What possible relevance does my friendship have on this topic? My opening sentence told you I was a personal friend - AS ARE LOTS OF OTHER PILOTS - and my original message was in support of him. It therefore stands to reason that I know a lot about him, as he does of me and many other friends, and if that wasnt the case I wouldnt bother commenting at all. What problem do you have with that? Stick to to the topic and stop trying to make it my thread.

What a fine mess

So it seems a PPl(H) infringed an ATZ 'by inches' but was reported by another, local, pilot because he had had a rant at the local controller. Amazingly, if true, this wasted county court time when thousands of serious cases such as rape are being logistically delayed

The wonderful press totally misreport it as a fine for a rant.

This thread then disintegrates into insinuations about alcohol and relationships between poster and pilot.

Great entertainment chaps but nothing to do with reality. Reminds me of a Friday night, holding to cross the Gatwick active, when I told my passenger what I though of the various commercial fixed wings being given precedence before realising I had a sticky transmit button. Never repeated.

I thought he'd made his millions in cyber security? In which case, this isn't a good advert.

Or maybe really, secretly wanted everyone to see the spoils of his success? So maybe getting himself into the national press with a modest fine so that his successes could be aired nationally was excellent value publicity for him....

More and more curious

From his company website: "When Joel isn’t in his office, he can be found up in the sky, being a passionate pilot of fixed wing planes and flying his very own helicopter." Again, it's the little things that convey so much. The champagne, the gun, the addition of "his very own." ....

What does any of that have to do with anything?

When I was still a teenager I once said something like "thanks for letting us wait" when reading back a take-off clearance for our rented Cessna after waiting for a couple of airliners to land. My father (also a long-time rated pilot) just said "if you're that upset you shouldn't fly". I think of that (almost) every time I feel like complaining to ATC on the radio and bite my lips.

I can’t condone rants/ unprofessional RT under any circumstance. However, the situation at Blackpool this last year has been intolerable and not pleasant for anyone. So much so I’m done with operating out the place for “pleasure” flying for the time being. Blackpool Approach frequency controls all ground and air movements and can be extremely congested and frustrating, especially with imminent daily airport closures (45 mins at a time for controller breaks) this leads to everyone departing and arriving at the same time in utter chaos. Hopefully those closures have now finished, but last time I checked no end date was in sight.

The airport used to be brilliant, not so these days. Poor, rude and expensive service with regards to multiple aspects of operating from here. (Not directly at the ATC). But without hearing the details of the pilot-controller communication it’s really not too far fetched to imagine a scenario where an otherwise level headed individual could be easily aggravated and stressed by the normal daily comings and goings at EGNH.

You came on in support of him. Not me. I don't even know the guy, and to be honest, talking the way he did, i'm not sure i'd want to. ('do you know who I am?' kind of talking doesn't impress me im afraid.) You're actually the one who stated you were his friend, so you tell me what relevance it has. As for me having a problem with it? I don't. Sorry to p*ss on your fire. PS IM SO GLAD HE HAS LOTS OF PILOT FRIENDS.
This is PPRuNe.
You're welcome

Sounds like there were radio issues. Either the initial transmissions were not received or were incomplete. One source states that he called three times and was acknowledged then another says that he was only acknowledged on the third transmission. Making a radio transmission does not mean that your transmission has been received. You may be over transmitted by another aircraft, your radio may not be operating correctly or the controller simply may miss your transmission or be coordinating with other agencies.

Patience and airmanship are required in these situations. This pilot demonstrated neither and placed himself and other aircraft in conflict.

The rant is clearly unacceptable as is entering the ATZ.

If you can't afford it then don't fly. But I have a sneaking sympathy. Back learning to fly at Dublin Airport in the eighties. I was frequently asked to hold, Dunsoghly Castle or Dunboyne. After forty minutes idly orbiting. I half considered declaring a financial emergency. 'I've plenty of fuel but the bank account is critically depleted.' But then again I had an overdraft and a maxed out credit card long before it was popular.

He was foolish.

Without knowing all the facts, it does however seem that undue weight might have been given to the exchange of rtf transmissions in the decision to prosecute for the ATZ infringement. It really does beg the question as to whether, in terms of transparency and fairness, prosecutorial decision making and action should be taken out of the hands of the CAA. I would be much more sanguine if such decisions and actions was with the DPP. The Glen Stewart case still resonates with me.

must be a real ace, have never ever heard of anyone being rated as "exceptional". Would have thought this episode proves he's anything but "exceptional", as most of us are (not exceptional).

i wonder if he also goes by the name of Ronnie Pickering.

Typical prune thread, buncho know it all's slagging off. Will somebody please post the outcome of this incident when it's resolved?

When we contact ATC we have no clue how much the Controller is dealing with. Radio, Phone, Planning clearances etc. Placing the controller under further pressure without justification (and the only legitimate justification is if your safety is compromised) is just plain bad CRM at its best and at its worst could lead to a serious safety outcome for other parties.

In this context the CAA are absolutely correct to prosecute and make an example of poor behaviour like this. I am sure Mr T is a nice guy, great pilot etc but I also feel sure given his profile he probably feels a little ashamed of letting himself down, and so he should! ATC are there to assist and support our activities and we should recognise there attention is often spread very thin. All the people I had the pleasure to fly with, the quality I admire the most is calmness. I need more of that too.

They didnt. They prosecuted for ATZ infringement. The question is why if, as suggested, it was by inches and the pilot was communicating if not cleared? Was it because the reporting pilot 'took sides' with his local controller/ Or because of the rant? Whichever, there may seem to some that the decision to prosecute is arbitrary and therefore justice is not being seen to be impartial.

A bit of perspective....

After an 11 hour flight landed at Vnukovo, Moscow. Right turn off the active, round the airline apron and back to the threshold to cross and taxi to VNO3.

Held at the crossing for 1 hour 15 mins whilst ATC gave 29 consecutive landing clearances without a single crossing or take off! Finally got a crossing clearance but no way would they cancel the red stop bars. What do you do?

Now that is sh1t controlling.

And I don't think I have ever used HF in Africa without calling 5 times before getting a reply.

Just saying.

Exceptional? Wow. Perhaps he can give us all a few pointers when he gets back :}

Homonculus, you rather miss the point, which is; If we all argued with ATC every time we felt delayed or our needs not been immediately met, imagine the chaos in the skies. Its all well and good trying to justify the unjustifiable but as the old acid test continues to give...when we climb in an Airbus/Boeing, we don't expect the Captain to start arguing with ATC. State of mind, Safety, Efficiency, Distraction and all the other hooded horsemen of the Apocalypse coalesce. Whatever the detail of the prosecution, I doubt My T will get himself in this situation again and its good that it is here on PPRUINE cos there isn't, nor there should be, any excuse for behaving like this!
Anything else is just hot air and moaning.

HELIBABE - Flying Ability is not just about how we waggle the sticks! CRM, temperament, airmanship (that old nugget) all play a part. From my perspective, I am "Exceptional" at Sex! However, I suspect her indoors would have a different perspective especially when I am waggling my stick!