Age Discrimination: Fighting the CAA! (+ update)

[DennisK]

Age & Calculus

Ah ... the thing you ladies are forgetting is that we old timers are allowed an age related margin of error .. mine is up to say 5% or perhaps 10%.

So my figures all come right. Or close enough for an 'old timer.'

Anyone want a real laugh .. ask me to relate the heli joke going the rounds of the DA Seminar today.

DRK

[oldgit]

go on then make me laugh!

[ambidextrous]

Come on then Dennis,
Don't keep us all in suspense!
ambi

[DennisK]

Old age and a story

Well, I suppose this yarn should be on another thread, but at least it will keep us on the front row of the pprune grid for a day or so..

The speaker was telling us about his two ten year olds, Jimmy and Mary who were playing in the garden when a super fast helicopter came booming across the rooftop on its way into the nearby airfield.

Jimmy is bored with their usual game so he suggests to Mary that they could play at being a helicopter.

Jimmy searches the garden to find a length of timber for the fuselage. He pulls out his string and conker which he whirls above their heads as he sits astride the make-believe heli.

"Get on board behind me" he invites Mary, and the pair rush around the garden making rotor blade and engine noises.

"We need to make it more realistic" Jimmy says. "We'll climb on the fence for a high hover ... You climb up behind me," he tells Mary.

As she climbs up, sadly Mary slips and falls to the ground.

Mary looks up at Jimmy. ""I've hurt my pussy Jimmy." she says. "Come down and kiss it better please."

"Don't be silly Mary," Jimmy says. "It's just a game and I'm not a real helicopter pilot."

Anyway, it made me laugh.

Best wishes all out there.

DRK

[Bravo73]

I'm not sure if this has already been covered in this thread but do you mind if I confirm something with you, Ian? Is there anything to stop us flying a single-pilot corporate (ie private) aircraft over the age of 60?

[DennisK]

Age etc

Hallo Bravo,

I think Ian may be having a well earned break, so I'll reply for him.

In the UK, the over 60 and over 65 rule only applies to public transport pilots. (60 single pilot .. 65 if second pilot under 60.)

So providing your operation IS NOT PT, then at present there are no age limits at all for genuine private flying.

PS. Just be careful though as the Authority can look closely at Corporate flying operations just to ensure that they aren't a cover for PT.

DRK

[K48]

Paramotoring

DK et al..
Just to let you 'oldies' in on a secret... don't worry about your medical... there's always paramotoring.... it's medical free flying... there is a CAA exemption for footlaunched a/c ..meaning no licence, no RT and no medical...
It's what got me into flying helicopters..and I absolutely love helicopters.. but Paramotoring is still awesome... you can fly from the back of your car, it's best low and slow, e.g round trees or in formation with friends etc.. - in a breeze of 20knots aloft you can 'hover' too (in relation to the ground). Cost is £5/hr.... it's the closest to being a bird you will ever get... 'real' flying with arms out and wind in your face... you can also climb to cloud base and ride thermals etc.. engine off.. Plus it is a stable craft so inadvertant entry to IMC would be no problem with no instruments.... for me the fact that it is always there is a great stress reliever for that ole pilot's 'medical anxiety syndrome' which we are all victim too.
See a fun vid at: here (not suggesting you do the waterskiing bit...)
In case you think you are too old.... I taught a friend three summers ago... he was 73 then..

Chris
P.s.. 9 pm on Bank Hol Monday night on CH 4 there is a documentary about a good friend of mine who Paramotored over Everest... 28000ft-29000 with 02 and supercharged engine.. you can see what it's about then... Giles taught me to paramotor and I am ever grateful... he make's the paramotors himself.

[Balance!]

Prefer this one though!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pif0V...eature=related

[heliski22]

Actually, Whirlygig, I thought the memorable lines from Father Ted were from old Father Jack hwo just kept repeating "Drink, Arse, !!!!!" on varaious cues and in various combinations!!!!! He'd fit right in with helicopter pilots, don't you think?

22

[uncle ian]

Whirlygig,

Really! To think I'm trusting you with the Fund!

In May I'll br 61. Young Whirlygirl will be 59. Is that two years older or what!!!

Women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle Ian

[Whirlybird]

OK, Uncle Ian, we give in. For THREE MONTHS you will be two years older than me.

[Bravo73]

Thanks for confirming that, Dennis. At least that gives some of us another option to continue flying (if we want to) after 60/65. But it would obviously be much better to have 65 as the cut-off!

Best of luck with your fight, Ian.

[Flashover999]

Is there any news from the powers at be?

When can we expect any form of judgement?

I fly with a 60 plus pilot who seems unable to check PPrune himself and is causing me noise white-out with questions about " when is he going to be able to steal my job?"

Just wondered........................................

Flash

[topendtorque]

Young Whirlygirl will be 59.

uncle ian -- really? impossible.

[Whirlygig]

60 plus pilot who seems unable to check PPrune

As in doesn't have the facilities or doesn't have the faculties!!!

The last I heard from Uncle Ian was that the judgment is due mid-June so probably about a month a wait.

Cheers

Whirls

[Bertie Thruster]

In the hopeful anticipation of a successful outcome for Ian next month, and thus the possible chance to earn a living flying single pilot for a few more years, I thought it was a good time last month to address issues (tissues?) that have been "weighing me down" more and more in the last few years........

Aiming for a BMI of 25 max and more importantly (apparently) an 'Ashwell ratio' of 0.5 or less.

3 weeks ago; BMI 28.5 Ashwell 0.56

This morning; BMI 26.4 Ashwell 0.52

This proactive measure has involved a difficult, temporary stoppage in the consumption of 'Broadside' ...but luckily, at the moment, has not had to include any 'exercise'.

[uncle ian]

Just to confirm; the Tribunal will reconvene 3/4 June and issue a writen judgement. I've no idea how long it will take to produce the documents but as it's a government office anything up to a month. Realistically I expect an answer by, say, 15/06.

I will post here immediately but the media will, no doubt, be reporting the outcome extensively (particularly if I loose) so you'll hear pretty quickly.

Ian

P.S. Well done Bertie, keep it up regardles of the outcome. Long life is all well and good but much better if you can stay fit and active!

[Whirlybird]

What's an Ashwell ratio? Is that another number I should be shaking my head and tutting about and aiming to get lower? Or shall I ignore it all and figure that being happy is good for you and lengthens your life...or at least makes it fun for as long as you've got?

[Bertie Thruster]

waist to height ratio. I hadn't heard of it until recently but apparently loads of research since the 90's.

Basically the probability appears to be high that our health will deteriorate much more quickly if our waist measurement is more than half our height.

[Whirlybird]

Oh well, I needn't worry then. But does that work for women, since we are....er...a different shape? Or...is that why women tend to live longer than men?