New London Heliport
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Is there a genuine debate about the prospects of a new heliport for London, or is this now just a pi$$ing contest about mil helos creating <1 % of the noise cars do every hour of the day in the great capital.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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It is in everyone`s best interests to ensure compliance with current procedures in order to safeguard the status quo. Quite clearly this is beyond the understanding of ShyTorque judging by his gung-ho rant but perhaps someone could lead him to a quiet corner and spell it out in words of one syllable.
You used the term "current procedures". Procedures for whom, civilian helicopters or military? Aren't you confusing the published maximum altitiudes on the routes for "minimum allowed altitude" and forgetting the differences between civilian and military flight rules?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, UK
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Errr - well today I saw an R22 today fly between Vauxhall Bridge and the Isle of Dogs (on the river) at 700ft, when cleared "standard operating altitudes" (and it is up to 2000ft there) I can agree.
Last time i asked farnborough to check my mode C reading it was either 400 or 600ft (i forget which) out so i went back to mode A.
Do you see altitude information from mode S data?
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Seen on RADAR - wearing a squawk issued by LHR SVFR and in the zone so
Mode C is then verified to be within 200ft of reported altitude. And no I didn't say anything as I was not plugged in controlling at the time.
The point I make is that as an ATCO, I really don't care what level you take. (as long as you stay out of the Restricted areas when off the river)
The CAA have stipulated "Not above 2000ft" on H4. My question is why fly at 700ft when cleared up to 2000ft.... in a single! (No this is not Robbo or Single bashing!!!) Surely this is a noise issue as well as a safety issue?
As for Mode S, we get downlinked parameters from certain aircraft displayed on our screens at West Drayton. We are the only unit in the U Kwith Mode S capable radars at the moment. We see Selected Flight Level, IAS, ROC/ROD etc - but NOT your Hexidecimal unique code.... yet! (I believe it is "read" by radar but not put on our screens)
Mode C is then verified to be within 200ft of reported altitude. And no I didn't say anything as I was not plugged in controlling at the time.
The point I make is that as an ATCO, I really don't care what level you take. (as long as you stay out of the Restricted areas when off the river)
The CAA have stipulated "Not above 2000ft" on H4. My question is why fly at 700ft when cleared up to 2000ft.... in a single! (No this is not Robbo or Single bashing!!!) Surely this is a noise issue as well as a safety issue?
As for Mode S, we get downlinked parameters from certain aircraft displayed on our screens at West Drayton. We are the only unit in the U Kwith Mode S capable radars at the moment. We see Selected Flight Level, IAS, ROC/ROD etc - but NOT your Hexidecimal unique code.... yet! (I believe it is "read" by radar but not put on our screens)
Join Date: Aug 2004
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FYI, in this weekend's financial times' magazine, the Mrs Moneypenny column covers travel by helicopter charter. Some stuff on perception of safety and also a comparison of the poor state of London heliport availability compared to other cities (New York). And, almost forgot, dogs as passengers!