Hot Water
 

Interesting picture from today's Portsmouth News

http://www.thenews.co.uk/ViewArticle...ticleID=573476

Squinting at the reg in the picture didn't hel so I drudged up some fixed wing recognition skills and plugged "Lakes" into the G-INFO register.

I think someone from Ockham may well soon have the civvie equivalent of a no tea and biccies chat with the men from the CAA.

FL - worth a look ?

Interesting picture..!

Initially I thought "he's knicked" - especially since the Reg is almost readable on that small shot - the original would reveal all...

However, look at the yacht sailing beyond the seaplane... A yacht (looks about 35') like that will not be a few feet off the beach, but more likely a few hundred feet, if only for draft reasons.

So there's a chance he's actually got his 500' (only 150m) from the jet ski & yacht, and we're seeing the effect of a long telephoto lens... especially looking at the different "focus" of the yacht v seaplane. No need of course to be 500' above the sea...

NoD

Strange that there's no rippling of the water evident from the ground effect

'Hundreds' :confused: 'packed with swimmers' :confused: 'swoop' :confused:

More excellent reporting :yuk: :yuk:

As Nigel says, this picture does not even begin to prove a case of breaking the 500' rule. Actually, it looks like a photo-montage, so I suspect the newspaper has been wound-up by a prankster.

I dont know what time this shot was taken, but this aircraft flew into Goodwood at about 13.15 local yesterday,

Gotta remember that depending on angle and camera lens used, the image can be deceiving, and the non-flying publics idea of what 50ft or 500ft looks like is open to question.

If it can be proved that he has been a bit reckless with rule 5, then serves him right!

Speedy

;)

edited because I changed my mind a little...

There is a picture in The Sun which quite clearly shows the registration of the aircraft. If the CAA really are looking to talk to the pilot, I doubt it would take them long to find him and investigate - and I'm sure the investigation will include analysing the pictures to find out if any rules were broken or whether the camera angle creates an interesting illusion.

If he really is as low as he looks, and he doesn't have a very good reason for it, then, as Speedy says, "serves him right".

FFF
-------------

What? No howls of outrage at the 'hundreds' of inconsiderate swimmers etc cluttering up his runway?!? Poor b#gger had to fly over 6 miles and then divert thanks to Joe Public.

Tut tut! Thank goodness he landed safely.:}

<<If he really is as low as he looks, and he doesn't have a very good reason for it, then, as Speedy says, "serves him right".>>

Even supposing the photo is not a fake, there is nothing wrong / illegal about him flying at 30' all day, unless / until he comes with 500' of persons / vessel / vehicle or structure (or something like that). Unless the law's changed since I did my licence...

Of course, should a swimmer suddenly appear below him, then he has broken that rule...

NoD

Yeah, I know, you just read it for the flying articles... ;) :p

The Mirror helps out with some more balanced reporting:

FIND THIS MADMAN

Looking at the photo alone I can't see any problem - it clearly is a telephoto shot, and everything including the 'screaming beachgoers' is well off his port side.

Edited as pprune software is mangling the link.

Maybe he was making an approach to land, then, without getting within 500' of any person, etc.., decided that in the interest of safety he should divert. So really this pilot has shown a great sense of airmanship and should commended.

Bloody newspapers, love to make a mountain out of a molehill. Did anyone actually see this "swooping amphibian" making "white knuckle rides" and the "rogue pilot"?.....BTW have Portsmouth got a Police "plane" or do you think they mean "H-e-l-i-c-o-p-t-e-r" ? [I can just see it now, the Police in hot persuit in their aeroplane with blue lights flashing..........dumb-ass springs to mind :D]

CU
EA

englishal

sorry
Hampshire Police Air Support uses an Islander

Sue, Sue, Sue
 

If our friend in the Lake IS flying legally, then lets hope he sues the Mirror etc for calling him a madman. Interestingly, I couldnt work the link.
If, however, he is NOT flying legally, then he deserves a few slaps!

WBE

Try this one

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews...l&siteid=50143

RF

Link edited - try again.

And one from the Sun...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...70973,,00.html

More of the same - 'crazy pilot', 'swimmers screamed and ducked', 'complete idiot', 'could have crashed, killing hundreds of people' and so on.

Unfortunately in this instance the camera probably does not lie. A colleague saw this happen off hayling island beach and had spoken to me about it even before seeing the article and picture in the local press.

If this was an approach to land it must be a contender for the longest hold-off in history.

In todays edition of the local paper there is an interview with the .... pilot(?), complete with picture, who says that he was actually looking for swimmers in distress.....

:(

Which is more interesting, scantilly clad Mike getting too cold, or scantilly clad Katy getting too hot?

...oh, the article at the bottom of the page...

W

There's more past Katy? Blimey...