Calm down, it's the Kessock Bridge, no Tower Bridge....
 

I read that the CAA have been notified, is it correct that though the CAA are responsible for investigation of such events but it is only the Procurator Fiscal's Office not the CAA that can bring charges in Scotland?

This is in my neck of the woods and it's a tempting thing to do and would, in my opinion, not really be dangerous but I'm sure it would fall foul of the 500ft clear rule.

Some years ago there were, if I recall correctly, three Spanish flyers who flew under the Ballachulish bridge, a much smaller structure and therefore more challenging and they all came out with a plea of being caught in a downdraft despite them taking it one at a time, so not really very convincing.

But if this Kessock bridge under-flight really occurred someone will have it on video, for everyone has a camera in their pocket these day and that's one reason for being circumspect with such stunts. Good fun I'm sure, but potentially costly in fines and maybe loss of licence.

Wish I'd seen it.

From voices heard on scanner, non-UK? Went along Loch Ness later? I heard from workers at the harbour.
Spanish guys did it at Ballachulish - prosecuted - got off on excuse of a downdraft.
An English guy flew a Pa28 under the Skye Bridge - prosecuted - got off on excuse of dodging a flock of seagulls.
I hope these guys are treated as a Scottish non-aristocrat would be treated by the legal system.
As I understand it, the CAA can pay to bring a prosecution in Scotland - and pay costs if it fails. The Procurator fiscal can prosecute even if the CAA decide not to - eg the successful prosecution of the C172 pilot who hit a car on approach to Insch, although the CAA decided not to take action.
PS A Chinook flew under it on an exercise - the pilot was said to have had permission.

Most probably a simultaneous carb ice issue. Glad that they climbed away ok. :)

Judge : Did you have permission sir?
Pilot : Sure thing sir, I asked my wife.
-------------------------------------------

Judge : What happened?
Pilot : Sudden and uncontrollable increase in Earths Gravity sir.

-------------------------------------------

Judge : What happened?
Pilot : A boat filled with magnets pulled me down sir. Honest, cross my heart.

--------------------------------------------

Judge; What happened?
Pilot : Well sir, what goes up comes down. I was just in time to recover it and go up again.

--------------------------------------------

Judge; What happened?
Pilot : Well sir, newton said; "When the appel fell from the tree", and the rest is not so clear any more.
--------------------------------------------

Judge : Next !

"Would the pictures have been better if I had done it inverted?"
-----------------------------------------------
"My brother told me to do it backwards."

Furious pilot : "What clown build a bridge right in my flightpath! "

Judge : Why did you fly under that bridge?

Inocent looking pilot: "It was not there yesterday sir".

I'm not sure what all the fuss and news is about. Is there a Toll?

The toll is only for traveling along the axis of the bridge, not across it...

Ah ha. Makes more sense now. They just ducked it didn't they. :)

Just someone having a bit of relatively safe but illegal fun. Nothing to see here, move along please.

Many years ago some idiot flew up the Avon Gorge and under the Bristol suspension bridge. Thats what I call dangerous, ISTR it was an RAF type but ICBW, it was a long time ago.

<Googles> - there have been several, including a police helicopter.
ASN Aircraft accident 03-FEB-1957 de Havilland Vampire FB.Mk 9 WR260
Stories from the archives | The Clifton Suspension Bridge

Not dangerous. Not requiring skill. Not legal. Previous non-Scottish pilots have got off with this. A Scottish based pilot was convicted (though the CAA decided not to prosecute) after getting too low on the approach and hitting a car on a road just short of the numbers.
If people want to do this sort of thing, do it in your home country, and take the consequences.

If you're going to fly under a bridge, do as Jurgis Kairys does and let a few people know... so they can stand on the bridge and watch!

Technically, even in that God-forsaken part of Scotland, it's not an offence until there has been a prosecution, a conviction, and the final appeal has failed. At present, no one has even set a toe on that ladder.

All we can hope for the time being is that the third pilot (the one who allegedly bottled it) was a Canadian or had some other valid excuse :ugh:

With a Bonanza under the Eifel tower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_txdqnVP3-c

DeltaV
 

If you are in this neck of the woods, you will no doubt be well aware that there is often maintenance work being undertaken to the underside of the bridge deck from a moving cradle. It's not uncommon to see steel hawsers, ropes, etc. hanging from it.

And there's plenty of boats passing under with rather tall masts that may be obscured by the bridge pillars until it's too late.

Dangerous?... You might bump into other traffic coming the other way !

Two planes spotted flying under Kessock Bridge - BBC News

Piccies of the offenders and their buddy.

No longer exists. It's now 500ft above the ground or water or 500ft above the highest obstacle within a radius of 500ft from the aircraft.

Did the CAA not opt to stick with what we had already with regards Rule 5? Sure I read that a couple of months back, not that I would ever fly below 500'....... ;)

As for the bridge bandits, certainly 2 of them are not from round these parts..... was it dangerous, not really, silly, most certainly.

Regards

UA

You've got to go to France for a microlight helicopter - where they are known as Category 6 aircraft.

Of course UK air is too complicated for them to fly in!

Mind you the way Inverness ATc 'police' the local airspace I'll be surprised if they did not ring plod at the time of the alleged offence!