New TV show "Bush Pilots" on TV tonight
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...the guy flying between the two storm cells made my toes curl!
But overall, I think the program is a bit lame. Bush flying is the aeronautical equivalent of white van driving, but just more regulated and slightly more expensive. It probably carries about the same degree of risk as well. If the flying is done properly, the program should be pretty boring - which it is.
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Bush Pilot TV series
TV Reality Documentaries are getting worse.
One situation where all radio com with the local tower are lost and two light aircraft [in touch and communicating relative positions approaching the runway] are made to appear to be about to crash into each other [according to the hysterical voice over commentary] and the viewer is led to believe that only ATC can get the aircraft down safely! So how on earth do bush pilots land 'safely' on non radio strips????
Frankly it's worse than the Eddie Stobart truck series.
One situation where all radio com with the local tower are lost and two light aircraft [in touch and communicating relative positions approaching the runway] are made to appear to be about to crash into each other [according to the hysterical voice over commentary] and the viewer is led to believe that only ATC can get the aircraft down safely! So how on earth do bush pilots land 'safely' on non radio strips????
Frankly it's worse than the Eddie Stobart truck series.
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TV Reality Documentaries are getting worse
I bet the Stobart driver would have had less drama if he was flying in there !
Last edited by piperboy84; 5th Jul 2012 at 08:53.
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His comment (paraphrasing at the end - can't remember it exactly): "If this was 1st world it would have been a major incident!", did seem a bit silly. Considering all the other little strips he goes into day in, day out are un-controlled, what's the problem?? 
What is quite surprising however is that there are dozens of pilots camped out in the bush for months chasing one or two positions. You see comments about going down to Africa in the Wannabe's forums - I never actually thought people would just yomp down and camp out on the door step - well, not in those numbers anyway. But I guess they need to start servicing that big loan!
What is quite surprising however is that there are dozens of pilots camped out in the bush for months chasing one or two positions. You see comments about going down to Africa in the Wannabe's forums - I never actually thought people would just yomp down and camp out on the door step - well, not in those numbers anyway. But I guess they need to start servicing that big loan!
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Was this the same bloke who said something along the lines of "flying in turbulence is dangerous because when you get a gust you double your lift and your wings will snap".
Erm!
Erm!
It kind of lost me when one of the pilots was making a "desperate" bid to reach a strip before nightfall, landing with "moments to spare" - we then saw him being driven to the game lodge and settling in there whilst still in broad daylight .....
Take it for what it is, entertainment, you won't go far wrong!
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Just watched the re-run, ref the lack of RT (ATC) "The pilot instructed the other aircraft to land first,". I don't bloody think so!! A mid air collision was avoided? Really? 2 a/c in the one circuit at the same time, total gridlock.
It probably carries about the same degree of risk as well.
Well au contraire,
Saw Wednesday night's (TV S.England) prog which helped me today.
'Fly the Plane' they said, which I remembered well,& got on with on take-off today when I was suddenly distracted.
From our strictly 'superior' knowledge it may be a bit badly produced/collated etc. but the makers must end up with a commercially viable product, not a training film.
Shirley we can all see the good bits beyond its obvious flaws ?
mike hallam.
Saw Wednesday night's (TV S.England) prog which helped me today.
'Fly the Plane' they said, which I remembered well,& got on with on take-off today when I was suddenly distracted.
From our strictly 'superior' knowledge it may be a bit badly produced/collated etc. but the makers must end up with a commercially viable product, not a training film.
Shirley we can all see the good bits beyond its obvious flaws ?
mike hallam.
Last edited by mikehallam; 6th Jul 2012 at 09:03.
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I recently read about complaints from airline captains about the lack of experience new FO's have these days. As nice as all those wannabe pilots probably are the program shines a bright light on this point very well. Looking at the alternatives for minted ATPL's to gain high quality flight experience I'd suggest commercial bush flying is probably up there with the very best.
Good luck to all of them, although the comment about Flying Wild Alaska not being as difficult was pretty dumb.
Good luck to all of them, although the comment about Flying Wild Alaska not being as difficult was pretty dumb.
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I liked some of the sneaky tricks used by the Cheif Pilot such as dropping the flaps on the take-off run and opening the window as a distraction on take off, actually very valid training too.
Thanks for the ideas, some poor sod will be on the recieving end of those in the next few months....
Thanks for the ideas, some poor sod will be on the recieving end of those in the next few months....
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The thing that gets me about these type of shows is how little actual content there is.
After every commercial break (or even after just a change in subject on the show) the viewer is given a lengthy re-cap of previous events, with the various scenarios re-explained and clips re-shown.
Combine this with the little interludes where they profile characters, hardware or locations, I would be surprised if there is any more than 5 or 10 minutes of actual content in a show.
After every commercial break (or even after just a change in subject on the show) the viewer is given a lengthy re-cap of previous events, with the various scenarios re-explained and clips re-shown.
Combine this with the little interludes where they profile characters, hardware or locations, I would be surprised if there is any more than 5 or 10 minutes of actual content in a show.
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The door open during takeoff has been drilled home to me by my instructor as I believe it has happened many times on PA28s when the overhead lever is forgotten (or fails) and it is only being kept closed by the flimsy door handle.
Mind you - he still got the job...
After every commercial break (or even after just a change in subject on the show) the viewer is given a lengthy re-cap of previous events
Why leave a well paid job with a decent working pattern where you can easily fly to South Africa several times a month to take on a low paid job whereby he will be working most likely six or seven days a week and then have to take a very expensive flight from Maun to South Africa?
Maybe he simply wanted to put some fun into his flying, having got over "shiny jet syndrome". I'll have to watch the series, one of my ex students is in it - hopefully not the one who left the pitot cover on!
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Why leave a well paid job with a decent working pattern where you can easily fly to South Africa several times a month to take on a low paid job whereby he will be working most likely six or seven days a week and then have to take a very expensive flight from Maun to South Africa?