Interesting Hour Building Opportunity in North West England
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Interesting Hour Building Opportunity in North West England
Hi. Are there any hour builders out there in North West England? I'm getting married in March at Peckforton Castle and ideally would like to arrive in a helicopter. Happy to pay all fuel. Guess best to fly from Blackpool or Barton though happy with any other ideas. Please drop me a line if of interest. Cheers.
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Ah, yes the wedding. A scenario that all commercial pilots are wary of. Get someone with very little experience to do it on the cheap.... 
What? Carrying passengers, not for the purpose of an air test or maintenance? Hmmm. Let's see. Wouldn't that be classed as public transport and require an AOC etc?
I know a guy who just got chased by the CAA for something very similar, who was reported, and got fined. Maybe not such a good hour building idea after all.
But hey, it's done all of the time. best thing is, if it's proven it's commercial AOC work, and you crash, the insurance will probably be invalid. Just what you want on your wedding day....NOT. Pay the price for a proper service or don't do it on the cheap! Only my advice.
I know a guy who just got chased by the CAA for something very similar, who was reported, and got fined. Maybe not such a good hour building idea after all.
But hey, it's done all of the time. best thing is, if it's proven it's commercial AOC work, and you crash, the insurance will probably be invalid. Just what you want on your wedding day....NOT. Pay the price for a proper service or don't do it on the cheap! Only my advice.
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And whatever you do, make sure you and the lovely wife leave by a towering take-off from a farmyard that nearly goes t!ts-up as the pilot transitions to level flight.
I think the video was pulled from YouTube, but the memory lingers on. Bet the happy couple had to change their underwear after that one..
I think the video was pulled from YouTube, but the memory lingers on. Bet the happy couple had to change their underwear after that one..
I think the video was pulled from YouTube, but the memory lingers on. Bet the happy couple had to change their underwear after that one..
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Before we get to rights and wrongs of the flying bit, maybe someone should chat with you about the marriage bit first
Only kidding, there's nothing wrong with the flying
Joel
Only kidding, there's nothing wrong with the flying
Joel
so an hour builder undercuts an AOC holder - then seeks seeks employment...
If you dont have a friend with a helicopter that is willing to fly you to your wedding then do it properly and CHARTER one. If you cant afford to charter then please please dont shortcut the system - it ruins it for those trying to earn an honest buck.
If you dont have a friend with a helicopter that is willing to fly you to your wedding then do it properly and CHARTER one. If you cant afford to charter then please please dont shortcut the system - it ruins it for those trying to earn an honest buck.
Bet you were not expecting that response?
Nothing wrong with hiring the chopper yourself but I'd guess you'd have to skip the toasts etc.
I was assuming that you had a licence - being on PPRUNE and all that......but then again, if you had a licence you wouldn't be asking such a crass question.
Standby for old adage:
If you can't afford to do it properly - then don't do it......same goes for motorsport, speedboat racing etc.
Genuine offer I'm sure but now I guess you know repercussions!
Nothing wrong with hiring the chopper yourself but I'd guess you'd have to skip the toasts etc.
I was assuming that you had a licence - being on PPRUNE and all that......but then again, if you had a licence you wouldn't be asking such a crass question.
Standby for old adage:
If you can't afford to do it properly - then don't do it......same goes for motorsport, speedboat racing etc.
Genuine offer I'm sure but now I guess you know repercussions!
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Would someone wish to be driven in by a professional chauffeur in a nice wedding car but decide to cut costs by offering the job at a cheap rate (nil) to an inexperienced driver who has just passed his / her driving test and who is probably uninsured for such an event? I wouldn't.
Weddings can be fraught with the unexpected. Emotional and excited guests and relatives wanting to run in and meet the helicopter as soon as it touches down, unescorted little children running around, loose carpets, umbrellas and lightweight furniture outside, doors unexpectedly opening, allowing downwash to do its worst, you name it, it can and has happened, plus more besides.
Weddings can be fraught with the unexpected. Emotional and excited guests and relatives wanting to run in and meet the helicopter as soon as it touches down, unescorted little children running around, loose carpets, umbrellas and lightweight furniture outside, doors unexpectedly opening, allowing downwash to do its worst, you name it, it can and has happened, plus more besides.
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Weddings can be fraught with the unexpected. Emotional and excited guests and relatives wanting to run in and meet the helicopter as soon as it touches down, unescorted little children running around, loose carpets, umbrellas and lightweight furniture outside, doors unexpectedly opening, allowing downwash to do its worst, you name it, it can and has happened, plus more besides.
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I'm sure that there was an incident near Marbella a couple of years ago when a PPL in a R44 done exactly what you are proposing and crashed. (I think there was 1 fatality) As if that's not bad enough the pilot had the book thrown at him and the insurance was void.
Do it right or not at all (and have a car on standby in case the weather isn't CAVOK)
Do it right or not at all (and have a car on standby in case the weather isn't CAVOK)
Nice blag try but as others more qualified than me have stated you could be falling foul of a reg or two....
Congrats on your location though, got married there meself a few years back and its a cracking location. One other thing that might kybosh it though (whether you're paying for the ride or not) was the local Fire Brigade impose limitations on scheduled events because of the remoteness - we weren't allowed to have fireworks for example. I know heli's go where others can't but the elf & safety police may read across limitations to heli landings. I settled for blagging a second TVR to accompany mine.
Congrats on your location though, got married there meself a few years back and its a cracking location. One other thing that might kybosh it though (whether you're paying for the ride or not) was the local Fire Brigade impose limitations on scheduled events because of the remoteness - we weren't allowed to have fireworks for example. I know heli's go where others can't but the elf & safety police may read across limitations to heli landings. I settled for blagging a second TVR to accompany mine.
Shy,
You've sold me by the glamour your silver tonguery evokes. Ms Golf is to wed next year. Since you once worked for Aunty Betty, you'll be well aquainted with the concept of 'lowest bidder'.
So, what's your best (ie lowest) price. I can get sheep! (You didn't think I knew did you?)
CG
You've sold me by the glamour your silver tonguery evokes. Ms Golf is to wed next year. Since you once worked for Aunty Betty, you'll be well aquainted with the concept of 'lowest bidder'.
So, what's your best (ie lowest) price. I can get sheep! (You didn't think I knew did you?)
CG
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So, what's your best (ie lowest) price. I can get sheep! (You didn't think I knew did you?)
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Thanks for advice
I do have a license - though I'm PPL(A). As long as it's not for hire or reward I don't see the problem - plenty of people with PPL's take friends who contribute toward some of the fuel costs so if it interests someone so much the better - everyone's a winner. Not really wanting to cut commercial jobs (?!?), just trying to help someone out. I do appreciate some of the issues raised though. Thanks to those who have pm'd - I'll get back to you. Cheers.
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Okavango
In theory you are absolutely right and many have done it. Flown with a mate with a PPL and contributed towards the cost........from an airfield to another airfield. Not from the middle of a party. This is not about taking money from a commercial op - even though they do need all the help they can get just now. It is all about being sensible, looking at the risk and deciding if you can justify it.
Look at the you tube farmyard clip (look how close it was to disaster - the helo was out of control and reliant on luck for a good few moments) and ask yourself...If it all went horribly wrong and we hit something or someone how would I feel if I had caused the death or maiming of my wife, family, grandparents or kids on the ground etc if it all goes wrong.
Look at the experience on this site and listen to the advice. Weddings are fraught with hidden dangers well beyond the imagination, let alone the experience, of the average hour builder/PPL.
Good Luck with the wedding
Look at the you tube farmyard clip (look how close it was to disaster - the helo was out of control and reliant on luck for a good few moments) and ask yourself...If it all went horribly wrong and we hit something or someone how would I feel if I had caused the death or maiming of my wife, family, grandparents or kids on the ground etc if it all goes wrong.
Look at the experience on this site and listen to the advice. Weddings are fraught with hidden dangers well beyond the imagination, let alone the experience, of the average hour builder/PPL.
Good Luck with the wedding
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A wedding is NOT a job for an hour-builder
Now, I will admit I was tempted, for about thirty seconds. Then I thought about it. It would have been a genuine cost-share and I would have paid my third of the cost, and I'd have planned the trip carefully and executed it safely. But something just didn't feel right, and it was that little voice in the back of my mind that made me say, "Sorry guys, thanks for the offer but that is really a commercial job, and outside my experience." I recommended the company I SFH and train with, and they have subsequently booked with them, so everyone is happy.
I really think when PPLs get into the realms of playing at CPLs, there is danger lurking around the corner...