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Millionaire helicopter pilots to ferry emergency services...
From the UK Sunday Times
A PROPERTY tycoon plans to set up a “millionaires’ squadron” of private helicopter pilots to help cash-strapped fire and rescue teams attend emergencies across the country. The fleet of wealthy volunteers hopes to save lives by ferrying specialist crews to the scene of road traffic accidents, stranded flood victims and trapped climbers. The initiative aims to build on an unprecedented deal between Jeremy Paxton, the founder of an estate of luxury holiday homes in the Cotswolds, and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. Paxton, 52, has agreed to be on call with his helicopter to fly firefighters to serious incidents. A year-long trial of the public-private collaboration is expected to begin next April. If it proves successful, Paxton has lined up at least five other pilots to expand coverage to new areas. |
Sounds like a good cause, with the fullest of best intentions.
But when I hear the words volunteer and private helicopter pilots, it makes us paid professionals listen quite intently on how it will be done. Yet I am willing to be completely told otherwise as this information has come from a newspaper. Nice flight suit. Fluffy |
Just waiting for the surge of responses!
What you are looking at here is a frustrated professional pilot and when people with money can't be bothered to do what is required to satisfy their urgings they blag their way round by dressing-up their actions with good intentions. Anyone committed to professionalism (private or otherwise) will be the first to impose a thick layer of requirements for pilots and ground crew so as to ensure they know what the heck they are doing. I'd suggest anything less than 1,500 hours minimum experience would be folly and, as stated, a thick slab of healthy training for ground and air crews. Paxton would be better off donating some money to his local air ambulance and the wealthy flyers better suited to a day trip to seaside. Sorry, its the eternal optimist in me coming out. |
Specialist crews? Think he might be needing a larger helicopter...
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So no danger of safety being affected by using a PPL to do a task traditionally done by a CPL then :ugh:
All that stuff you tell a PPL about not pressing on in bad weather is going to go out of the window with the pressure of the task and end in a CFIT.:= Haven't heard anything so stupid for a while :rolleyes: |
Fluffy - maybe when is says "private helicopter pilots", it means the pilots of private (corporate etc) helicopters who may well have commercial licences. I can't see state bodies allowing their guys to be flown by PPLs - duty of care etc.
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And all the commercial helicopter companies and pilots jump through hoops for what?
Is there room for cutting gear under the back seat of a 500? Anyone else think his insurers or the CAA will have something to say about this? Still, he's got a better helmet than our standard issue ones so I suppose he'll fair up ok. |
Black Helicopter? Tick, PPL? Tick, Ray Bans? Tick, Black Flying Suit? Tick, Velcro Wings? Tick, Black Boots? Tick, Ego? Double Tick. My money is on another CFIT shortly.
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C F
All that stuff you tell a PPL about not pressing on in bad weather is going to go out of the window with the pressure of the task and end in a CFIT.:= |
Are you suggesting CPLs don't do CFIT? PPL pilot + CPL task = more likely to end in a CFIT than for the same job with a CPL pilot. If this is not the case then there is no point anyone doing professional training (other than too earn money legally) |
If this guy is really concerned about offering such services to certain areas, he would be donating to, or founding a local professional non-profit service to complete such missions.
I just hope these specialist crews understand they're putting their lives in the hands of some random rich guy looking to get his rocks off. At least he'll have some good stories to tell at the next cocktail party.:ugh: |
In case you missed the part at the end of the free article;
Such a group would be reminiscent of 601 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Known as 'The Millionaires'.. No. 601 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 601 Squadron was formed at RAF Northolt on 14 October 1925 when a group of wealthy aristocratic young men, all of whom were amateur aviators, decided to form themselves into a Reserve Squadron of the RAF after a meeting in White's Club, London. The original officers were picked by the first commanding officer, Lord Edward Grosvenor, youngest son of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster. Grosvenor tested potential recruits by plying them with alcohol to see if they would behave inappropriately. Grosvenor wanted officers "of sufficient presence not to be overawed by him and of sufficient means not to be excluded from his favourite pastimes, eating, drinking and Whites". The Squadron was initially known as "the millionaires squadron", a nametag gained because of a reputation for filling their ranks with the very 'well-heeled'. Most of these affluent young pilots had little regard for the rigid discipline of the regular service; they lined their uniform tunics with bright red silk and wore blue ties rather than the regulation black. They played polo on brand-new Brough Superior motor cycles, drove fast sports cars (the squadron car park was said to resemble a Concours d'Elegance) and most of the pilots owned their own private aircraft. However, the war quickly took its toll on the pre-war personnel and as replacements were drafted in from all walks of life and all parts of the Commonwealth to cover casualties and promotions, the Squadron became as cosmopolitan as any other. Perhaps a breathalyser, for use when the pager goes off, will be standard issue :ugh: |
Isn't Mr Paxton the same chap who "volunteered" to fly Dame Shirley Bassey to Battersea from a pop festival and had it all end close to tears in a school playground?
Most multi-millionaire PPL/H holders I've met (and there's been a few over the years) are not that good as pilots. They rarely plan what they're doing properly. There seems to be an attitude amongst them of "succesful in one area of my life, ergo I can succeed in any area." Rules are for others. And little realisation until too late that few things will let the wind out of your ego slightly faster than it leaves your lungs for the last time than a helicopter flown without respect and forethought. Tin hat on for in-coming |
Bored with the same old commute? Meet the businessman who flies to work in his very own Bond-style jet pack | Mail Online
Millionaire water ski champion Jeremy Paxton wins appeal in £30,000 legal battle to keep helipad in his garden | Mail Online Landmark Houses - Lower Mill Estate Jeremy Paxton is 48 years of age and by profession (but not occupation) a commercial pilot. Her pilot, property magnate Jeremy Paxton, had been heading for Battersea heliport, but while flying over Surrey low cloud and torrential rain made the visibility too poor for them to continue. "I thought he was going to land on the roof, you could tell he was having trouble," said Mrs Yeomans, whose family had earlier watched Dame Shirley's Glastonbury performance on TV. After bringing the helicopter to rest Mr Paxton got out to ask where he was. The qualified commercial pilot said: "The trip down was fine but it was obvious that the weather was getting worse. He added: "There was not one point where I felt remotely concerned. Safety is paramount when flying and I am always aware of what impact the weather may have. Anybody that knows Mr Paxton care to tell him the story of Mark Weir! |
Good intentions I'm sure but this should never have left the pub. . A critical discussion on the practical implementation (or not) will probably return the idea to a more plausible domain - the comics
Lateral thinking is great but this would be madness on many levels. |
The most worrying thing for me;
Mr Paxton, "There was not one point where I felt remotely concerned". Dame Shirleys version of events; Cheese Slices First, the idea! Second, the 'crew'. Third, the ac type for role. Fourth, charity abseil for Royal Marines. Fifth, dispute with authority. Sixth, decision process in changing situations. Seventh, pressonitis. Eighth, money. Etc |
Another media version of events;
DAME SHIRLEY IN COPTER TERROR The pilot had to make an emergency landing. A crowd watched in horror as the helicopter swooped low over homes. It touched down at 8pm amid howling winds and rain in the grounds of Collingwood College in Camberley, Surrey. The shaken pilot emerged to ask locals: "Where am I?" He apologised for scaring them before admitting: "That was terrifying. I was losing power and the mist was so thick I couldn't see where I was going. I've got a special passenger. We have had an almighty let off. Thank God." It was not a night to be airborne because the weather was foul. The mist had closed in so it was hard to see further than a few yards. My husband Thomas and I watched in horror as the helicopter touched the tops of trees in our garden. "It was clear the pilot was struggling to control the machine. Thankfully it made a very bumpy landing in the grounds of the college. The pilot was first out and looked ashen. He saw us watching through the college gates and came over to ask, 'Where am I?' He just seemed relieved to be alive. "He was a hero really for making a safe landing in atrocious conditions. "You could tell Dame Shirley had been through a terrible ordeal but she maintained her dignity. She smiled bravely at us and asked for a toilet and cup of tea, in that order. After she recovered her poise she was simply wonderful." Ninth, previous events. |
It would be a brave/foolhardy emergency services employer to require their staff to fly in a private helicopter doing what they say they are going to do. I don't think the employer's employer liability insurance underwriter would be impressed, which would leave the employer exposed.
Flight insurance coverage would also be interesting: I hope Mr Paxton et al tell their insurers. Otherwise, the aircraft insurer will walk away as sure as eggs is eggs. Lots of observer police officers have difficulty getting life insurance that covers their exposure in ASU aircraft. (From what I have heard, many just ignore it and keep their fingers crossed). However, the general presumption is that "normal insurance excludes any flying other than scheduled flights". Has all the hallmarks of a "car crash", but I am not sure the CAA would have much leverage: which bit of the ANO would be breached? |
Paul McCartney in copter terror, Shirly Bassey in copter terror, what's the trivia connection guys??
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Oh dear, white gloves with a black flying suit! Clearly just a rich oik :=
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