged with cars that have broken down?
The CAA issued NOTAM for VFR traffic is just the legal team covering their six!
The CAA issued NOTAM for VFR traffic is just the legal team covering their six!
Agreed, I misread your original post. They give strong advice, but not strong advice not to fly!
I get the impression from people posting here, probably with more expert knowledge than I have, that the ash currently found below 5000 feet in the UK is not dangerous to piston-engined light aircraft. Can anyone point to an authoritative source of such advice, before I take to the air?
I get the impression from people posting here, probably with more expert knowledge than I have, that the ash currently found below 5000 feet in the UK is not dangerous to piston-engined light aircraft. Can anyone point to an authoritative source of such advice, before I take to the air?
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Sky's reporting is refreshingly unspeculative and includes the following:-
Inspector Paul Newstead, of Hampshire police, said he believed it was "highly unlikely" that crash was linked to the volcanic ash cloud drifting over Britain.
He said: "It will form part of the investigation but we do think it's highly unlikely, but we cannot rule anything out at this stage."
An AAIB spokesman added: "From what we know of the accident so far, there's no reason to connect it to the atmospheric conditions from the volcano."
He said: "It will form part of the investigation but we do think it's highly unlikely, but we cannot rule anything out at this stage."
An AAIB spokesman added: "From what we know of the accident so far, there's no reason to connect it to the atmospheric conditions from the volcano."