Pilot gets 3 years for Coventry Airport helicopter attack
niknak
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
From: UK
The worrying thing is, in 24 years of avaition I've met several individuals who are more than capable of doing this sort of thing, but I would never be able to prove it.
Perhaps part of the pilots medical examination should be some form of phsycometric testing to weed out people like this, I appreciate that it wouldn't be 100% perfect, but at least the ground work would of started.
Perhaps part of the pilots medical examination should be some form of phsycometric testing to weed out people like this, I appreciate that it wouldn't be 100% perfect, but at least the ground work would of started.
StandupfortheUlstermen
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 0
From: Peoples' Democratic Republic of Wurzelsetshire
ATCO SPOUSE - as an ex-Cov ATCO, you have my sympathy. I don't think I met your husband as I left before he arrived, but I have heard from several friends still working there, that this has been shattering for your family.
I have been told that the Airport Manager had previously been very abrupt with Lees. Lees became angry and a very unpleasant and frightening situation occurred, one which has had far reaching consequences for both you and your husband.
However, I don't believe that Lees is in any way mad, at least not in the clinical sense. More likely he is one of those people who go off at the deep end when things don't go his way. He deserves no sympathy from anyone in aviation and thankfully he has been locked up.
Personally, I don't think three years is enough for what he did as I'm with the "Flogging and hanging's too good for them" Party. Hopefully he will not be released early, but he will probably turn out to be a model prisoner, and be out within 18 - 24 months. That unfortunately, is how our perverse justice system works and we have to live with it.
Please ignore the half baked comments of some of the pruners, but you will find that most of us are glad that Lees is now in jail, and that since the legal aspects of the case have now been resolved, you and your family can hopefully get back to some semblance of normality.
Good luck.
I have been told that the Airport Manager had previously been very abrupt with Lees. Lees became angry and a very unpleasant and frightening situation occurred, one which has had far reaching consequences for both you and your husband.
However, I don't believe that Lees is in any way mad, at least not in the clinical sense. More likely he is one of those people who go off at the deep end when things don't go his way. He deserves no sympathy from anyone in aviation and thankfully he has been locked up.
Personally, I don't think three years is enough for what he did as I'm with the "Flogging and hanging's too good for them" Party. Hopefully he will not be released early, but he will probably turn out to be a model prisoner, and be out within 18 - 24 months. That unfortunately, is how our perverse justice system works and we have to live with it.
Please ignore the half baked comments of some of the pruners, but you will find that most of us are glad that Lees is now in jail, and that since the legal aspects of the case have now been resolved, you and your family can hopefully get back to some semblance of normality.
Good luck.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
A shocking abuse of the privilege of holding a license. I have no idea if the CAA or the legal system have the ability to permanently withdraw the right to hold a pilots license, but if they can, in this case I'd say they should. Presumably since it's possible, for example, to ban somebody from owning a dog, similar laws can be called into force.
As to legal action, I suspect that Mrs SATCO and her husband are probably entitled to only very little if anything from the criminal injuries fund. Many of us have criticised the current trend to litigation, myself included. But, in this case if Mr and Mrs SATCO were to take civil action against Lees, I for one would applaud. Perhaps even some of us here who are aviation professionals could offer assistance in such an action. With any luck, this would have three consequences. Firstly to compensate the SATCO family for their trauma and Mr SATCO's entirely understandable inability to work, secondly to ensure that Lees never again has enough funds to fly anything more dangerous than a kite, and finally it will show the world that as aviators we will look after our own, both in terms of supporting those damaged through no fault of their own, and in punishing the irresponsible.
G
As to legal action, I suspect that Mrs SATCO and her husband are probably entitled to only very little if anything from the criminal injuries fund. Many of us have criticised the current trend to litigation, myself included. But, in this case if Mr and Mrs SATCO were to take civil action against Lees, I for one would applaud. Perhaps even some of us here who are aviation professionals could offer assistance in such an action. With any luck, this would have three consequences. Firstly to compensate the SATCO family for their trauma and Mr SATCO's entirely understandable inability to work, secondly to ensure that Lees never again has enough funds to fly anything more dangerous than a kite, and finally it will show the world that as aviators we will look after our own, both in terms of supporting those damaged through no fault of their own, and in punishing the irresponsible.
G
Beady Eye
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 1
From: UK
Having read all of the posts in this thread I am absolutely stunned and appalled that there are those who consider that this action was acceptable behaviour.
I hope that none of those who publicly condone this man's actions are on the receiving end of another persons display of 'anger'. I think you'll find your tune considerably changed then.
It is to be sincerely hoped for that Lee's licence is revoked for life, he is obviously incapable of responsible behaviour.
I hope that none of those who publicly condone this man's actions are on the receiving end of another persons display of 'anger'. I think you'll find your tune considerably changed then.
It is to be sincerely hoped for that Lee's licence is revoked for life, he is obviously incapable of responsible behaviour.
Beady Eye
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 1
From: UK
Virgin:
Terribly sorry if I seemed frightfully pompous to you old bean. But if I interpret Tom the Tenor and E Cam's posts correctly then they both appear to condone such behaviour.
I have personally been involved in an aircraft coming through the tower where I was working (in adition to numerous 'incidents' in my 28 years in ATC) and it caused me Post Traumatic Stress Disorder involving nightmares for about 12 years afterwards, as well as physical damage. Not an experience I can recommend.
Pip pip old fruit!
Terribly sorry if I seemed frightfully pompous to you old bean. But if I interpret Tom the Tenor and E Cam's posts correctly then they both appear to condone such behaviour.
I have personally been involved in an aircraft coming through the tower where I was working (in adition to numerous 'incidents' in my 28 years in ATC) and it caused me Post Traumatic Stress Disorder involving nightmares for about 12 years afterwards, as well as physical damage. Not an experience I can recommend.
Pip pip old fruit!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Midlands
Permanent grounding?
It is in theory possible for somebody never to act as pilot in command again on the simple basis of not being able to pass a medical.
I know of a student pilot who, 25 years ago decided to descend on the downwind leg to nought feet and buzz the motorway traffic.
He got nicked when he landed and thereafter failed at every attempt to renew his medical for pschycological reasons.
In his case, he waited until recently to reapply - his CAA file must have been lost because he now has a medical again (keep your heads down in Kent guys!)
So - on the basis that no AME will issue, and surely no one will insure him - he will not fly again as a pilot.
Rehabilitation of offenders is OK in law but we are talking about a medical problem here. The helicopter pilot clearly suffers from a jammed head occasionaly so shouldn't be allowed to fly. Ever.
I know of a student pilot who, 25 years ago decided to descend on the downwind leg to nought feet and buzz the motorway traffic.
He got nicked when he landed and thereafter failed at every attempt to renew his medical for pschycological reasons.
In his case, he waited until recently to reapply - his CAA file must have been lost because he now has a medical again (keep your heads down in Kent guys!)
So - on the basis that no AME will issue, and surely no one will insure him - he will not fly again as a pilot.
Rehabilitation of offenders is OK in law but we are talking about a medical problem here. The helicopter pilot clearly suffers from a jammed head occasionaly so shouldn't be allowed to fly. Ever.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have to say I have found a lot of the comments on this very depressing.
I wholeheartedly agree the man was an idiot, and deserved everything he got. However am not a psychiatrist. It seems to me that screaming “ban him for life” when all we know about him are his actions for a few minutes is very harsh.
I hope he eventually gets rehabilitated and I hope he gets the right treatment to solve his problem. He has another fifty or so years left, do you want him to “burn in hell” for all of them.
I also hope the people he frightened recover too.
I wholeheartedly agree the man was an idiot, and deserved everything he got. However am not a psychiatrist. It seems to me that screaming “ban him for life” when all we know about him are his actions for a few minutes is very harsh.
I hope he eventually gets rehabilitated and I hope he gets the right treatment to solve his problem. He has another fifty or so years left, do you want him to “burn in hell” for all of them.
I also hope the people he frightened recover too.
