Currency trading from airborne R44
 

So how does this work? What sort of internet access is required?

from this page

http://static-imgs-acf.hereisthecity...rader_3611.jpg

Internationally renowned Forex trader Greg Secker will make money from thin air Friday, as he hovers above the City of London as the 'Flying Trader'. A trained helicopter pilot, Secker will be in his chopper (although not actually in the pilot's seat!) above London, whilst trading live on the FX markets. All brokerage profits will go to charity. Trading from his laptop within the aircraft while he hovers over the City, London Bridge and Canary Wharf, Secker’s every move and click of the mouse will be captured on camera as he trades the markets in mid-air. Secker, Chairman and CEO of trader coaching company Knowledge to Action, has invited trading do-gooders across the globe to follow him online and ‘co-pilot’ the charity mission – being able to match his trades click for click. With hundreds of fellow traders expected to partake, the broker for the day, ETX Capital, has agreed to donate all commissions to two children’s charities close to Secker’s heart – Barnardo’s and the Ubuntu Education Fund. Having founded Knowledge to Action in 2003, Secker set-up the Knowledge to Action Foundation in 2011 to help improve the quality of life for children around the world by actively supporting Barnardo’s and Ubuntu. Proceeds raised will be tracked daily on the Flying Trader website barometer and participants will be able to follow stories online of how the money helps each charity’s chosen project.

Go to www.theflyingtrader.org to join in and watch Secker as he trades from the skies as the 'Flying Trader'.

:rolleyes:

Why can't he just use his computer at home, and donate the gas money too?

What's the fun in by trading from home??

So the world's most pointless profession wants to make itself look good by donating to a good cause??! Save us! Professional gamblers is all they are - never made anything, only traded in a percentage of everyone else's profit and hard work.

He's going to have to get a move on. He won't be hovering over London unless directed by ATC. As the owner of a 44, even I can say he chose the wrong machine! Single engine over the City only gives him the time he passes by over the river.

What a plonker. Helicopters can do without PR like this.

Master trader, entrepreneur, philanthropist and international speaker are just a few of the terms used to describe the force that is, Greg Secker.

He's a "force" apparently

Makes you wonder how much the heli is costing and if that money would have been better given to charity.

But, yes - this is not the kind of publicity helicopters need.

Do you need / can you get a dispensation from CAA to have a computer receiveing / sending GPRS signal? I know that CAA thought this was a big "no" when we looked at using a computer to download photographs to the internet whilst in the air.

I would be interested to know how hard it is to get such a dispensation, if anyone knows.

John

The CAA say "no" to most things (if you're lucky enough to get a reply within one month).

Just call back and speak to someone else if you dont like the answer you get.

But be sure not to interrupt their subsidised lunch. It's hard work pressing the "print" key you know...

I suppose it avoids the hassle of locating a functional skyscraper window when the market tanks. :E

Watch out Helicopter Ben.

I/C

Never mind "the fun", it would be more environmentally friendly........

Planemike

Ask yourself why people like this when giving to charity come up wth some stunt and insist on lots of PUBLICITY. :rolleyes:
Its the same as that 'secret millionaire' programme why not just give the money to the charity, I really dont need or want to know about it.

rant over

Instead of ranting without reason, why not have a chat with someone who knows? The pilot may well have had an NSF to do what he wanted to do. There's absolutely no reason why he could not be in that position, subject to other traffic.

And let's not start evaluating the worthiness of helicopter flights.......that's a long and winding cul-de-sac.

Helihub - is the R44 Greg's own helicopter or has he just stuck his logo on the side and is renting it?

The square mile
 

Someone once told me that that the city of London was the refuge of more crooks than the whole of the UK's prisons. I could not possibly comment as I am sure I don't know what he meant or who he was talking about.

G. :}

In this day and age, I would think a 3G connection would be preferable to GPRS. Simples enough, the dongles are readily available and one can buy 3G data cards from machines at LHR. And if one is using an iPad, no dongle required.

The issue of CAA approval is entirely separate, however, and I will leave it to those more experienced and learned on this to detail what might be involved.

That said, this whole endeavour does not impress me.

If the computer is operating with no permanant external antenna etc. (i.e. no permanant installation), wouldn't it be similar to an unapproved GPS, and not need approval? Or does the fact that it's using signals not usually used by aircraft make it different?

A lot of modern laptops have 3G modems built-in (particularly business-oriented builds, a lá Lenovo et al), so you wouldn't even need a dongle, just a sim (which you could probably borrow from your phone, in a pinch).

If the laptop is receiving and transmitting, then it's working like a phone. And I was under the impression that (according to the CAA), mobile phones are to be turned off when in the air. :confused:

As B73 said.

That's what we were told when discussing with CAA the uploading of photographs from a laptop whilst in flight. A very definite "no" despite our cause (in my humble opinion) being even more worthy.

[If I ever have had a "humble" opinion, that would be]

It's all smoke and mirrors as usual. If you watch the 'full overview video' they've dubbed in the sound of a turbine starting up.. def not an R44 chugging into life that's for sure.

:=

"So how does this work? What sort of internet access is required?"

Errr.... Wireless !!:ok:

CC

or not, maybe thats why he has to be hovering. :}


one loooong ethernet cable