Gyrocopter involved in murder charge
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some further information:
Having posted a link to the Horse and Hound forum, here is a link to the organization who organises the monitoring of hunts. Press Releases
Something else that surprised me when googling the subject is that several news-sites are quoting the manager of the airfield as saying
The aircraft collided with the victim after refuelling whist taxiing ON THE RUNWAY
To me this suggest the gyro was preparing to take off, the pilot therefore in my mind completely focussed on this technical aspect. I don't know how you people feel about this but I would not be thinking of the reason of my flight at that stage (in his case the hunt), I would be be 100% focussed on my checklists and actions to complete.
Jeeze, I do hope this was a genuine accident....
Having posted a link to the Horse and Hound forum, here is a link to the organization who organises the monitoring of hunts. Press Releases
Something else that surprised me when googling the subject is that several news-sites are quoting the manager of the airfield as saying
The aircraft collided with the victim after refuelling whist taxiing ON THE RUNWAY
To me this suggest the gyro was preparing to take off, the pilot therefore in my mind completely focussed on this technical aspect. I don't know how you people feel about this but I would not be thinking of the reason of my flight at that stage (in his case the hunt), I would be be 100% focussed on my checklists and actions to complete.
Jeeze, I do hope this was a genuine accident....
The Original Foot
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I always check the runway is clear. For those of you who would have pressed on regardless of angry man on the runway, probably worth noting that a chap has been banged up charged with murder. While I appreciate what you may have done prior to this, it might be worth ammending the approach in future, in light of this
While this related hunting, I can see simlar things with noise abatement and people worried that you have been watching teenage daughter sunbathing etc... A number of people are anticipating a silly summer for one reason or another, I for one am going to keep my eye out.
While this related hunting, I can see simlar things with noise abatement and people worried that you have been watching teenage daughter sunbathing etc... A number of people are anticipating a silly summer for one reason or another, I for one am going to keep my eye out.
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Whirlygig The pilot was the owner and, unless the passenger or "organisation" was paying the full cost of the flight, PPL privileges would not have been exceeded.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
I don't think that is entirely correct. I am under the impression that if any money is paid for the purpose of the flight then it's aerial work...
Hovering AND talking
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Cost sharing amongst PPL pilots is allowed. If an hour's flight costs £300 and I fly with me Mum and she gives me £150, then that's OK.
Cost sharing, as long as the passengers' contributions does not exceed "their equal share" and the flight is not "advertised", then contributions are allowed.
Cheers
Whirls
Cost sharing, as long as the passengers' contributions does not exceed "their equal share" and the flight is not "advertised", then contributions are allowed.
Cheers
Whirls
Thread Starter
I dont think that is strictly true whirls .....you can only share the running costs and NOT the fixed costs . As a gyro would really only cost a few quid in fuel and oil then the share could only be 50% of a few quid . Once again if this issue is pushed then no doubt that loophole will be another one closed . This i guess was designed for enthusiasts to share the flying and not for a hard line bunh of activists to "hire " the machine to do their dirty work . The police dont monitor this law because they think it is daft ( i have that from the horses mouth , so to speak, from a chief constable )
Hopefully i havent said anything in this post to merit it vapourising ???:
I still do not see how you could line up on a runway and not notice someone coming towards you ...it is not as if the grass is THAT tall
Hopefully i havent said anything in this post to merit it vapourising ???:
I still do not see how you could line up on a runway and not notice someone coming towards you ...it is not as if the grass is THAT tall
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Do we really want to get side-tracked into who paid for the flight and how much? 
Possible illegal public transport is the least of this pilot's problems.
It must be very exceptional for a pilot to be charged with Murder following a death caused by contact between an aircraft and a person on the ground. Manslaughter maybe, in a bad case.
The DA has charged this pilot with Murder. Before making that decision he would have considered all the eye-witness accounts of what happened and watched the video if there is one. The decision wouldn't have been made lightly.
The charge may not stick at trial but the DA obviously thinks there's enough evidence to charge murder or he would have charged manslaughter or not charged the pilot at all.
Strange how some folk here are so convinced it wasn't murder when they haven't seen any of the evidence so they can't possibly know.
B.
Possible illegal public transport is the least of this pilot's problems.
It must be very exceptional for a pilot to be charged with Murder following a death caused by contact between an aircraft and a person on the ground. Manslaughter maybe, in a bad case.
The DA has charged this pilot with Murder. Before making that decision he would have considered all the eye-witness accounts of what happened and watched the video if there is one. The decision wouldn't have been made lightly.
The charge may not stick at trial but the DA obviously thinks there's enough evidence to charge murder or he would have charged manslaughter or not charged the pilot at all.
Strange how some folk here are so convinced it wasn't murder when they haven't seen any of the evidence so they can't possibly know.
B.
Last edited by Bronx; 18th Mar 2009 at 23:55.
Bronx,
It beats heck out of listening to the Hunt/No Hunt drivel.
That is sort of like listening to your Bloomberg wanting to do away with salt on food in your Big Apple!
It beats heck out of listening to the Hunt/No Hunt drivel.
That is sort of like listening to your Bloomberg wanting to do away with salt on food in your Big Apple!
Hovering AND talking
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If the owner/pilot of the gyrocopter wanted to take a passenger free of charge, (as he may well have wanted to do if they shared a common interest), then there are no implications in the Public Transport/Aerial Work rules.
Cheers
Whirls
Nigelh ... you sure????
Cheers
Whirls
Nigelh ... you sure????
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Quote:
There was a video made by a farmer/balloonist about 10 years ago aimed at sport and GA flyers to get them to understand the issues, don't know if it's still available. I will try to find out.
There was a video made by a farmer/balloonist about 10 years ago aimed at sport and GA flyers to get them to understand the issues, don't know if it's still available. I will try to find out.
If you can get this on YouTube and post a link it will be appreciated.
They have run out of stock and, to make matters worse, have mislaid the master. They promised to let me know if it turns up.
Sorry.
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Why is it you Brits publish full names and full on photographs of people who are accused but not (yet) convicted? I find it distasteful.....
Even more peculiar in a country where a jury needs to be found who can decide.....
Even more peculiar in a country where a jury needs to be found who can decide.....
Originally Posted by vanHorck
Why is it you Brits publish full names and full on photographs of people who are accused but not (yet) convicted? I find it distasteful.....
Even more peculiar in a country where a jury needs to be found who can decide.....
Even more peculiar in a country where a jury needs to be found who can decide.....
I have long been of the view that anyone arrested or charged with any alleged crime should be granted anonymity. Only if found guilty should identities be revealed and publication of the full story be allowed.
However, as we now live in a global community, where national restrictions on reporting are increasingly becoming a bit toothless, I don't see that there is much that can be done to restrict things. If a story was suppressed under UK law, then it would almost certainly be reported elsewhere in the world, free from any restrictions.
VP
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Just a few observations and musings
First, regarding livestock ... helicopters are used to drive herd animals, so both bovine and equine stock will indeed respond to a rotorcraft. That includes horses, burros and cows ...
http://www.fund4horses.org/pdf/Helic...alJune2007.pdf
Second, the issue of the pilot's behavior or the pedestrian's during events prior to the time proximate the encounter on the ramp are irrelevant from an aviation standpoint, although they may have a bearing on judicial proceedings and decisions.
Third, it would seem that the issue in question is why the pilot in command did not adhere to UK CAP 768 Ch 10 Annex 1 regarding ground operations and ramp safety. There really are only two alternatives: 1. the pilot operated in an unsafe manner and collided with the victim or 2. the pilot intentionally used the aircraft to collide with the victim. Since the authorities have responded with a murder investigation, it seems that they believe there is sufficient evidence for alternative 2.
IMO the gyro plane is one way that a larger number of private individuals can become members of the aviation family. It is unfortunate when some choose to behave irresponsibly or criminally and cast a bad light on the rotorcraft community. It would be a shame if this event led to increased restrictions on the UK rotor sport community...
http://www.fund4horses.org/pdf/Helic...alJune2007.pdf
Second, the issue of the pilot's behavior or the pedestrian's during events prior to the time proximate the encounter on the ramp are irrelevant from an aviation standpoint, although they may have a bearing on judicial proceedings and decisions.
Third, it would seem that the issue in question is why the pilot in command did not adhere to UK CAP 768 Ch 10 Annex 1 regarding ground operations and ramp safety. There really are only two alternatives: 1. the pilot operated in an unsafe manner and collided with the victim or 2. the pilot intentionally used the aircraft to collide with the victim. Since the authorities have responded with a murder investigation, it seems that they believe there is sufficient evidence for alternative 2.
IMO the gyro plane is one way that a larger number of private individuals can become members of the aviation family. It is unfortunate when some choose to behave irresponsibly or criminally and cast a bad light on the rotorcraft community. It would be a shame if this event led to increased restrictions on the UK rotor sport community...
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Gyro pilot due in court today
Brian Griffiths is due to enter a plea in Warwick Crown Court at noon today.
Ever since his encounter with a hunt supporter at Long Marston airfield, he has been held in prison on a murder charge.
Video evidence is the key.
Without going back over the thread, forgive me, mods, can anyone tell me how you could murder somebody with a gyroplane?????
Ever since his encounter with a hunt supporter at Long Marston airfield, he has been held in prison on a murder charge.
Video evidence is the key.
Without going back over the thread, forgive me, mods, can anyone tell me how you could murder somebody with a gyroplane?????
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Originally Posted by vanHorck
Why is it you Brits publish full names and full on photographs of people who are accused but not (yet) convicted? I find it distasteful....
Why is it you Brits publish full names and full on photographs of people who are accused but not (yet) convicted? I find it distasteful....
Is it fair to the accused? My view is that it probably is although, I'm not really sure whether it is in the public interest. My reasoning is that the accused is innocent until proven guilty - a general presumption at law. The bruden of proof is on the prosecution who, in this case would need to convince a jury , beyond reasonable doubt ( i.e. any doubt that a reasonable person ( the man on the Clapham omnibus) might have that the crime for which they have been indicted was committed.) The evidence is presented by the prosecution and tested by the defence. If found guilty then the full identity of the accused is normally revealed publically. If acquitted, the legal status of the accused is the same as it is now ( innocent) but with the burden of the trial removed and with the benefit of knowing that he has been cleared of the charge.
Whether it is better to remain anonymous throughout the trial process is a matter for debate. Sometimes it may be better to be open to publicity because it measn that an acquittal will be more public also. There should be and , in law, can be, no stain on anyone who has faced a trail and been acquitted - although, OJ simpson might not agree.
I do not know and would not comment on the specifics of this case but where the accused is already well known locally there is often nothing to hide. If acquitted, it will help spread the word if people know who he/she is.
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Different countries, different rules.
'Tis an odd thing. No doubt an itinerant flying lawyer could correct me, but I believe that under English law it is perfectly permissable to report anything (with the odd "alleged" thrown in) up to the moment someone is charged, but at that point the case becomes 'sub judice' and nothing further may be said, to protect the innocence of the Jury. Under Napoleonic law, as practiced in much of Europe, the exact opposite is true.
O.A
O.A
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He didn't enter a plea, as his lawyers are making a separate application to have the murder charge struck out.
More info from local rag here.
More info from local rag here.
Last edited by HeliCraig; 30th May 2009 at 10:24. Reason: Spelling.