Sydney Harbour Bridge: one law for them?
 

Rumour has it that a NSW Police Squirrel caused a fair bit of grief recently, flying under the Harbour Bridge "because they can" :rolleyes:

Any truth to the rumour? Any repercussions from CASA, or is the part time police pilot/CP for a well known Traffic Network getting away with it, again :mad: It's sensitive enough for the average bloke complying with the regs, but this does get a bit tediously blatant :yuk:

I see you are getting into the PPRUNE swing of things. I myself prefer a little more solid evidence, like a photo (unless it appears in the People's Daily), before launching off on an accusation that will cause grief for someone.

But I admire your style - you could report for the Daily Telegraph without any problem whatsoever.

Go on! Don't tell me! You are a reporter!!

I have Photo's :)

If only i was smart enough and know how to post them i would!!:E

I agree though that its seems we have one law for one! and another for the rest of us......:yuk:

Oh and i have flown under the Bridge! had to write to 4 Goverment Depts to get permmision..

CASA
Roads & Traffic Authority
Harbour Master
Sydney Ports Authority



:ok:

Thats simple, go to photobucket.com and set up a free account, upload your photos, then link them here.

Looking forward to seeing them.

Under or Over
 

Seen the photo and even so, 'if they can', what is the big problem?

For grief, read envy!

http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/8.gif

SS

Sounds like you would do it if you could, just for the heck of it. At least they had a reason.

I have done it, in the Polair machine, and it was on searches for bodies. Part of being under there was a thrill, part was a worry that some jealous dill would drop something on me from above.

:bored: yawn........ :rolleyes:

Yes, because they can!:p

Heres some more pics.

http://hoore.com/helo/polair_bridge/

Because we could!! :=

http://www.geocities.com/pprunessils...Lynxbridge.jpg

http://bestsmileys.com/army/13.gif

SS

I've got to say that the more I read this forum the more I'm convinced we have some ******* idiots who purport themselves to be "professional" helicopter pilots - I don't think a number of you have what it takes - go away and get a job that matches your capabilities!
GAGS
E86

Ah, eagle - is it the pic of the Lynx that upset you? Fear not - that was a fully legal and authorised manoeuvre back in the days when 1 BR Corps and attendant flying types were poised to throw Boris back east of Berlin. The skill was practised to enable the anti-tank helis to move in and out of firing position without exposure to enemy view/countermeasures. All other battlefield helis practised the same task to enable them to operate in the NW European likely-conflict area.

Flight under wires is still practised; there have been operations which have required the technique - not everywhere has the cosy punch-up-to-MSA and recover for an ILS option.

Just 'cos people had to do it doesn't mean to say they couldn't enjoy it, though, eh?

That bridge looks familiar! Somewhere near Soest maybe?

Heaven forbid that we should even think about flying under wires...at night...on goggles...as part of a 6-ship formation!!!

Best not tell Eagle about the pirouettes down the runway on NVG in order to 'hone the skills'.

Eagle 86 IMHO a professional military helicopter pilot has to have the skills in order to do these things. They are taught and practised under close regulation and supervision. Wouldn't it be silly to be shot down because you had to climb 2/3/400ft to get over the wires/bridge!!

The fact that we did these things meant that they were within our capabilities should the skills be required for real. If we didn't do them they wouldn't be. That's what practise and training is all about.

I do have a different job now thanks , and as my skills have faded through lack of practise, thankfully I won't have the need for under wires/bridges flying or in fact any of that low level NOE type stuff for a while.

But when/if we get NVG, I'm sure the old pirouettes will once more become a useful practise !!

CyclicRick,

The Ex. was down Bitburg way, around Trier on the Mosel.
Boy, that was a tough one!!!

Just for Eagle86, from the other side, yes more than once, because we could!!

http://www.geocities.com/pprunessils...ynxbridge2.jpg


http://bestsmileys.com/army/13.gif

SS

Flying under bridges
 

Just out of curiousity, this kind of situations probably have created commotions before, but....


In France I was told that one of the reasons min alt was increased from 150" to 500" was to avoid flying under bridges.

So apparantly it is dangereous/undesirable.

But in France they make you fly 150" over mediterean p.ex around Cannes and Nice to be clear of traffic. In LAX you can see the dolfins and the baywatch girls around venise beach if at 150" you pass below LAX take-off.
In UK the Thames is considered a safe passage to London Heliport.

Am i wrong to suggest that in the precise case of the picture, with adapted speed (I do not want to generalise) it appears to be at least as safe below as above the bridge....

What is the catch....

In Belgium min alt is still 150", so flying under some bridges would be technically possible.


d3

In W. Germany (as it was then) the air control orders for BAOR exercises (sometimes a week or a fortnight long) used to be NOT ABOVE 150 ft agl for helicopters. We all used to do it, in relative safety because it was properly thought out, regulated and trained for.

It could get quite interesting when carrying an underslung load but we managed it for many years without incident.

P.S. When carrying out a concealed approach and departure there was NO minimum height for helis, only a lateral separation from obstacles. For under wires the minimum height was 2 metres. I recall it was 6 metres clearance from the obstacle above the aircraft and 3 metres clearance laterally.

Sid's photos show the Lynx well within the regulations.

Just can't see why some less experienced folk get bunched up about it. :hmm:

'Cos we're jealous!!!

Cheers

Whirls

Oh, I see! I suppose at 2 metres agl even a Schweizer seems fast :p

http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/1575/wires7wo.jpg

Lynx three ship under wires.

I think Sid was behind me at the time. :ok:

Sorry for the poor quality. It was rather difficult trying to fit a phone camera behind me gogs.