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British pilot arrested over people smuggling Calais
This appears to becoming a new trend.
http://www.cetusnews.com/news/Four-A...SZhFusoB-.html Four Albanian migrants are caught trying to FLY into Britain on a light aircraft from Calais in what is believed to be the first case of its kind The four, including two women and a child, were arrested along with the British pilot and two suspected British people smugglers as the plane prepared to take off near the northern port of Calais. Four Albanian migrants tried to fly from France to Britain in a light aircraft, in what is believed to be a first, prosecutors said on Tuesday. The four, including two women and a child, were arrested along with the British pilot and two suspected British people smugglers as the plane prepared to take off from an airfield in Marck, near the northern port of Calais. Calais is a springboard for migrants attempting to cross the Channel to Britain, normally by stowing away on trucks that board ferries. Prosecutors said they had no record of a previous attempt to reach Britain in a private aircraft. 'It is the first time that the Boulogne prosecutor's office has been called in to investigate an attempt to smuggle migrants by air,' the prosecutors' office in Boulogne, near Calais, said. The plane was still on the ground and the pilot was at the controls although the migrants had not boarded when the arrests took place. The pilot and the people smugglers remain in custody and could face charges of 'helping undocumented foreigners as part of an organised group'. 'We do not yet have a full profile of the pilot. Investigators are waiting for British authorities to send information,' the prosecutor's office added. Dutch police officers and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee have prevented the smuggling of 11 Albanian adults and 3 young children between Belgium and England. According to a police statement its the first time in the Netherlands that an aircraft is used in an attempt to smuggle people. Earlier that day an observation team at Teuge Airport witnessed how the two English pilots prepared the aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain registered G-OETV for a flight through Belgium (the Belgian airport has not been disclosed) and presumably England as destination. Both English pilots were arrested at Teuge Airport. |
Time to reopen Biggin Hill and Marston to our dashing young men in their flying machines ? Do you think a Spitfire squadron would be the most suitable response ? The Battle of Britain remake anyone ?
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Meaning Manston, perhaps?
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Pretty sure Biggin Hill is still open....!
But sure - why not get loads of spitfires in the air, and video them! :-) |
Plenty of Spitfires (and a Hurri & Me109) based at Biggin already...
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To get back to the root of the matter: striking that in both cases, the clients were from the same Albanian background - smells like one "offerer" or "facilitator" mediating in one environment.
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I wonder why they want to come to the UK, instead of staying in enlightened countries like Belgium, the Netherlands or France? :-)
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Picture here of the aircraft alleged to be involved.
http://lvdnena.rosselcdn.net/sites/d...?itok=45oPFGu6 source http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/193429/ar...d-une-premiere Given the story below it appears they were getting a lot in to an old (1979) four seat 172? Four Albanian migrants are caught trying to FLY into Britain on a light aircraft from Calais in what is believed to be the first case of its kind The four, including two women and a child, were arrested along with the British pilot and two suspected British people smugglers as the plane prepared to take off near the northern port of Calais. |
Why are they faffing about with an old Cessna probably destined for some rural grass strip? Why don't the Albanians just pitch up at Heathrow on a scheduled flight and hand their list of expectations regarding entitlements, benefits and housing etc to the first official they find. If they timed it right they could score themselves the TGIF meal drink combo special in the terminal while they await their paperwork being approved, transport organized and government cheque being cut. Weren't they aware of the bonanza that awaits? We as a country are letting them down, we need to do a far better job of outreach overseas to enlighten potential economic migrants on just how well versed we are at dishing out goodies.
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Pre boarding checks mean the 99% will never get past the gate Piperboy.
There must of been some sort of watch by authorities in this latest incident. |
Originally Posted by Jay Sata
(Post 9835071)
Pre boarding checks mean the 99% will never get past the gate Piperboy.
There must of been some sort of watch by authorities in this latest incident. |
Originally Posted by piperboy84
(Post 9835160)
"Pre boarding checks" How does that work? I know the Americans use that system but hypothetically if an Albanian or any other person from a non European country was determined on coming to the UK as an economic immigrant and got themselves to Spain for example then bought a Ryanair ticket to the UK, who prior to them getting airborne is going to prevent them boarding if they have a valid passport issued by their country of origin? If nobody stops them, then isn't it a simple matter of upon arrival claiming they're in fear for their life from the government of whatever banana republic they came from in order to remain in the U.K. (and not detained) until their status can be looked at.
as for the spitfires and what other nonsense mentioned previously, I suggest to tone down the arrogance.. when you're done building your brexit wall, don't forget to take back your own citizens, many of whom live in exotic places illegally! |
Originally Posted by piperboy84
(Post 9835160)
hypothetically if an Albanian or any other person from a non European country was determined on coming to the UK as an economic immigrant and got themselves to Spain for example then bought a Ryanair ticket to the UK, who prior to them getting airborne is going to prevent them boarding if they have a valid passport issued by their country of origin?
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To avoid deportation many of them seem to lose their IDs |
Originally Posted by Reverserbucket
(Post 9835576)
I recall cases of individuals eating their passports en-route to LHR ex-EU departure points during the 90's (CDG and BRU spring to mind); claiming asylum on arrival with no travel document for repatriation in any event.
Going to make things a little more bureaucratic for those day trips to Le Touquet :sad: |
The tabloids have an appetite for this sort of story.
Open Door Britain: SUE REID exposes how Britain's many small airfields are vulnerable to terrorists and illegal immigrants despite claims that our border controls are being tightened A Daily Mail investigation found it is possible to fly from Calais to Kent without having a passport inspected The trip from the airstrip in Calais to Lydd Airport in Kent takes just 18 minutes onboard a private plane Security and identity checks seemed incredibly lax following the short hop across the English Channel The Government has been warned thousands of boats and planes are landing in the UK without inspection Read more: SUE REID exposes how Britain's many small airfields are vulnerable to terrorists | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook People smuggler jailed after Border Force chased his plane down a runway at a private members' airfield in Norfolk |
Originally Posted by Jay Sata
(Post 9835032)
The aircraft is based at Gamston according to this.LAAS Foreign Registered Aircraft in the UK, overseas aircraft British Isles
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Why are they faffing about with an old Cessna probably destined for some rural grass strip? Why don't the Albanians just pitch up at Heathrow on a scheduled flight and hand their list of expectations regarding entitlements, benefits and housing etc to the first official they find. If they timed it right they could score themselves the TGIF meal drink combo special in the terminal while they await their paperwork being approved, transport organized and government cheque being cut. Weren't they aware of the bonanza that awaits? We as a country are letting them down, we need to do a far better job of outreach overseas to enlighten potential economic migrants on just how well versed we are at dishing out goodies. |
And what's wrong with an old Cessna anyway?;)
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Originally Posted by Curlytips
(Post 9835811)
And what's wrong with an old Cessna anyway?;)
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Originally Posted by Shaggy Sheep Driver
(Post 9835830)
Single engine over water. :=
I spose you could could criticise him for carrying fare paying passengers with a single engine:), but a twin would have cut into the profit...... |
Originally Posted by Shaggy Sheep Driver
(Post 9835830)
Single engine over water. :=
Shortest distance from Mainland France to the closest point on Mainland Britain is 19.5 Nautical Miles. For my crossing I have selected FL65 as my altitude. For arguments sake, my glide ratio is 10:1; that means from FL65 to MSL I can glide 10.7 nm. At no point am I far enough away from land to not have to ditch. As an alternative scenario, let's assume I'm flying through the alps with fog in the valleys below but because I've taken off in VMC and my destination is VMC, no one complains. Both scenarios are legal but which one concerns you most? I would be more worried about the second one because if your engine fails there, you don't have a clue what's beneath you.... |
It's not because the second scenario is more foolish that the first is wise. I was taught to always have an acceptable plan B - but we all have the freedom to define our own "acceptable".
BTW what will wind do to your plan B if the engine quits in mid-channel? |
If its behind me, continue, or if headwind, turn downwind (carefully) (if not exactly downwind make heading to make reciprocal track of shortest distance) and get blown to shore more quickly.....
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What's all this to do with British pilot arrested for allegedly people smuggling?
Anyone any more news on what happening? |
Steve6443 even if the engine quits half way across you will still reach the beach based on a glide range of 10.7nm as 10.7nm is more than half of 19.5nm! The landing might not be pretty but you'll reach land.
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Originally Posted by Gertrude the Wombat
(Post 9835568)
Ryanair. On account of if the punter is not allowed into the UK then Ryanair gets to pay a large fine, which they have a clear interest in not doing.
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The days of turning up for a flight with just a ticket are long gone.
I take it the aircraft in the latest episode is privately owned? Including this incident two out of the three aircraft involved in recent Albanian people smuggling incidents have been US registered. This is the 172 caught at Seething,Norfolk. http://www.becclesandbungayjournal.c..._630/image.jpg A JUDGE has warned that Britain's small airfield are "defenceless" against people smugglers as he jailed a pilot for attempting to bring an illegal immigrant family into the UK. The Breighton drug smuggling Cessna was also N reg. https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cp...i031351786.jpg |
OK: So back on post 15 I surmised that the "day trip" to Le Touquet was going to get more bureaucratic.
Today, 6x helicopters (all single engine - gasp! horror!) and 16 people Redhill - Le Touquet. French Border post manned and checking passports (first time I have seen this, first trip 7 years ago). Return to Redhill, and met by UK Border Agency to check all passports. Never seen that before. Seems like the political heat is driving activity. Anyway, job finished and one of the Border Control chaps took an interest in the machines. Someone gave him a tour of the G2 cockpit, and perhaps we might have another budding aviator! So- not wasted then! |
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This story now in the Telegraph.
A British architect and a carpenter have been jailed in France for attempting to smuggle migrants from Calais into the UK on board a four-seater Cessna plane. David Green, 53, an architect from Essex, and carpenter Edward Buckley, 45, from Hertford, were both jailed for 30 months by a court in Boulogne-sur-Mer, court officials told the Telegraph. The pair were part of a smuggling network and had on five occasions since April flown between two and four migrants to the UK from airfields near Calais and Le Touquet, with each passenger paying £10,000 for the trip, the court heard. “They were attracted by the lure of profit,” a prosecutor told the court. “It is inadmissible to benefit from people’s misery by demanding such high sums.” But Buckley’s lawyer responded that his client had not exploited anyone’s misery, as “the Albanians who opt for flying (to sneak into the UK) have money.” When the two Britons have served the prison term they will be banned from entering French territory for five years, said prosecutor Philippe Sabatier, adding that the plane and a car used in the botched smuggling attempt had been confiscated. Green, who was to pilot the single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk, and Buckley were arrested on Monday along with Buckley’s British wife - who was later released without charge - as the plane was preparing to take off from Marck airfield near Calais with four Albanian migrants on board. The arrests came after French police were tipped off by British authorities, the court heard. “This is the first time that we have come across attempted people-smuggling by plane” in the Calais region, prosecutor Sabatier said earlier this week. £10,000 per passenger....that 172 has earned its keep. Anyone know the pilot? |
"Anyone know the pilot"
Yes, now that it is in the public domain, David Green is very well known to you all. He is the infamous Jetblu who posts here.... A long and chequered history in aviation circles. |
Originally Posted by 3wheels
(Post 9838167)
"Anyone know the pilot"
Yes, now that it is in the public domain, David Green is very well known to you all. He is the infamous Jetblu who posts here.... A long and chequered history in aviation circles. Edit to add: 4 Albanians PLUS the pilot in a 172? That's some crazy stuff right there. |
The pilot was well known at North Weald I understand.
I wonder if that is where the tip off came from? |
4 Albanians PLUS the pilot in a 172? That's some crazy stuff right there. |
Originally Posted by LowNSlow
(Post 9837401)
Steve6443 even if the engine quits half way across you will still reach the beach based on a glide range of 10.7nm as 10.7nm is more than half of 19.5nm! The landing might not be pretty but you'll reach land.
:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh: which was exactly my point to Shaggy Sheep Driver when he was pointing out that SEP over water = := |
Originally Posted by Jan Olieslagers
(Post 9836081)
It's not because the second scenario is more foolish that the first is wise. I was taught to always have an acceptable plan B - but we all have the freedom to define our own "acceptable".
BTW what will wind do to your plan B if the engine quits in mid-channel?
Originally Posted by 3wheels
(Post 9836336)
What's all this to do with British pilot arrested for allegedly people smuggling?
Anyone any more news on what happening? Fortunately the pilot and his accomplice have had a taste of French justice and are now being detained for the next 30 months. At the same time, a Cessna 172N might be put up for auction soon ;) PS: how come the French can ban criminals from entering France for a period of (in this instance) 5 years, but in UK the foreign criminals seem to use RuinAir and SleazyJet as a personal shuttle service, in and out of the country??? No 'freedom of Movement' demands from Brussels, I note...... |
So your acceptable plan B is not cross open waters with an SEP in case the engine fails, even if you can easily glide clear? And no, I am not totally risk averse (or I'd go fishing instead of flying) but I've plenty of potential destinations on my wish list, making sea crossings a very low priority. |
Funny enough I was just reading how fishing is quite high risk.
Loads of deaths in the Uk doing it. Although there is a large number of people doing it. |
Originally Posted by piperboy84
(Post 9838365)
"Our" JetBlu? Are you sure? I thought the JetBlu that posts on here was severely injured in a fire aboard his twin a few years back and was no longer able to fly.
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