Own up!
 

At 1725 yesterday (Sunday 15/10) who was it in the PA28 skeetering over Strood trying to stay ahead of the wall of inbound clag, racing it into Rochester? I won't say how low I thought you were but shall we say it looks like Rule 5 lost out to VMC! :=

Going over Strood into Rochester?

Sounds like they were making an approach to land... no breach of Rule 5

Also Rule 5 Doesn't apply sticking to it compromises the safety of the aeroplane.. no breach of rule 5

I'm guessing they got home OK and no one got killed.. what's the problem?

Depends on whether the chaps at the Belgrano look at the weather and decide that a prudent pilot wouldn't have tried to fly. They'd happily throw the book at someone taking off knowing that the weather was below the minima for his licence

Been there, done that.

I'd hope any other pilot would appreciate that it happens occassionally and would cut me some slack.

SS

A bit more context:

He was about 2 miles NW of the field, very low (noticeably <500') over a very built-up area & going full chat. No chance of his being lined-up on long finals or being anywhere near the circuit.

The airfield is well supported locally but there are plenty of nimbies on the council and in the community who want it closed. Accidents or no, let's not give them ammunition.

Remember the Canadian bush pilot's view of low flying:

"Low flying? Nah, we're in the process of landing .....























..... somewhere, eventually."

Am I the only one that finds the way you phase the "inbound clag" and at "full chat" funny. :p

Have you never been caught-out by the weather? He could have been on a 2 mile final,ive seen plenty of those in my time! Cut the guy a bit of slack and get off your high horse!

Local Nimby's you say,are you sure you are not one of them?

Quite sure, thanks :*

And he was on NO kind of final.

If he was as low as you say he was, then was he close enough for you to get his registration? or did you see him in the distance?
And even though I do not expect anyone to admit it but can you seriously hold up your hand and say you have not broken the said rule ever? not even whilst doing PFLs? if not I find this hard to believe

Well said deano, whoever it was if he was, in your words, "trying to stay ahead of the wall of inbound clag", then let him get on with it.

IMHO its much better he do that than get stuck IMC with no training, (hypothetically) and lose his bearings. We all make mistakes, and whats to say he didn't just get caught out. We've all been there!!

Analyse your motives Kev:

Just why did you make this post?

Cusco

.....................so you go and post all about it on a public forum.

Anyone else see the irony :rolleyes:

Anymore for any more? :rolleyes:

So it's ironic that I post about an incident on this forum that might annoy nimbies? Like they'd read this forum!

Having analysed my motives - okay, there but for the grace of God etc. but the guy was really low. And I didn't get his letters because I heard him first from inside my house. By the time I'd dashed out he was about a quarter of a mile away and making an angle of about 25-30 degrees to me. Personally I thought he might have seen the situation coming and placed himself more advantageously earlier in the game; but as none of us actually know what his earlier situation was I suppose there's not much use postulating on that, is there? My first thought was that Headcorn is about 20 miles south & to leeward of the incoming murk........

Keep firing away, do.

You never know mate, thousands of people a day read this forum alone. :)

Doh. :{

Free for all, everybody....:}

geez wish i was perfect and that the weather gods always did as i told them to and that i never made a decision that i luckily was able to change without getting into too much danger.

and have you never driven into short finals at 140kts, pulled the power, zoom climbed to Vfe, dumped flap, flared and landed?

apparantley that's heaps of fun.....

Well said sir.pratt. At the end of the day, a weather forecast is just that,
a FORECAST.

We all get caught out once in a while, even flying a jet, things aren't always what they said they'd be.

This industry is difficult and challenging enough without people trying to make it worse. Who-ever it was lets just hope they made it down ok, and its another one for the 'little book of experiences'.

kevmusic, have you ever been flying an aircraft and been caught out by the weather before? Serious question.