It was all a frame-up I tell you. The man is innocent. The camera angle made the LS look smaller than it was and that engine failure on short finals meant he was really stuck for choices whilst steering the stricken helicopter away from the school.

Some people can fall in sh*t and still come up smelling of roses. He'll probably end up as Head of the IAA.

When reading the threads on here, I normally get too bored with the 50% of rubbish that is spouted and give up. In this case how ever, because I was flying in Ireland at the time of the crash, I forced myself to read every post. Now that it is clear exactly what happened, including the ludicrous attempt by the supplier and pilot to cover up the full truth, I am appalled by some of the earlier posts. Any aviation authority has a difficult role in policing the cowboy element, especially when they are being misled. The fact that the pilot pleaded guilty must surely tell us something about his story. With all the facts that the IAA and FAA have, I am astonished that this cowboy still has a licence and is now running a flight school to show others how not to do it.

I hope some of the "lets wait for the report before we hang him" brigade, are suitably humbled and ashamed of the unquestioning back up of this man, just because he has a few hours. Quantity of hours doesn't necessarily make you experienced, or professional, maybe he's just lucky. Has he got 5000 hrs experience or 1 hours experience 5000 times.

Too many times, whilst flying in Ireland, I saw this total distain for the rules. It was more a question of how to get round the rules and operate the way I want to, rather than how can this be done within the rules.

Please IAA, sort out the system within you jurisdiction.

Who was the 'supplier'?

As I undestand it an early contributer to this thread.:E

Maybe he's the best person to run a school. He made a mistake, took the flack, and maybe he's a lot wiser and more careful now.

It's all very easy to armchair judge. But how many of us here have never done something outside the rules? and how many of us here have never landed somewhere and though "mm.. that was a little close"? Not many I bet.

If you were surprised by this report where were you for the last 10 years?

The dogs in the street knew what was going on over the last 10-15 years in Ireland. Probably endemic of the general acceptance of the 'fair play to you if you can get away with it', 'one up on the system mentality'(no excuse) . It was only a matter of time, amazing(thankfully) no third party was seriously injured following this incident.

Irionic it happend towards the back end of the so called Celtic tiger! Maybe the problem has gone away, so we don't really have to deal with it.

If it happened around 2000 would things have changed?
Probably not.

Will things be any different in the future?
Probably not!

Irish-Trying to say it as I see it.

Almost beyond belief! :ugh:

Thanks for the intended slur. :D

I made mistakes alright; enough for the RAF to make me an A2 QHI and QFI and asked me to sign on for another seventeen years doing the job. The CAA were happy enough to pass me as an FI(H).

Btw - did you ever actually read the accident report? I did. Also, if you fully read this thread, you will see I was one of the few who, before the official report was published, initially gave the pilot the benefit of the doubt.

What's next, suing the drivers of a fender bender you witnessed? The owner of a cat that just caught a mouse in front of you? Jackie Gleason?

Seems a protective bubble is no longer sufficient. You've got to paint it black as well.

I/C