British Grand Prix 2010: Silverstone Heliport
and the helis using the large GP FATO will disperse their pax to the east of the line - see the new buildings and a control tower, behind the red&white barrier. That's the GP heliport for CAT ops. The other one is for private flyers and for use at all other times.
Used it 2 weeks ago and it's a great facility in a cracking location. The best circuit view must be from the top of the Heli Air offices at the permanent FATO. Becketts, Hangar Straight and new Arena circuit bends all within easy distance.
Used it 2 weeks ago and it's a great facility in a cracking location. The best circuit view must be from the top of the Heli Air offices at the permanent FATO. Becketts, Hangar Straight and new Arena circuit bends all within easy distance.
That can only be good news if they do not interfere with BRDC member's activities - ie landing at the Farm for smaller events and everyday activities,
can't imagine Heliair wanting to get involved with BRDC members if there is no payment expected.
Will give them a bell to see what lies ahead...thanks.
can't imagine Heliair wanting to get involved with BRDC members if there is no payment expected.
Will give them a bell to see what lies ahead...thanks.
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Silverstone Heliport
Hi friends and fellow aviators
Just a heads up for you as of this time Silverstone now has a permanent active heliport operated by Heli air its ATZ should be promulgated in the very near future
via the normal channels but for the time being can i suggest you treat it as live if your in the area , there freq is 121.075 Silverstone Radio. A letter of agreement has been drawn up between us Here at Turweston and Silverstone and logged with the CAA to allow safe and user friendly procedures as the 2 ATZ's overlap , where they do over lap Silverstone gives away its area to Turweston. Traffic wishing to join for Turweston via the silverstone overhead may still do so as long as they remain at 1500ft QFE 2000Ft QNH or above and there is no need for you to contact Silverstone if you carry out this procedure , Only traffic inbound to the Heliport or planning to fly in the Silverstone ATZ below the altitudes mentioned above need to contact silverstone. For normal flight information in the local area please still use Turweston Radio 122.175
Regards
Chris Brown (EGBT AD Manager)
Just a heads up for you as of this time Silverstone now has a permanent active heliport operated by Heli air its ATZ should be promulgated in the very near future
via the normal channels but for the time being can i suggest you treat it as live if your in the area , there freq is 121.075 Silverstone Radio. A letter of agreement has been drawn up between us Here at Turweston and Silverstone and logged with the CAA to allow safe and user friendly procedures as the 2 ATZ's overlap , where they do over lap Silverstone gives away its area to Turweston. Traffic wishing to join for Turweston via the silverstone overhead may still do so as long as they remain at 1500ft QFE 2000Ft QNH or above and there is no need for you to contact Silverstone if you carry out this procedure , Only traffic inbound to the Heliport or planning to fly in the Silverstone ATZ below the altitudes mentioned above need to contact silverstone. For normal flight information in the local area please still use Turweston Radio 122.175
Regards
Chris Brown (EGBT AD Manager)
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Where's my deposit gone?
I see that Heliair are holding onto slot deposits! I thought that these would be offset against any final invoice – so what’s changed?? I know that it’s going to be a quiet one but surely this is punishing operators. We were told that there would be limited slot availability and encouraged to speculate. This underhand trick has cost be a grand! Thanks a bunch! Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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Silverstone 2010
Comments seem conspicuous by their absence so far (which seems to confirm that it wasn't the disaster that some may have predicted).... how was it for you?
Whatever your thoughts or experiences, all pics are eagerly anticipated...
Unsolicited comments on "white shirts and w****r bars"(circa 2009), less so!
Whatever your thoughts or experiences, all pics are eagerly anticipated...
Unsolicited comments on "white shirts and w****r bars"(circa 2009), less so!
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Congratulations!
Well I for one would like to be the first to congratulate Heli-air, and particularly Harriett Lyons, on a job well done.
And before you all start no I don't work for them!! In fact the operator I work for at the GP lost out in a big way when Heli-air got the contract so you could expect sour grapes.
The FATO became incredibly busy in the afternoon, although I do think we were all rushing to get in/out before the "non-existent Air Display" and it's a testament to the professionalism of the CPL(H)'s going in and out and the cool headed ATCO's that there weren't any "incidents". Well done one and all.
Very limited space in the park, but we were all crammed in between two building sites, so the reduced space made the reduced numbers look like the glory days of the 90's.
Congratulations Harriett, hope the boss shows his appreciation!
And before you all start no I don't work for them!! In fact the operator I work for at the GP lost out in a big way when Heli-air got the contract so you could expect sour grapes.
The FATO became incredibly busy in the afternoon, although I do think we were all rushing to get in/out before the "non-existent Air Display" and it's a testament to the professionalism of the CPL(H)'s going in and out and the cool headed ATCO's that there weren't any "incidents". Well done one and all.
Very limited space in the park, but we were all crammed in between two building sites, so the reduced space made the reduced numbers look like the glory days of the 90's.
Congratulations Harriett, hope the boss shows his appreciation!
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Harriet did a superb job looking after the operators' requirements and Helen and all her ATC team dug out and kept everything flowing.
A few points though:
Silverstone refusing to allow operators who were paying a lot of money to be there to brand their terminals, no signs or flags showing your returning pax where you were apart from a converted oil drum by the door. (In our case with a security operative asleep on it on Saturday)
The refuel crew esp those marshalling aircraft in should have been in hi-viz, the dark Heli-Air shirts were sometimes difficult to see in bright glare, and much as I hate the hi-viz laws they are there and we are required to follow them.
The back track lane was very narrow, and may have been below the legal min width.
There were a lot less aircraft parked than I expected, but I heard a general comment from about ten pilots on Sunday that the standard of marshalling could have been better, the lad who marshalled me knew all the right signals, but tried to park me far closer than was comfortable to a light helicopter. In the past we had the Battersea marshals who are known and trusted by us all, maybe a few of them mixed in, or some training from them would have boosted confidence.
To the air trafficer who sounded tired of pilots asking to back-track on Sunday afternoon, its a PITA to us as well, but it is done for safety, if you read this and would like to PM me I'm quite happy to bore you rigid with performance charts which demonstrate exactly why its' done.
I would be interested to see what the event looked like on the Birmingham, Brize and Luton radars, we used to fly the event transponders off, and certainly most TCAS equipped aircraft this year were switching their units off as you couldn't hear ATC over the bloody bloke shouting "Trafffic, Traffic!"
SND
A few points though:
Silverstone refusing to allow operators who were paying a lot of money to be there to brand their terminals, no signs or flags showing your returning pax where you were apart from a converted oil drum by the door. (In our case with a security operative asleep on it on Saturday)
The refuel crew esp those marshalling aircraft in should have been in hi-viz, the dark Heli-Air shirts were sometimes difficult to see in bright glare, and much as I hate the hi-viz laws they are there and we are required to follow them.
The back track lane was very narrow, and may have been below the legal min width.
There were a lot less aircraft parked than I expected, but I heard a general comment from about ten pilots on Sunday that the standard of marshalling could have been better, the lad who marshalled me knew all the right signals, but tried to park me far closer than was comfortable to a light helicopter. In the past we had the Battersea marshals who are known and trusted by us all, maybe a few of them mixed in, or some training from them would have boosted confidence.
To the air trafficer who sounded tired of pilots asking to back-track on Sunday afternoon, its a PITA to us as well, but it is done for safety, if you read this and would like to PM me I'm quite happy to bore you rigid with performance charts which demonstrate exactly why its' done.
I would be interested to see what the event looked like on the Birmingham, Brize and Luton radars, we used to fly the event transponders off, and certainly most TCAS equipped aircraft this year were switching their units off as you couldn't hear ATC over the bloody bloke shouting "Trafffic, Traffic!"
SND
SND: much as I hate the hi-viz laws they are there and we are required to follow them.
The CAA recommends hi-viz airside - that's all. There is no law - it's up to the individual location.
The CAA recommends hi-viz airside - that's all. There is no law - it's up to the individual location.
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Hi Vis
Just found this on the HSE site
The selection and use of HV clothing are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. In practice, this means that HV clothing will be mandatory for the majority of people whose work involves them spending time in or around aircraft. Workers in this category will include aircraft marshallers, loaders, baggage handlers, and refuelling engineers. Occasional visitors to these areas, such as the flight crew performing pre-flight checks, security staff, supervisors and managers, will also need to be considered.
The selection and use of HV clothing are covered by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. In practice, this means that HV clothing will be mandatory for the majority of people whose work involves them spending time in or around aircraft. Workers in this category will include aircraft marshallers, loaders, baggage handlers, and refuelling engineers. Occasional visitors to these areas, such as the flight crew performing pre-flight checks, security staff, supervisors and managers, will also need to be considered.
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Silverstone - Heliport 2010 - Wash up???
I agree with SND's sentiments, but add it would be favourable to most operators (iam sure) if there were to be a wash up of this years event, so that improvements could be made for next year (if there is to be a heliport next year and they havent built corporate on it by then!).
A number of aviation colleagues present on Sunday in the circuit aired concerns, and mainly all the same ones, so i think it would be justified if CAA/BHA/Heliair/NATS etc were to sit down with the operators and discuss this years event, so that we can all strive together to make sure that our operations remain safe, expeditious and fluid for next year.
Whats everyone elses view?
A number of aviation colleagues present on Sunday in the circuit aired concerns, and mainly all the same ones, so i think it would be justified if CAA/BHA/Heliair/NATS etc were to sit down with the operators and discuss this years event, so that we can all strive together to make sure that our operations remain safe, expeditious and fluid for next year.
Whats everyone elses view?
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I have been told there was allegedly a lot of overtaking going on whilst on finals.
Can anyone confirm this?
I did Silverstone in the late 90's in a 206 and only on the south-side amongst the big boys and only had gentlemen around me.
Can anyone confirm this?
I did Silverstone in the late 90's in a 206 and only on the south-side amongst the big boys and only had gentlemen around me.
I did silverstone in 1987, the year Mansell one i think..... It was busy as hell with twins mixed with singles on the light strip and all hell broke loose in the pm when we in the 365's etc asked for a back track...
ATC just could not cope, and in fact did not understand what the hell was going on.......
Have things not moved forward since then ?
We had 206's autorotating on finals to get in first and several were grounded by ATC because of their cavalier attitude
We even had a 500 join the circuit with no number/colour on a private hire, just busting in with no formal brief on a wing and a prayer.....
I moved 144 drunken swedes in and out over the day from Cranfield, including positioning to and from N.Denes at a cost of 9 hrs flying.
I have never enjoyed a days flying so much in my life....
Well done to all that survived..
ATC just could not cope, and in fact did not understand what the hell was going on.......
Have things not moved forward since then ?
We had 206's autorotating on finals to get in first and several were grounded by ATC because of their cavalier attitude
We even had a 500 join the circuit with no number/colour on a private hire, just busting in with no formal brief on a wing and a prayer.....
I moved 144 drunken swedes in and out over the day from Cranfield, including positioning to and from N.Denes at a cost of 9 hrs flying.
I have never enjoyed a days flying so much in my life....
Well done to all that survived..
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I didn't see any overtaking on finals, but Silverstone is notorious for it.
However there were a few differences of opinion on what constituted reporting the north point first or second time, a couple might have sneaked in without going around the hold, to the disgruntlement of those in the hold.
However there were a few differences of opinion on what constituted reporting the north point first or second time, a couple might have sneaked in without going around the hold, to the disgruntlement of those in the hold.
The One Your Mother Warned You About
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TU154;
I was sent to the hold on Sunday PM and when I got there got a "join approved, QSY" that happened to quite a few, it depends on whether there is a gate available/becoming available for you.
There did seem to be some confusion as to where North Point was, and where 1500' were on the Silverstone QNH. I twice found myself No. 2 on finals to an aircraft which had been no-where near North Point, but slightly worse were the aircraft which stopped on the FATO near one of the high numbered stands, spot turned and then taxied to the gate, rather than just doing it all in one move, which has been very much the norm in the past. I find myself way back on the speed curve a couple of times at 200' due to that one.
A wash up would be a good idea. Everyone I spoke to was surprised at how the day went, but a lot of very expperienced pilots had some very useful comments, which Heli-Air could take foprward to next year.
I was sent to the hold on Sunday PM and when I got there got a "join approved, QSY" that happened to quite a few, it depends on whether there is a gate available/becoming available for you.
There did seem to be some confusion as to where North Point was, and where 1500' were on the Silverstone QNH. I twice found myself No. 2 on finals to an aircraft which had been no-where near North Point, but slightly worse were the aircraft which stopped on the FATO near one of the high numbered stands, spot turned and then taxied to the gate, rather than just doing it all in one move, which has been very much the norm in the past. I find myself way back on the speed curve a couple of times at 200' due to that one.
A wash up would be a good idea. Everyone I spoke to was surprised at how the day went, but a lot of very expperienced pilots had some very useful comments, which Heli-Air could take foprward to next year.
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Silverstone 1987
griffothefog
Just checked my logbook - I was your green as grass co-jo that day. My first of 10 Silverstones - I remember it well as we picked up a load of extra work as a 365C had "become un-serviceable" during the morning.
Good times mate!
Just checked my logbook - I was your green as grass co-jo that day. My first of 10 Silverstones - I remember it well as we picked up a load of extra work as a 365C had "become un-serviceable" during the morning.
Good times mate!