"Wealthy businessman attacked a helicopter"
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bl**dy Hell Chopjock..
..I've followed this case quite closely in recent months (I had a drunken loony try to launch his rucksack into the turning rotors of my 206 in France many years ago)... and I've tried to view the case from as many intelligent angles as possible. Have to report though I can't get anywhere near your opinion!
Ah well.
bm
Ah well.
bm
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Flexible
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Defending Chopjock
When they say an accident is a chain of events I think it is extremely fortuitous that a serious accident, including fatalities, didn't occur at the end of this one. Retrospect is a fine thing and I wonder if there were lots of times when the chain could have been broken earlier? Certainly the easiest would have been if Jafari had taken the registration and followed the lawful complaints procedure, he is so very lucky he didn't get killed or even worse. 
In defence to chopjock though at no time did he say "he was there" or mention the words "calm sense". I think he was just speculating and it is being taken out of context. I think it is good to discuss things with an open mind - see the big picture as my Uncle used to say! I could see a lot of people reacting the way chopjock described? Unfortunately we are a spectrum and this man is towards the far end of the spectrum... problem is there are some that are even further over than him!!! I guess as pilots we should be prepared to deal with people like this either on the ground or in the back of our aircraft. Anyone got any ideas how I might plan for that one?
PT
PS I can't believe it made the national 6 o'clock news, then again it was followed by a story on snails, must have been a slow day for news. (no pun intended of course)
In defence to chopjock though at no time did he say "he was there" or mention the words "calm sense". I think he was just speculating and it is being taken out of context. I think it is good to discuss things with an open mind - see the big picture as my Uncle used to say! I could see a lot of people reacting the way chopjock described? Unfortunately we are a spectrum and this man is towards the far end of the spectrum... problem is there are some that are even further over than him!!! I guess as pilots we should be prepared to deal with people like this either on the ground or in the back of our aircraft. Anyone got any ideas how I might plan for that one?
PT
PS I can't believe it made the national 6 o'clock news, then again it was followed by a story on snails, must have been a slow day for news. (no pun intended of course)
In defence to chopjock though at no time did he say "he was there" or mention the words "calm sense". I think he was just speculating and it is being taken out of context
2) His speculation is way off base, as the guilty verdict and sentencing today have demonstrated. This man was, the court found, irate and clearly not wanting to have a cosy little chat
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: England & Scotland
Age: 63
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can see where Chopjock is coming from.
As an ex-Tax Inspector I know used to say about formulating his opinion in tax investigation cases he ran:
"You don't want to pay no attention to facts....... Slows you down!"
He wasn't very good at his job, though.
And he did seem to get a lot of complaints.
Many of which were upheld.
Hence the "ex-" element of my story.
As an ex-Tax Inspector I know used to say about formulating his opinion in tax investigation cases he ran:
"You don't want to pay no attention to facts....... Slows you down!"
He wasn't very good at his job, though.
And he did seem to get a lot of complaints.
Many of which were upheld.
Hence the "ex-" element of my story.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Age: 66
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wonder what the pilot will do the next time when he is sat in with rotors running and someone approaches him waving their arms and trying to gain his attention, perhaps even trying to open the door to tell him something, like his engine is on fire and instead he just panics and takes off.
Yes, just speculating...
Yes, just speculating...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Further speculation, but what if the pilot hadn't lifted, and this lunatic had got to the door and tried to pull the pilot out, rotors running? Could get messy I suspect.
I think most people would be able to tell the difference between an angry loony and someone genuinely warning you of a problem.
I think most people would be able to tell the difference between an angry loony and someone genuinely warning you of a problem.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midlands, England
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the Daily Mail;
Tycoon Houshang Jafari jailed for grabbing helicopter laden with passengers | Mail Online
Jail for air-rage tycoon who grabbed helicopter laden with passengers as it tried to take off
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 5:42 PM on 3rd August 2010
It's easy to understand the frustration caused by a noisy helicopter landing outside one's manor house.
But the lawn of a 16th century Grade II listed building is a dangerous place to get air rage.
Furious that the rotas were blowing debris on to his nearby Land Rover, Houshang Jafari stormed up to the helicopter, kicked it, and threw a plastic bag full of bones at the spinning blades.
Caught on camera: The moment the furious tycoon, circled, grabbed the helicopter as it attempted to take off
Then, as the aircraft full of terrified passengers took off, the 22 stone businessman hung onto its landing bars, causing it to tip over in mid air.
The court heard he had put the pilot and his passengers at risk of 'catastrophic consequences' as the helicopter tried to take off from Dower House in Bristol.
Jafari, 58, was 'livid' when the private Jet Ranger landed outside his £1.2million flat on land shared by the other residents of the converted former hospital.
Jailed: Houshang Jafari arrives at Bristol Crown Court today for sentencing
He tried to open the pilot's door, lashing out at the side of aircraft, and then threw a plastic bag full of chicken bones towards the rotor - which could have become caught up in the engine, causing the helicopter to spin out of control.
Yesterday he wiped a tear from his eye as he was jailed for a year for endangering the safety of an aircraft.
The millionaire property developer had claimed during his trial that he was too fat to have caused any trouble.
He told the court:'I made no contact with [the helicopter] at all. The rotor blades are really going fast, there was a lot of wind.
'I took a full step back, lifted on to my tip-toes and I lifted both my hands up. I said: 'Where the hell are you going?'
'I made no contact with it in any way. I am a fat man, my foot doesn't come up – how can I kick it?'
But one of the passengers, said she thought she was going to die as a result of Jafari's outburst.
The pilot Mark Blokland had flown the helicopter to Dower House with his wife Tammy to pick up his business partner Simon Clarke and his partner Elizabeth Hale.
Mr Clarke had met with other residents of the building to ensure there were no problems with the landing but had not informed everyone of the helicopter's arrival.
Dr Blokland, who has more than 400 hours of flying experience, circled the area twice at 1,000ft before he landed and kept the rotor blades spinning at 'idle' speed while the couple boarded.
Suddenly Jafari appeared and threw a green plastic bag full of chicken bones he had been feeding his dogs at the helicopter before kicking it with the sole of his foot.
As the helicopter began to lift off Jafari then clung on to the chopper's undercarriage forcing it to bank 'aggressively' to the right hand side, terrifying the passengers and witnesses to the scene.
The helicopter 'rocked from side to side' and witnesses thought it would crash.
Miss Hale told the jury: 'He clung on to the skid and we lurched to the right.
'It was a bit of a blur after that. I started to cry. I think I was saying I thought I was going to die.'
The court heard Mr Blokland could not power the helicopter down, as the blades may have taken the Jafari's head off, but eventually managed to recover the aircraft and set it down in a nearby field.
Mr Blokland, a chiropractor, has not flown since the incident in May last year.
He told the court he had lost all confidence and that his pilot's license has subsequently lapsed.
After the incident Mr Blokland called the Civil Aviation Authority and the police to report the incident and Mr Jafari was arrested.
He was later convicted of one count of endangering an aircraft at a trial in July.
Yesterday Judge Michael Roach told Jafari at Bristol Crown Court: 'Grabbing the right hand skid on take off was very dangerous and was liable to destabilise the aircraft which had only risen six feet off the ground.
'You physically interfered with a helicopter on take off. In my judgement your behaviour was deliberate and reckless.'
He added: 'You are an intelligent, resourceful man who on this particular occasion let your temper get the better of you and you acted in a dangerous manner.
'In my judgement the case is too serious to justify a suspended sentence.'
He also ordered Jafari to pay £2,800 in costs, saying: 'There is no reason, it seems to me, why the public should bear the expense of this case.'
Tycoon Houshang Jafari jailed for grabbing helicopter laden with passengers | Mail Online
Jail for air-rage tycoon who grabbed helicopter laden with passengers as it tried to take off
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 5:42 PM on 3rd August 2010
It's easy to understand the frustration caused by a noisy helicopter landing outside one's manor house.
But the lawn of a 16th century Grade II listed building is a dangerous place to get air rage.
Furious that the rotas were blowing debris on to his nearby Land Rover, Houshang Jafari stormed up to the helicopter, kicked it, and threw a plastic bag full of bones at the spinning blades.
Caught on camera: The moment the furious tycoon, circled, grabbed the helicopter as it attempted to take offThen, as the aircraft full of terrified passengers took off, the 22 stone businessman hung onto its landing bars, causing it to tip over in mid air.
The court heard he had put the pilot and his passengers at risk of 'catastrophic consequences' as the helicopter tried to take off from Dower House in Bristol.
Jafari, 58, was 'livid' when the private Jet Ranger landed outside his £1.2million flat on land shared by the other residents of the converted former hospital.
Jailed: Houshang Jafari arrives at Bristol Crown Court today for sentencing He tried to open the pilot's door, lashing out at the side of aircraft, and then threw a plastic bag full of chicken bones towards the rotor - which could have become caught up in the engine, causing the helicopter to spin out of control.
Yesterday he wiped a tear from his eye as he was jailed for a year for endangering the safety of an aircraft.
The millionaire property developer had claimed during his trial that he was too fat to have caused any trouble.
He told the court:'I made no contact with [the helicopter] at all. The rotor blades are really going fast, there was a lot of wind.
'I took a full step back, lifted on to my tip-toes and I lifted both my hands up. I said: 'Where the hell are you going?'
'I made no contact with it in any way. I am a fat man, my foot doesn't come up – how can I kick it?'
But one of the passengers, said she thought she was going to die as a result of Jafari's outburst.
The pilot Mark Blokland had flown the helicopter to Dower House with his wife Tammy to pick up his business partner Simon Clarke and his partner Elizabeth Hale.
Mr Clarke had met with other residents of the building to ensure there were no problems with the landing but had not informed everyone of the helicopter's arrival.
Dr Blokland, who has more than 400 hours of flying experience, circled the area twice at 1,000ft before he landed and kept the rotor blades spinning at 'idle' speed while the couple boarded.
Suddenly Jafari appeared and threw a green plastic bag full of chicken bones he had been feeding his dogs at the helicopter before kicking it with the sole of his foot.
As the helicopter began to lift off Jafari then clung on to the chopper's undercarriage forcing it to bank 'aggressively' to the right hand side, terrifying the passengers and witnesses to the scene.
The helicopter 'rocked from side to side' and witnesses thought it would crash.
Miss Hale told the jury: 'He clung on to the skid and we lurched to the right.
'It was a bit of a blur after that. I started to cry. I think I was saying I thought I was going to die.'
The court heard Mr Blokland could not power the helicopter down, as the blades may have taken the Jafari's head off, but eventually managed to recover the aircraft and set it down in a nearby field.
Mr Blokland, a chiropractor, has not flown since the incident in May last year.
He told the court he had lost all confidence and that his pilot's license has subsequently lapsed.
After the incident Mr Blokland called the Civil Aviation Authority and the police to report the incident and Mr Jafari was arrested.
He was later convicted of one count of endangering an aircraft at a trial in July.
Yesterday Judge Michael Roach told Jafari at Bristol Crown Court: 'Grabbing the right hand skid on take off was very dangerous and was liable to destabilise the aircraft which had only risen six feet off the ground.
'You physically interfered with a helicopter on take off. In my judgement your behaviour was deliberate and reckless.'
He added: 'You are an intelligent, resourceful man who on this particular occasion let your temper get the better of you and you acted in a dangerous manner.
'In my judgement the case is too serious to justify a suspended sentence.'
He also ordered Jafari to pay £2,800 in costs, saying: 'There is no reason, it seems to me, why the public should bear the expense of this case.'
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: somewhere
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
public
over the years doing numerous short scenic flights at various shows and events, I have had a few things thrown at the helicopter - scoccer balls, PVC piping, drinking glasses, rocks, sober people running out to abuse the pilot. In my opinion the safest option it to remove the cause of it all - the helicopter with moving rotors! how can it be unsafe to remove the running helicopter? in my experience, people that are angry often dont think rationally and they will be the one who gets hurt - who is resonsible then?? event coordinators? air craft owner/company? PIC?
i certianly dont want to be the pilot sitting at the controls when a mad person comes up and looses an arm or gets decapitated!
i certianly dont want to be the pilot sitting at the controls when a mad person comes up and looses an arm or gets decapitated!
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think all that needs to be said about Choppies speculation has been said - But I still wonder what he would actually have done if it had been him .... 
Line drawn under that one ----------------------------------------------------------
But moving back to the "chain of events", there's an interesting comment from one of the other residents to speculate over, that might have indicated such a probem could have arisen.
Apparantly at least some of the other residents have had prior dealings with him :
So - You're planning on being picked up by a helicopter that is going to land outside shared accommodation where a "Controversial Character" also lives.
For some reason other residents, but not this character, are informed of the plan - Why was that ?
Was it because whoever had to tell him feared the response they might receive, and just decided to carry on regardless without telling him ?
Why wasn't he informed in writing with a suitably worded note through his letter box ?
Maybe if he HAD been informed in advance he wouldn't have been so mad on the day, or maybe he would have made his objections known in advance so that an alternative plan could have been made to everyone's satisfaction.
Maybe previous dealings with him have resulted in the other residents (justifiably) avoiding him, which has added fuel to his anger when something happens that he hasn't been told about - particularly when he finds out that everyone else knew about it ?
There you go - Speculation AND hindsight
In no way am I condoning Jafari, just looking at it from a slightly different angle of "How do you deal with a bad tempered, irresponsible, unreasonable, angry, dangerous and potentially violent resident"
Yes, yes, I know - Of course there was no REQUIREMENT to tell him - the pilot had permission to land, and did so quite lawfully, and why should such an idiot have to be pandered to etc ? -
Simple - because he IS an idiot and the sensible ones amongst us have a responsibility to mitigate for people like him and thus minimse the potential risk to everyone else.
Jafari definitely got what he deserved though and should count himself lucky to be alive.
He should have got an extra 6 months just for turning up in front of the Judge wearing that shirt
!
And another 6 for feeding his dogs with chicken bones
!
( No prizes for guessing what breed his dogs are )
Line drawn under that one ----------------------------------------------------------
But moving back to the "chain of events", there's an interesting comment from one of the other residents to speculate over, that might have indicated such a probem could have arisen.
Apparantly at least some of the other residents have had prior dealings with him :
He is a controversial character whose conviction for this offence and 12 month custodial sentence will bring a sense of relief to residents.
For some reason other residents, but not this character, are informed of the plan - Why was that ?
Was it because whoever had to tell him feared the response they might receive, and just decided to carry on regardless without telling him ?
Why wasn't he informed in writing with a suitably worded note through his letter box ?
Maybe if he HAD been informed in advance he wouldn't have been so mad on the day, or maybe he would have made his objections known in advance so that an alternative plan could have been made to everyone's satisfaction.
Maybe previous dealings with him have resulted in the other residents (justifiably) avoiding him, which has added fuel to his anger when something happens that he hasn't been told about - particularly when he finds out that everyone else knew about it ?
There you go - Speculation AND hindsight
In no way am I condoning Jafari, just looking at it from a slightly different angle of "How do you deal with a bad tempered, irresponsible, unreasonable, angry, dangerous and potentially violent resident"
Yes, yes, I know - Of course there was no REQUIREMENT to tell him - the pilot had permission to land, and did so quite lawfully, and why should such an idiot have to be pandered to etc ? -
Simple - because he IS an idiot and the sensible ones amongst us have a responsibility to mitigate for people like him and thus minimse the potential risk to everyone else.
Jafari definitely got what he deserved though and should count himself lucky to be alive.
He should have got an extra 6 months just for turning up in front of the Judge wearing that shirt
!And another 6 for feeding his dogs with chicken bones
! ( No prizes for guessing what breed his dogs are
)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Age: 66
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the pilot had shut down, he risked a shouting at and perhaps a black eye. The resident was standing at the door, so was not at risk of decapitation. There would have been very little or no risk to the aircraft on the ground, the safest place for it.
Since the pilot panicked and lifted, effectively placing the skids in the face of the resident, I would say the resident probably instinctively put his hands out to push the skids away. The risk to the aircraft has now increased because of pilot action.
He should have known better, it was his responsibility.
Since the pilot panicked and lifted, effectively placing the skids in the face of the resident, I would say the resident probably instinctively put his hands out to push the skids away. The risk to the aircraft has now increased because of pilot action.
He should have known better, it was his responsibility.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: home and abroad
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The moron should never have been that close to the helicopter.
Perhaps he is used to bully everybody, but this is an expensive and dangerous piece of hardware with bits moving very fast.
Like someone said earlier, he could have taken the registration and called the police.
There is no way we can mitigate for all the idiots on this planet who think they are above the law, be it the law of the land or the laws of nature.
The pilot complied with the law, informed residents and did his best to be neighbourly.
If the offender really is a millionaire who has flown on helicopters, he should have known better than to throw something at a tail rotor. Besides, since when has throwing stuff at other people or objects been acceptable? He got mad over a bit of dust on his car..then tries to fling chicken bones at a helicopter?
12 months serves this guy right. And I certainly would not have waited for an idiot who already had demonstrated severe lack of common sense to come and open my door.
Perhaps he is used to bully everybody, but this is an expensive and dangerous piece of hardware with bits moving very fast.
Like someone said earlier, he could have taken the registration and called the police.
There is no way we can mitigate for all the idiots on this planet who think they are above the law, be it the law of the land or the laws of nature.
The pilot complied with the law, informed residents and did his best to be neighbourly.
If the offender really is a millionaire who has flown on helicopters, he should have known better than to throw something at a tail rotor. Besides, since when has throwing stuff at other people or objects been acceptable? He got mad over a bit of dust on his car..then tries to fling chicken bones at a helicopter?
12 months serves this guy right. And I certainly would not have waited for an idiot who already had demonstrated severe lack of common sense to come and open my door.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where did coldairs post go ?
Possibily another indication of character is that he is pretentious enough to call himself a "Lord" !
Of course some people are just naturally ignorant, arrogant and obnoxious,
and no matter how reasonable you try and be with them,
they will rarely change their own blinkered views - will they Chop ?
Earl - Thanks for the suggestion but I don't really fancy being an MP -
Where would I find the time to fill in all those Expenses claims ?
Possibily another indication of character is that he is pretentious enough to call himself a "Lord" !
Of course some people are just naturally ignorant, arrogant and obnoxious,
and no matter how reasonable you try and be with them,
they will rarely change their own blinkered views - will they Chop ?
Earl - Thanks for the suggestion but I don't really fancy being an MP -
Where would I find the time to fill in all those Expenses claims ?
Last edited by Coconutty; 6th Aug 2010 at 05:36. Reason: Typo's
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midlands, England
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
S76Heav said, "Perhaps he is used to bully everybody" .
A bit of thread drift here but should anyone be interested the 'gentleman' seems to have a bit of history of bullying.
Google 'destructionofgrovewood' for more info.
p.s. He calls himself 'Lord Houshang Jafari'
A bit of thread drift here but should anyone be interested the 'gentleman'
seems to have a bit of history of bullying.Google 'destructionofgrovewood' for more info.
p.s. He calls himself 'Lord Houshang Jafari'
Congested area or not
In response to Vobiscum's post and the representation of the CAA's Keith Thomas in court I have a question regarding the 'congested area' rule.
If this was technically a congested area why did the pilot not need permission from the CAA?
Looking at the ANO's definition of a 'congested area' I dare say it could be argued that all small villages and even a collection of say four houses with fields all around could be seen as a congested area!
Can anyone shed any light on this or perhaps give any case studies?
Thanks.
J
If this was technically a congested area why did the pilot not need permission from the CAA?
Looking at the ANO's definition of a 'congested area' I dare say it could be argued that all small villages and even a collection of say four houses with fields all around could be seen as a congested area!
Can anyone shed any light on this or perhaps give any case studies?
Thanks.
J
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Linköping, Sweden
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it must be quite unbalancing to have someone grab onto your skid while attempting to make the take-off! Especially if the grabbing has not been previously agreed between the pilot and the grabber.
Does anyone remember the poor pilot who, apart from having the linen-wrapped dead body of Murtaza Bhutto (son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Ali Bhutto) layed out next to him, was forced to carry uninvited 'non paying' passengers?
I think (overall) he managed the situation fairly well.
Pakistani registered Bell 206 Jet Ranger III lifts from the road outside Karachi's Mideast Hospital (which had been closed for the landing) on Saturday 22nd September 1996. On board is the deceased body of the son of former Prime Minister Ali Bhutto. Several mourners did not wish to let go of the late Murtaza Bhutto and held on to the helicopter - one of the 'non-fare-paying passengers' remained attached to the helicopter and which forced the pilot to land at nearby Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim where the 'passenger' eventually let go and the Jet Ranger contined to Murtaza's burial location in Larkano.
YBB
Does anyone remember the poor pilot who, apart from having the linen-wrapped dead body of Murtaza Bhutto (son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Ali Bhutto) layed out next to him, was forced to carry uninvited 'non paying' passengers?
I think (overall) he managed the situation fairly well.
Pakistani registered Bell 206 Jet Ranger III lifts from the road outside Karachi's Mideast Hospital (which had been closed for the landing) on Saturday 22nd September 1996. On board is the deceased body of the son of former Prime Minister Ali Bhutto. Several mourners did not wish to let go of the late Murtaza Bhutto and held on to the helicopter - one of the 'non-fare-paying passengers' remained attached to the helicopter and which forced the pilot to land at nearby Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim where the 'passenger' eventually let go and the Jet Ranger contined to Murtaza's burial location in Larkano.
YBB
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: US
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yellow
I do remember when this incident happened (and seeing the reports). In terms of dealing with the dynamics of imbalance during take-off I think the Pakastani pilot did a very good job. As I remember it there were a bunch of whackers trying to get a hold of the bird and, as you mentioned, one ended up flying off with it!
I'm not sure if the Limey pilot in this thread would have been up to it (he may have fainted). Try taking repeated small arms fire .. continuing to land (otherwise your pals are dead meat) ... loading up and taking off while still taking hits! This was in a UH1, tail boom, engine bay area, main cabin, pilot (my) door, belly and fuel tank all punctured! But, we kept on f***ing flying!!!
HM
ps: what did I tell you about posting juvenile icons and avatars after your signature!!!!
I do remember when this incident happened (and seeing the reports). In terms of dealing with the dynamics of imbalance during take-off I think the Pakastani pilot did a very good job. As I remember it there were a bunch of whackers trying to get a hold of the bird and, as you mentioned, one ended up flying off with it!
I'm not sure if the Limey pilot in this thread would have been up to it (he may have fainted
). Try taking repeated small arms fire .. continuing to land (otherwise your pals are dead meat) ... loading up and taking off while still taking hits! This was in a UH1, tail boom, engine bay area, main cabin, pilot (my) door, belly and fuel tank all punctured! But, we kept on f***ing flying!!!HM
ps: what did I tell you about posting juvenile icons and avatars after your signature!!!!
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HM : For actions under fire - 
, but hardly a comparison to this incident.
Neither really is the Pakistan incident, where the "Hangers On" were trying to prevent departure of the cargo,
rather than an obvious aggression targetted at the pilot ?
As a member of the Armed forces you would be expected to get stuck in -
Good on you - Your Country really does need you
Not everyone is of the same 'robust' character though, and in THIS case,
( based purely on information posted here and other News reports ),
I am of the opinion that Capt. Blokland's decision not to engage the enemy
was the right one, for him, at that moment in time, in those circumstances.
, but hardly a comparison to this incident.Neither really is the Pakistan incident, where the "Hangers On" were trying to prevent departure of the cargo,
rather than an obvious aggression targetted at the pilot ?
As a member of the Armed forces you would be expected to get stuck in -
Good on you - Your Country really does need you
Not everyone is of the same 'robust' character though, and in THIS case,
( based purely on information posted here and other News reports ),
I am of the opinion that Capt. Blokland's decision not to engage the enemy
was the right one, for him, at that moment in time, in those circumstances.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jafari was obviously a nutbag. Was the chicken bones some kind of a voodoo curse?
What the folks here who want to remain professional pilots need to get out of this is something quit different. Helicopter pilots are our own worse enemy. If you look at the pictures that were taken, the pilot landed in a quite large "garden" of an English mansion. There was a lot of room, and this guy chose to land close to the parked vehicles when he could have landed just a wee bit further and not peppered the guy's vehicles with debris. This hapens more than it should. More car glass and paint gets damaged by helicopters than you can imagine, and most of it is because the pilot chose poorly. Remember that most folks on the ground don't spend their days thinking about the effects of rotorwash, but helicopter pilots should think about that. I have seen many a pilot, military and civil, who have no regard for their rotorwash at airports or anywhere else. I have seen aircraft damaged or just turned in their parking spots by a pilot who chose to hover at a high hover by them instead of either getting as close to the ground (minumum power) as they could, or air-taxi past to land in a clear area.
We cause our own troubles, from damaging property to creating a nuissance with our noise or just scaring people, and that makes a bad name for all of us. It also gets local legislation made against helicopter operations.
Always respect your rotorwash, be mindful of the noise your machine produces, and if you like screwing around as much as I do, be smart and don't do it were you will piss people off!
Another thing to remember is- we spend a lot of time thinking about the spinning parts of our machinery and all the other aspects of helicopter flight. Most people on the ground don't give any of that a thought, and are therefore oblivious to the hazards. It is part of our responsibility when we bring our machinary somewhere to take due precautions to protect ourselves and the oblivious folks around us. Sometimes this is impossible because there are a lot of people out there who are more stupid than we can imagine- but we still must take due precaution. I flew HEMS in Qatar, and you just can't imagine what people might do- even with police standing by or medical crew marshalling bystanders till the rotors stop or start. The public can find ways to bypass your best plans and defences.
Mark
What the folks here who want to remain professional pilots need to get out of this is something quit different. Helicopter pilots are our own worse enemy. If you look at the pictures that were taken, the pilot landed in a quite large "garden" of an English mansion. There was a lot of room, and this guy chose to land close to the parked vehicles when he could have landed just a wee bit further and not peppered the guy's vehicles with debris. This hapens more than it should. More car glass and paint gets damaged by helicopters than you can imagine, and most of it is because the pilot chose poorly. Remember that most folks on the ground don't spend their days thinking about the effects of rotorwash, but helicopter pilots should think about that. I have seen many a pilot, military and civil, who have no regard for their rotorwash at airports or anywhere else. I have seen aircraft damaged or just turned in their parking spots by a pilot who chose to hover at a high hover by them instead of either getting as close to the ground (minumum power) as they could, or air-taxi past to land in a clear area.
We cause our own troubles, from damaging property to creating a nuissance with our noise or just scaring people, and that makes a bad name for all of us. It also gets local legislation made against helicopter operations.
Always respect your rotorwash, be mindful of the noise your machine produces, and if you like screwing around as much as I do, be smart and don't do it were you will piss people off!
Another thing to remember is- we spend a lot of time thinking about the spinning parts of our machinery and all the other aspects of helicopter flight. Most people on the ground don't give any of that a thought, and are therefore oblivious to the hazards. It is part of our responsibility when we bring our machinary somewhere to take due precautions to protect ourselves and the oblivious folks around us. Sometimes this is impossible because there are a lot of people out there who are more stupid than we can imagine- but we still must take due precaution. I flew HEMS in Qatar, and you just can't imagine what people might do- even with police standing by or medical crew marshalling bystanders till the rotors stop or start. The public can find ways to bypass your best plans and defences.
Mark
Chop-jock... With due respect, you're wrong here.
Lets say that the Pilot had elected not to take off... He's now on the ground in the presence of a large bloke behaving in a deranged manner who has already screamed abuse at the Pilot and physically attacked the helicopter.
Are we to suppose that he is going to stand quietly beside the helicopter whilst the pilot shuts it down in a safe manner? Or would the pilot be forgiven for thinking that the lout could quite easily open the door and attacked or grabbed the pilot whilst he's at the controls. Anyone care to consider the consequences of having the pilot dragged out of the helicopter whilst the blades are still turning at speed???
I have little doubt that in the same situation i would have carried out the same action. I have on several occasions in my career taken such action to avoid "numpties". When you're on the ground with the blades at less than "fly" you are powerless to take any immediate action to protect the helicopter or the "numpty".
Good job Pilot, CAA and Judge!
OH
Lets say that the Pilot had elected not to take off... He's now on the ground in the presence of a large bloke behaving in a deranged manner who has already screamed abuse at the Pilot and physically attacked the helicopter.
Are we to suppose that he is going to stand quietly beside the helicopter whilst the pilot shuts it down in a safe manner? Or would the pilot be forgiven for thinking that the lout could quite easily open the door and attacked or grabbed the pilot whilst he's at the controls. Anyone care to consider the consequences of having the pilot dragged out of the helicopter whilst the blades are still turning at speed???
I have little doubt that in the same situation i would have carried out the same action. I have on several occasions in my career taken such action to avoid "numpties". When you're on the ground with the blades at less than "fly" you are powerless to take any immediate action to protect the helicopter or the "numpty".
Good job Pilot, CAA and Judge!
OH