Whats wrong with Shetland Beef?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 595
Likes: 58
From: UK
Whats wrong with Shetland Beef?
BBC News - Coastguard helicopter pilot suspended over Orkney butcher trip
The pilot of a coastguard helicopter in Shetland has been suspended after dropping in on a butcher in Orkney to pick up meat.
The incident came to light after a video of the aircraft landing in a field was posted on YouTube.
It has emerged that the Shetland-based helicopter landed near Craigie's butchers in the east of mainland Orkney to pick up a consignment of meat.
The aircraft's operators, CHC, confirmed the pilot had been suspended.
Mobile phone footage - which has now been removed from YouTube - showed two crew getting out of the helicopter and walking over to a group of butchers, who handed over the bag of Orkney beef.
'High standards'
A CHC spokeswoman: "We can confirm that a pilot has been suspended pending the results of a formal investigation.
"We expect high standards of professionalism from all our employees and, if we find these have not been met, we will take the appropriate action.
"While the aircraft was previously engaged in a training exercise, it was operating a non-revenue flight at the time of the incident in question."
The butcher at the centre of the incident said he was horrified that the pilot had been suspended.
The incident came to light after a video of the aircraft landing in a field was posted on YouTube.
It has emerged that the Shetland-based helicopter landed near Craigie's butchers in the east of mainland Orkney to pick up a consignment of meat.
The aircraft's operators, CHC, confirmed the pilot had been suspended.
Mobile phone footage - which has now been removed from YouTube - showed two crew getting out of the helicopter and walking over to a group of butchers, who handed over the bag of Orkney beef.
'High standards'
A CHC spokeswoman: "We can confirm that a pilot has been suspended pending the results of a formal investigation.
"We expect high standards of professionalism from all our employees and, if we find these have not been met, we will take the appropriate action.
"While the aircraft was previously engaged in a training exercise, it was operating a non-revenue flight at the time of the incident in question."
The butcher at the centre of the incident said he was horrified that the pilot had been suspended.
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
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Most of Shetlands meat goes up on the Ferry from Aberdeen.
Orkney breeds its own from very established herds which havn't been touch by the various culls which the rest of the UK has.
They also feed the beasts the waste products from Highland Park and Scarpa Distilleries.
The both the Beef and Lamb are really rather special.
That particualar Butcher is pretty well known for his Steak pies. And from first hand experence they are exceptional. His Haggis is cracking as well. And he will deliver to the airport if you give him a call and order a reasonable amount.
We are quite lucky in the North with still having family butchers providing quality products from local produce.
Stornaway black puddings are worth a try as well.
Orkney breeds its own from very established herds which havn't been touch by the various culls which the rest of the UK has.
They also feed the beasts the waste products from Highland Park and Scarpa Distilleries.
The both the Beef and Lamb are really rather special.
That particualar Butcher is pretty well known for his Steak pies. And from first hand experence they are exceptional. His Haggis is cracking as well. And he will deliver to the airport if you give him a call and order a reasonable amount.
We are quite lucky in the North with still having family butchers providing quality products from local produce.
Stornaway black puddings are worth a try as well.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 71
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From: Germany
Come on guys! It s time to send a application to CHC! 1 Pilot must be replaced!!
I think it´s not fair! It was a training flight, so way don´t exercise confined area landing?!
Hard stuff, a dream came true, a job at CHC and than it´s over, because of such a action....
I think it´s not fair! It was a training flight, so way don´t exercise confined area landing?!
Hard stuff, a dream came true, a job at CHC and than it´s over, because of such a action....
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
CHC really cud have turned a blind eye instead of giving the pilot a roasting; after all the poor chap's livelihood is at steak here.
They may have wanted it to be an example to udder pilots but a warning should suffice.
Cheers
Whirls
They may have wanted it to be an example to udder pilots but a warning should suffice.
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
From: Beside the seaside
That is a rare example of punning there Whirls. I herd that you were good at that sort of thing. The poor guy must be on the horns of a dilemma as it sounds like CHC have served him up on a platter. Perhaps he has a tough hide though and can ride the storm. Well done.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,174
Likes: 7
From: UK
In the early seventies our squadron at Odiham had a Puma HC1, XV203, which was a nominated CAAP (Componant Advanced Aging Program) aircraft. This helicopter was required to fly 100hrs/month to enable Aerospatial to certify the dynamic componants for civil use.
You could do anything with this helicopter as long as you piled on the hours. Moving kit, job interviews, thrashes at other stations etc. Included was kippers from Machrihanish and lamb and beef from the Orkneys.
You could do anything with this helicopter as long as you piled on the hours. Moving kit, job interviews, thrashes at other stations etc. Included was kippers from Machrihanish and lamb and beef from the Orkneys.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
For a second there I thought the US Secret Service was involved.
As to the suspended Pilot....was he "meat on the hook" on the way back to the airport? His Butt dangles in the wind it would appear. I guess it just wasn't Kosher!
As to the suspended Pilot....was he "meat on the hook" on the way back to the airport? His Butt dangles in the wind it would appear. I guess it just wasn't Kosher!
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
So a pilot tries to get his food shopping on the hoof, he shouldn't expect his employer to be watching his every moo-vement. This sort of rumpus could have been sorted easily.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 12
From: hither & thither
Nobody has a sense of fun these days and everything has to be taken so seriously 
I remember on a certain SAR flight not too far to the south west of Sumburgh where we used to pick up the Sunday papers on the beach at Ullapool. This was in the day (early 1990s) when there were no ferries or planes onto the island on the Sabbath and the Sunday papers were delivered to the shops on Monday. The We Free’s grip has slackened a bit over the years but not by much.
We used to plan for mountain flying training on the west coast Scottish mainland and nip in for a pre-arranged pick-up at about 1230. It was not a regular thing but I must say it was quite nice to know that as you sat at home on Sunday afternoon, you were the only person with a Mail on Sunday on the Outer Hebrides.
It all stopped I gather when a BBC engineer came up to Ullapool on a Saturday evening and asked at the pub what time the ferry to Stornoway departed on Sunday. He was up to fix the main transmitter I think. He was told “no ferries till Monday but you can hitch a ride with the coastguard when they come in for the papers tomorrow lunchtime”
The engineer then called the SAR flight to arrange pick-up along with the Mirror, Record and Sunday Post etc. only to be told that such things did not take place….. ever……click….brrrrr.
I remember on a certain SAR flight not too far to the south west of Sumburgh where we used to pick up the Sunday papers on the beach at Ullapool. This was in the day (early 1990s) when there were no ferries or planes onto the island on the Sabbath and the Sunday papers were delivered to the shops on Monday. The We Free’s grip has slackened a bit over the years but not by much.
We used to plan for mountain flying training on the west coast Scottish mainland and nip in for a pre-arranged pick-up at about 1230. It was not a regular thing but I must say it was quite nice to know that as you sat at home on Sunday afternoon, you were the only person with a Mail on Sunday on the Outer Hebrides.
It all stopped I gather when a BBC engineer came up to Ullapool on a Saturday evening and asked at the pub what time the ferry to Stornoway departed on Sunday. He was up to fix the main transmitter I think. He was told “no ferries till Monday but you can hitch a ride with the coastguard when they come in for the papers tomorrow lunchtime”
The engineer then called the SAR flight to arrange pick-up along with the Mirror, Record and Sunday Post etc. only to be told that such things did not take place….. ever……click….brrrrr.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
If people realised how daft the average pilot was they would never fly again.
But let's face it, you either laugh or cry about folk getting their hide tanned for such "crimes".
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,422
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From: Milano, Italia
CHC's beef with SAR crew
We are not a-moo-sed: Coastguard pilot suspended after landing at butcher's shop to collect a cut of beef
Coastguard pilot suspended after landing at butcher's shop to collect a cut of beef | Mail Online
The pilot of a coastguard helicopter has been suspended after images were posted online which appeared to show the aircraft stopping on a Scottish island to collect some beef from a butcher.
An investigation has been launched after the Shetland-based helicopter was filmed landing in a field at the back of the shop on Orkney.
Aberdeen-based firm CHC Helicopter provide search and rescue services to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the company insisted the aircraft had finished a training exercise at the time of the incident.
An investigation has been launched after the Shetland-based helicopter was filmed landing in a field at the back of the shop on Orkney.
Aberdeen-based firm CHC Helicopter provide search and rescue services to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the company insisted the aircraft had finished a training exercise at the time of the incident.