Hoverspeed Pilots
 

Just wondered what happened to the SRN4 Pilots at Hoverspeed. I know they had ATPL's, did they go flying or do they drive seacats now?

I stand to be corrected but I think you are misinformed. The Hoverspeed pilots I met (on a bridge/flight deck visit) told me they had seafaring qualifications.

Interesting question.

I once flew with a guy who had been an hovercraft pilot, he did this using and CPL/frozen ATPL if he needed some extra groundschool to be able to go to sea or not I do not know.
Regards Bokkie449.

I seem to remember an article in the Log some years ago and I think the Campaign Against Aviation got involved as they were technically airborn. Also had to have maritime qualifications. Demanding job and qualifications by the sound of it.

Yak, I believe you're right, and that they needed both aviation and marine licences.

Light years ago I worked one summer as cabin crew on hovercraft operating between Ramsgate and Calais (yes a company called HoverLloyd ran that route while SeaSpeed ran the Dover/Calais one! I told you it was a long time ago). Anyway, I visited the "flight deck" on many occasions, once being permitted to take controls (the company no longer exists so I am not getting anyone in trouble) and was told by the pilots that they had to hold a commercial pilots licence AND a Masters Ticket to do the job!

As I was too short sighted to pursue a commercial flying career I realised that a Hovercraft pilot career was out of the question too!! grrrrrrrrrrr

:cool:

Speaking as an ex-seafarer (now ATCO) I can say that to the best of my knowledge the Hoverspeed guys had Deck Officer's tickets (Class 4 for the F/O and Class 1 for the skipper). They had to do a conversion course for the hovercraft, but as far as I know they didn't have to do any aviation tickets.

A couple of shots of the SR.N4 'Swift' control cabin for those interested.
http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.u.../srn4mus29.jpg

http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.uk/images/mus16.jpg

http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.u.../srn4mus31.jpg

You can view a couple of the SR.N4s at The Hovercraft Museum in Lee-On-Solent.

VFE.

[ 27 August 2001: Message edited by: VFE ]

OMG!! Thank you for the pics!! Swift, Sure and Princess Ann I seem to recall were those owned/run by HoverLloyd from Ramsgate - the first two definitely!!!

This really brings back memories of my "yoof"!!!!

^5 JC

On a smaller scale they still run a regular service of SRN6 hovercraft across the solent from Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. :) http://www.hovertravel.co.uk

A few more seeing as I am not the only one interested!

Here is the evacuation notice the captain would make in the event of.

http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.u.../srn4mus28.jpg

Up front.
http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.u...69-38swift.jpg

Navigators post.
http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.u...69-36swift.jpg

I hope you enjoy them.

VFE.

[ 27 August 2001: Message edited by: VFE ]

Hovertravel no longer use SRN6s, instead using AP1-88s

Errrrrrrrrr

What [if anything] happens if you pull back on that control column?
Do we find out the max ceiling?
:cool:

dv8,

Pushing the control column (actually refered to as a 'spectacle wheel' I believe) forward induces a little more positive pitch, together with the throttles the craft will move forward. Turning the control column angles the propellers to control drift. Moving the rudder pedals moves the horizontal stabilisers and pylons together.

VFE. :D

[ 29 August 2001: Message edited by: VFE ]

Thanks for all the info and pics - superb. Apparently the Pilot's have been retrained on seacats - wonder what they think to that!

They probably have backache more on the Seacat unless they have fitted chairs on the bridge now! I travelled on the Seacat the first week it was in service (before they withdrew it to 'stabilise' it) and the Captain said half the deck crew were on the club with backache standing up all day on a ship that wasn't stable.

That was a bad trip. Puke coming out of my ears! Even my old man was sick and he's a turbine engineer on oil tankers! :eek:
VFE.

This must be one of the most interesting threads on Prune for ages.

Would be good if anybody knows an ex - hover bod so we can get it from the horses mouth.

I'm curious, was the hovercraft seen as the "concorde" of the ferry world? and im not belittling anyone here, but surely the navigator wouldnt have had that much to do on a channel crossing? :confused:

Hi Dave, (how's 'Spud Gun'? ;) )

You get alot of traffic in the channel Dave and with the amounts of spray those babies throw up at the windows I would imagine that it wouldn't be too difficult to hover straight into a vessel at 60+ knots. That's pretty much what happened at Dover when one crashed into the harbour wall killing umpteen people. I believe it lead to services being stopped at + Force 7.

Yak Hunt,

I will try and contact someone who should know the ins and outs of what the life of Hoverspeed pilots was like and what they are up to now. Stay tuned!

VFE.