Olympic restrictions 2012
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Olympic restrictions 2012
Up and running in Private Flying
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...trictions.html
Direct link to the website
Primary airspace restrictions for south-east England
Helilanes look rather "closed"
Crossings for City and Heathrow look "closed" also
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...trictions.html
Direct link to the website
Primary airspace restrictions for south-east England
Helilanes look rather "closed"
Crossings for City and Heathrow look "closed" also
Last edited by John R81; 7th Mar 2011 at 19:07. Reason: Added link to restrictions website
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Olympic Size Disaster for helicopter industry?
I would encourage UK operators to have look at olympics.airspacesafety.com as soon as they can.
For those companies which have survived a prolonged recession and struggled with huge rises in CAA fees comes the final insult. To finally kill off the SE England helicopter charter industry they are closing all the VFR airspace in South East England for two months in the busiest part of the year in 2012.
I don't why it took so long to come up with a plan like this - my 5 year old could of done something as clever in 2 minutes with a crayon.
For those companies which have survived a prolonged recession and struggled with huge rises in CAA fees comes the final insult. To finally kill off the SE England helicopter charter industry they are closing all the VFR airspace in South East England for two months in the busiest part of the year in 2012.
I don't why it took so long to come up with a plan like this - my 5 year old could of done something as clever in 2 minutes with a crayon.
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Oh my word, what a b*lls up.
No faxed plans?
So we have to use this site?
https://ts1.flightplanningonline.co.uk/index.html
Better hope they get it working by then.
When I clicked on "login" all I got was a file called "ats.xjnlp" downloaded to my desktop, which my computer didn't know what to do with.
I can see all this working out very well indeed!
File a Flight Plan on AFPEx or AFTN between 24 hrs and 2 hours before take-off and follow it - no airborne or faxed flight plans will be permitted.
So we have to use this site?
https://ts1.flightplanningonline.co.uk/index.html
Better hope they get it working by then.
When I clicked on "login" all I got was a file called "ats.xjnlp" downloaded to my desktop, which my computer didn't know what to do with.
I can see all this working out very well indeed!
Avoid imitations
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This will prevent pax being picked up from private landing sites and delivered to Battersea due to the ridiculous requirement for screening at a suitably equipped facility.
Looks like the supposed fortunes to be made from the olympics for London based operators will be the exact opposite.
Perhaps the olympic committee might like to make some donations to the UK helicopter or aviation industry so it can keep going while they are here, not directly their fault but there are clearly some proper geniuses around who came up with this plan.
What a disaster in its current state.
I've seen a brief email from our local Satco and they were not consulted at all so this if it goes ahead will cause chaos for us next year.
Perhaps the olympic committee might like to make some donations to the UK helicopter or aviation industry so it can keep going while they are here, not directly their fault but there are clearly some proper geniuses around who came up with this plan.
What a disaster in its current state.
I've seen a brief email from our local Satco and they were not consulted at all so this if it goes ahead will cause chaos for us next year.
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I can see the South East flight schools having fun with this system.
Every website you go to has a "login" function that works fine on any computer, yet NATS have to do it differently. Great.
Every website you go to has a "login" function that works fine on any computer, yet NATS have to do it differently. Great.
The NATS AFPEx interface is a website, but as soon as you want to actually do anything, it's a full blown Java app that you have to download each time you want to use it! Muchos megabytes... At least setting up the account takes less than 30 mins now 
.
Have I read this correctly? If I live (with my heli) within the restricted area, I'll have to file a flight plan every time I lift?!! Does NATS have the capacity to cope with the avalanche of flight plans it's going to receive and monitor?! This sounds suspiciously like some donkey behind a desk dreaming up an ill conceived plan, but like a lot of 'temporary' ideas, I can see this becoming normal practice for Heli-route traffic after the Olympics
.Have I read this correctly? If I live (with my heli) within the restricted area, I'll have to file a flight plan every time I lift?!! Does NATS have the capacity to cope with the avalanche of flight plans it's going to receive and monitor?! This sounds suspiciously like some donkey behind a desk dreaming up an ill conceived plan, but like a lot of 'temporary' ideas, I can see this becoming normal practice for Heli-route traffic after the Olympics
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Cack handed ill conceived amateurish and lazy approach to an issue.
You have to wonder why any population would want to host such an event, given that the impact on ordinary people and business is so detrimental.
You have to wonder why any population would want to host such an event, given that the impact on ordinary people and business is so detrimental.
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You might get to file your plan no gaurantee you will be given permission to lift and carry out your flight though. Also if they get overloaded you won't be going anywhere. Remember this is a huge event any unauthorised flying may involve you getting escorted or just shot of the sky by fast jets. Get practising your autos so you can get down quick. ;-)
You could have seen this coming.
A similarly awful 'plan' has been circulating in the towns around the venues hosting the games for 3 months now. In short [because it has nothing to do with aviation] the plan is that far from getting business from the proximity of an event [White Water events locally to here] the entrances have been moved [from the built up areas] and all attendees are being directed away from direct contact with the public in the locality. They are being bussed in from massive car parks on airfields [North Weald locally].
Add to that the proposed shut down of local public car parks [even to local shoppers] red route [no stopping] restrictions on the nearby routes and even a suggestion that such as street markets should be shut down for the duration you may see that this is not actually an attack on aviation but a whole way of life.
Whether the local authorities can actually turn this elephant around in 14months remains to be seen.
A similarly awful 'plan' has been circulating in the towns around the venues hosting the games for 3 months now. In short [because it has nothing to do with aviation] the plan is that far from getting business from the proximity of an event [White Water events locally to here] the entrances have been moved [from the built up areas] and all attendees are being directed away from direct contact with the public in the locality. They are being bussed in from massive car parks on airfields [North Weald locally].
Add to that the proposed shut down of local public car parks [even to local shoppers] red route [no stopping] restrictions on the nearby routes and even a suggestion that such as street markets should be shut down for the duration you may see that this is not actually an attack on aviation but a whole way of life.
Whether the local authorities can actually turn this elephant around in 14months remains to be seen.
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Since the authorities have decided to prevent the onshore hele charter industry from operating for the duration of the Olympics, the least they should do is refund all the AOC fees for the period.
I wonder how much of the onshore industry will remain by Autumn 2012?
I wonder how much of the onshore industry will remain by Autumn 2012?
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The last winter olympics in Vancouver/Whistler practically shut down or limited a lot of operations to most local companies and flying schools for I think it was about 3 months. I was trying to take my IFR at the time and pretty much gave up taking it locally. Some schools tried to move out of the restricted area but I think some just gave up all together. Helicopters companies took the worst of it. All flights had to have proper airport security and passenger manifest approved either 24 or 48 hrs in advance. If you deviated off flight plan the military will be on you fairly quick. So originally a lot of businesses had big plans to gain from the olympics not only aviation businesses when in fact a lot where far worse off with the olympics than with out. There were basically only 2 Heli companies that benefited from the olympics while the rest had pretty tough time to work locally. I am not sure if there was any compensation to local businesses but there should of been. Cost a lot to have aircraft sitting around plus the loss of business. Good Luck to all
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well as far as the restricted area goes it may be a case of just go flying anyway or go bust depending on how easy it is to get a clearance, why not just have a phone number and ring in with the flight details and off you go but really who in their right mind thinks this whole thing will make the games any safer ????.................................
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Rather than ranting on pprune with no response, why not rant on at Contact points
It may be wishful thinking but if enough people argue their case, perhaps 'they' might listen...
It may be wishful thinking but if enough people argue their case, perhaps 'they' might listen...
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Below is what I emailed to them. I suggest everyone else does the same or something similiar
-----
Dear Sir,
I would like to complain about the 2012 airspace restrictions that have been proposed.
These restrictions will effectly ground all General Aviation VFR flights for two months and will seriously affect the businesses of flight schools and charter operations (especially Helicopter companies).
I would like to know why these draconian measures are necessary? General Aviation and onshore Helicopter Charter businesses have been suffering from increased regulation/AOC charges, high fuel charges and a recession, this "airspace lockdown" may be the final nail in the coffin for many businesses.
The proposals also state that all pilots will have to flight a flight plan via the NATS website during the entire Olympics period. This online service seems to be plagued with technical problems and will be even worse when more people are trying to use it.
I look forward to hearing your reply on these matters
Regards
-----
Dear Sir,
I would like to complain about the 2012 airspace restrictions that have been proposed.
These restrictions will effectly ground all General Aviation VFR flights for two months and will seriously affect the businesses of flight schools and charter operations (especially Helicopter companies).
I would like to know why these draconian measures are necessary? General Aviation and onshore Helicopter Charter businesses have been suffering from increased regulation/AOC charges, high fuel charges and a recession, this "airspace lockdown" may be the final nail in the coffin for many businesses.
The proposals also state that all pilots will have to flight a flight plan via the NATS website during the entire Olympics period. This online service seems to be plagued with technical problems and will be even worse when more people are trying to use it.
I look forward to hearing your reply on these matters
Regards
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Good evening guys ... so yes, the Olympic 'security' arrangements are with us and as oft noted here, they seem to have been dreamed up by a neighbour's cat. Our CAA are, I know, doing all they can, but the announced rules come directly from the security boffins at the Home Office. Offenders face a sure fire prosecution. As was said at a DA and DAE meeting yesterday, I doubt if the terrorists will be bothering to file flight plans or obligingly 'squawk' prior to getting airborne with a 500 pound GP bomb. Or something nastier.
What concerns me is getting that 'dig in the ribs' from a terrorist's Colt .45 with an urgent request to 'take me to London.' He/she will of course already have one's nearest and dearest abducted somewhere and on the phone for confirmation. Even a tiddly MD 500 will lift a 1,000 pounder which, suitably placed, will make a big enough bang to keep the media happy ... and a nasty dent in the Government's reputation. A few years ago, someone called it 'the soft underbelly of the City.
Not liking criticism without a constructive idea, and on the unlikely chance that someone in authority will read this, I'd suggest a network of 'special branch' armed guys need to be stationed out at the relevent GA airfields for the duration and forget all about flight plans and TPDRs. No aircraft gets airborne without a 'local' clearance from the good guys. OR shall we just let a few of the already struggling aviation businesses go bust. Six to eight weeks with little income should do it.
PS I'm wondering if we are to be 'shot down' by a Tornado at say 100 feet over our HP or Buck House?
What concerns me is getting that 'dig in the ribs' from a terrorist's Colt .45 with an urgent request to 'take me to London.' He/she will of course already have one's nearest and dearest abducted somewhere and on the phone for confirmation. Even a tiddly MD 500 will lift a 1,000 pounder which, suitably placed, will make a big enough bang to keep the media happy ... and a nasty dent in the Government's reputation. A few years ago, someone called it 'the soft underbelly of the City.
Not liking criticism without a constructive idea, and on the unlikely chance that someone in authority will read this, I'd suggest a network of 'special branch' armed guys need to be stationed out at the relevent GA airfields for the duration and forget all about flight plans and TPDRs. No aircraft gets airborne without a 'local' clearance from the good guys. OR shall we just let a few of the already struggling aviation businesses go bust. Six to eight weeks with little income should do it.
PS I'm wondering if we are to be 'shot down' by a Tornado at say 100 feet over our HP or Buck House?
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Special Exemptions
According to the website certain identified airfields will be able to apply for Exemptions to the restrictions during the period. 
Anyone have any idea what those exemptions might entail and will they be on a per airfield basis or will each operator have to apply for the exemption?
As a side note the website appears to have crashed already!
Anyone have any idea what those exemptions might entail and will they be on a per airfield basis or will each operator have to apply for the exemption?
As a side note the website appears to have crashed already!
This blow to local helicopter operators appears to be yet another win for Osama Bin Laden, and the ability of governments to come up with the worst possible reactions to a changed security environment.
My hopes are that you are all able to raise enough of a counter to this that an accomodation may be made to allow you to keep operating and make provision for securing certified operators to keep doing what helicopters do.
Make sure the media know how much revenue you'll lose, how many jobs will be influenced (to include mechanics, etc) and so on.
Raise hell.
Best wishes.
My hopes are that you are all able to raise enough of a counter to this that an accomodation may be made to allow you to keep operating and make provision for securing certified operators to keep doing what helicopters do.
Make sure the media know how much revenue you'll lose, how many jobs will be influenced (to include mechanics, etc) and so on.
Raise hell.
Best wishes.