Jet2 flight shadowed by French jet

[Flying Wild]

Originally Posted by A320ECAM

They were being tailed because it was such an old aircraft, the French believed it had been stolen from a museum! Apparently...

What, you mean less than a year old = museum piece?

[Flying Wild]

Originally Posted by Chesty Morgan

Or perhaps they were using box 2 for something else...

Good thing there's a box three on 121.5 then. Or perhaps that had been turned down due to the usual animal noises or practise pan calls which you can still hear half way across the Bay of Biscay.

Only two people know what really happened and I'm sure the details have been explained to those who need to know.

[ATC Watcher]

Here we go again
DaveReidUK : the Eurocontrol reminder refers to some incidents that did occur , but not in France. and it was just a reminder of ICAO "advice" issues post 9/11, where indeed it started to become a problem But the " C" in ICAO means we cannot regulate military ops, and , among others a large State East of Europe does not apply them and is in its rights.For the record the FAF does follows the ICAO " advice"

Shot one : You are not Related to Donald Trump are you ?
Here , some answers your 4 questions, but like your mentor , it probably won't make a difference in the end ...

That FAF used airliners for unannounced interception practice on multiple occasions is a matter of record, ATCwatcher. To the concern of many, including Eurocontrol. Does your legalistic demand for dates imply you dispute this?

Mater of record ? then it easy for you to give me dates and locations . I have access to the records I can tell you if they are genuine. No , Eurocontrol has no concerns about the FAF interceptions ..and Yes I dispute this because it is journalistic fiction . For info, by definition an interception whether for verification or real are not pre announced..and the FAF , like most air forces does not need do practices them on civil aircraft , they can do this everyday when they air refuel ..

It's also worth asking why such a very high number of intercepts are conducted in French airspace compared with adjacent FIR's. Do the worlds airlines somehow become that much more incompetent in France?

Again an empty statement . Very high number ? Give us the figures please ,just between comparable air forces will do , like UK, France, Italy since you have the details and the source of the figures please, no the Daily mail will not do

[Chesty Morgan]

Originally Posted by Flying Wild

Good thing there's a box three on 121.5 then.

Not on all of them.

[ShotOne]

"Answers to your 4 questions.." You haven't answered a single thing atcwatcher. Why would you ask for statistics that you claim to already have? And why, after screeds of abuse of jet2 pilots on the basis, at the time, of no evidence whatever, do you suddenly become Inspector Maigret of the Surete demanding dates and evidence the moment someone dares question Air Force policy? Finally, the published picture showed a Mirage below and behind the airliner wing. Why would it take station in such a position? It is out of view from the flight deck yet unable to carry out a shoot-down.

[Hotel Tango]

Finally, the published picture showed a Mirage below and behind the airliner wing. Why would it take station in such a position?

Hmm, that has been explained numerous times already. This proves to me that, unlike ATC Watcher, you know absolutely nothing about which you are talking about. Time to bow out quietly instead of digging yourself in deeper.

[DaveReidUK]

I must have missed the part where that was explained, too.

It doesn't seem to correspond with what we're told (by ATC Watcher, in fact) is SOP for an interception: one aircraft abeam the cockpit to make visual contact with the pilots and the other astern of the airliner ready to do the necessary.

[Hotel Tango]

So, was the FAF aircraft in that exact position for the entire 15 minutes or just when the photo was taken? Anyway, I didn't really want to get involved except that I happen to know ATC Watcher's credentials and aviation experience are of a high order. I'll leave the French bashers to their fun!

[MATELO]

Finally, the published picture showed a Mirage below and behind the airliner wing. Why would it take station in such a position? It is out of view from the flight deck yet unable to carry out a shoot-down.

Wouldn't any still shot look like it was taking up station, are there any videos around??