Arrive in Style

[Alex Lovell]

Hi,

I'm a Aviation Photographer in my spare tiem and am after a Favour!!!

Sunday 29th April 2012, I get married in the Cotswolds around 10 miles from Kemble.

I thought it might be a good idea to arrive in style - Please feel free to get in touch if you think you can help?

regards
Alex

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Here we go again..............

[griffothefog]

You're getting married dude... Shell out some dough and help the industry a little..

[Widewoodenwingswork]

Joyous lot those Brits aren't they?

If you want style, go in a Jaguar or Aston Martin. It'll be a lot cheaper, it's timeless and there's no way that weather is going to get in the way of your stylish entry.

Besides, people die in helicopters

[Alex Lovell]

Should've guessed there would be some negativity. It's to be expected and comes as no surprise.

My intentions are genuine and as this forum is shared by Helicopter Crew I don't see a problem with asking here.

Please feel free to remove this thread if you feel it is inappropriate Mods.

Unfortunately as I have a 6 month daughter there is a limit to how much I can shell out, and was hoping that as I have spent nuerous hours photographing and promoting the industry through various publications (Flypast, AirForces Monthly) that my request would be viewed positively

[bolkow]

HHmmm, wonder if there are heli pilots struggling for work, any work, with equally young families, just wondering?

[Alex Lovell]

Well if they are then they will be fortunate to arrive at a stunning location - perfect for photos with lots of aviation entusiasts with their cameras poised who conveniently can take lots of photos to give to any willing pilots who can them put them to good use by promoting themselves on their websites and get more work . I even know that the wedding venue will be willing to help with publicity via their website

[DeltaNg]

I'll fly you in Alex, if you can get hold of an EC135T2 for the day.

[Old Age Pilot]

I'm a Aviation Photographer in my spare tiem and am after a Favour!!!

Nice try, and why not? You never know unless you ask.

Joyous lot those Brits aren't they?

Besides, people die in helicopters

Where'd this guy come from? Tosser.

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Alex;

Seriously (very seriously) there are quite a few threads like this one in the history of this forum. A wedding is a high pressure event for those involved, you need to ask yourself (and any pilot) the following questions:
1. Is the landing site appropriate and has the aircraft the performance to fly in or out of it?
2. If a pilot volunteers to help you will he have sorted out all the potential CAA traps of Rule 5 etc?
3. If the weather craps out have you a back up plan?
4. You are offering lots of coverage, website stuff etc, does that constitute a payment for flight under the terms of the ANO?
5. You are probably hoping for the generosity of a PPL forum member (no AOC would take on these terms) does he have the experience you want to transport you and your bride to where you want to go?
6. If on the day the heli goes U/S are you going to take that on the chin? or are you going to put a lot of pressure on? see also 3 above.

I hate flying for weddings, people do stupid things around aircraft (at one hotel 200 guests ran at the helicopter while the blades were turning, god knows how no-one was killed) Photographers ask for things which may not be sensible and put more pressure on the pilot and the pilot may do things, he normally wouldn't and put himself into a situation he can't get out of without making a mess of the aircraft or pax.

Good luck with the wedding, seriously go by Bentley, its' easier and a lot less hassle.

SND

[jemax]

I fly for a living, wouldn't have dreamed of arriving at the wedding in a helicopter.

Our choice for the day was a timelessly classic Navy Mk2 Jag with red leather interior. Beautiful car but I gather it was the getaway vehicle of choice for gangsters in the 60's, just in case of a requirement for a quick getaway on the day.

Couldn't agree more with Sir ND above, incidentally it pee'd down all day on mine anyway so it wouldn't have worked.

It's just another tier of stress/hassle/complication you don't need on the big day, you should have seen the stress created when I wasn't able to get a groom in on his fogged out wedding day. Despite me telling him the night before it was a 90% no go, he still didn't make a proper plan B.

Enjoy your wedding day, I did

[welsh_Gareth]

And I thought I was going to see a Necker Island request lol

[bolkow]

Jemax, I take it you did not need to0 use that classic car for the purpose it originally served, quick getaways?

[[email protected]]

Seriously

Enough said above I think. I wouldn't do them even when they offered to pay - didn't want the pressure for any of my crew should we not be able to complete the task. I did on the other hand make some money by not flying over a wedding - Tiger Woods - and I thought that was well worth it

[hands_on123]

I'm sure this guy is free

You Tube

[FLY 7]

This is Alex Lovell

Age 38 and based in Bristol

Alex Lovell - Television presenter, voiceover artist and actress. Official Alex Lovell website.

[hands_on123]

I think it's more likely to be this one

Flickr: AlexLovell2011

[EESDL]

Hi Alex - can't help with your request but best of luck on the day.

Nowt wrong with choppering into weddings - just needs to be done properly - and preferably, if as a 'favour', with a pilot you do not know so they will not be emotionally involved on the day if weather turns crud etc.
Just make sure you have a realistic back-up plan.
Done plenty of wedding flights but only through an AOC and with ground crew already in-situ to restrain the drunken well-intentioned wellwishers!

Nice pics by the way - looks like you're good at 'blagging' lifts - keep up the good work!

[OneManBand]

Which one ...

Shame you're not the first Alex ... i'd have definitely given you one

[hihover]

.....and then fly you to your wedding.