A different perspective of Heathrow
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 920
Likes: 18
From: Manchester
Cant see this working, Cabair wouldnt make a bean, x3 pax x2 30 min flights = £594 per hour, surely the operating costs for an AS 350 are more than this ? even x 4 pax per flight is only £792. I also cant see a smooth unhindered runway crossing every 1/2 hour.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: surrey
Have you seen the disclaimer at the bottom? (Incidentally - the disclaimer is not used for any of their other trips)
Anyone in the know must be aware that Cabair are effectively miss-selling a product. They are trying to entice people by insinuating that they will fly over heathrow at 2000 feet or less. Not a snowballs chance in hell - the lowest category of flight priority trying to do that??
.... on a good day an airborne view from 2000' could actually mean you are miles from the airport.
I doubt very much if it will be 'over' Heathrow.
Save your money and buy a more powerful pair of binoculars. in the meantime I have E-mailed them for more information on the trip... see how much they try to flannel me before I mention what I do for a living.
Anyone in the know must be aware that Cabair are effectively miss-selling a product. They are trying to entice people by insinuating that they will fly over heathrow at 2000 feet or less. Not a snowballs chance in hell - the lowest category of flight priority trying to do that??
Enjoy an airborne view of the world’s busiest international airport and watch airliners landing and taking off from a unique perspective!
Cabair Helicopters will be operating sightseeing flights over London Heathrow Airport in an AS350 Squirrel helicopter on selected weekends throughout the year
Save your money and buy a more powerful pair of binoculars. in the meantime I have E-mailed them for more information on the trip... see how much they try to flannel me before I mention what I do for a living.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
From: Apa, apo ndi kulikonse!
Mate - go and have a look at the LHR AIP (or if you feel brave come and plug in at CF62!!!) 
The Helicopter route H9 does cross right over LHR* - and the route altitudes are up to 2000ft. AND guess what..... the crossing level is level at 800ft! (be it police or PPL fliers)
*Via the thresholds but you start and finish north or south at the midpoint of the field
£99 is a bargain - especially as if you let us know if a PPRUNEr is on board - we will delay you and make it up to 60 mins!!
Anyway - nothing new in this - weekends see up to 8 operators operating pleasure flights in the zone - over central London and LCY/LHR/Northolt. (Each operator does as many as a dozen flights, from airfields like Booker, Elstree, Stapleford, Redhill North Weald, Duxford, even Manston)
We even get some helicopters doing this in and out of Battersea.
Some pics from a LHR crossing I took previously:
The Helicopter route H9 does cross right over LHR* - and the route altitudes are up to 2000ft. AND guess what..... the crossing level is level at 800ft! (be it police or PPL fliers)
*Via the thresholds but you start and finish north or south at the midpoint of the field
£99 is a bargain - especially as if you let us know if a PPRUNEr is on board - we will delay you and make it up to 60 mins!!
Anyway - nothing new in this - weekends see up to 8 operators operating pleasure flights in the zone - over central London and LCY/LHR/Northolt. (Each operator does as many as a dozen flights, from airfields like Booker, Elstree, Stapleford, Redhill North Weald, Duxford, even Manston)
We even get some helicopters doing this in and out of Battersea.
Some pics from a LHR crossing I took previously:
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Over the hills and far away
I agree with AlanM - I've been across the H9 route and they bring you down in steps to 800ft at the threshold. I was lucky enough to hold when Concorde went off (don't get me started...)
Stunning!
I think it's a good idea and I'd imagine Cabair have done their homework before offering the flights - they've been flying over/around London long enough
Stunning!
I think it's a good idea and I'd imagine Cabair have done their homework before offering the flights - they've been flying over/around London long enough
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
From: Apa, apo ndi kulikonse!
Well, the first ones were 2002 in the Police helicopter (but we did a normal LHR crossing)
The last few were in 2004.
I shan't bore you with any more..... but see commercial link deleted - sorry rules is rules for more (under Flying/Aircraft and then FLYING at the bottom)
Oh - and seen from the east looking west, LHR with the two inner holds of the "Fuel Farm" if on Easterlies and "Dual Taxiways" on Westerlies. The Duke of Northumberland River is used when on Easterlies too, to get you from Bedfont acrioss the 09R threshold to the Fuel Farm.
Picture deleted
AlanM - sorry to do that, as it was a nice picture, but is too large. You may not feel much like reposting it but there are guidlelines in the 'sticky' at the top of this forum, and we would appreciate it if you can.
The last few were in 2004.
I shan't bore you with any more..... but see commercial link deleted - sorry rules is rules
for more (under Flying/Aircraft and then FLYING at the bottom)Oh - and seen from the east looking west, LHR with the two inner holds of the "Fuel Farm" if on Easterlies and "Dual Taxiways" on Westerlies. The Duke of Northumberland River is used when on Easterlies too, to get you from Bedfont acrioss the 09R threshold to the Fuel Farm.
Picture deleted
AlanM - sorry to do that, as it was a nice picture, but is too large. You may not feel much like reposting it but there are guidlelines in the 'sticky' at the top of this forum, and we would appreciate it if you can.
Last edited by BOAC; 16th February 2006 at 13:17.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 1
From: On the wireless...
No problem at all provided that the wx criteria exists AND the pilot is FAMILIAR with the Heathrow crossing procedures, which is often not the case. At weekends there are countless sightseeing flights in the London CTRs which can become a bit of a burden especially when City Airport is open.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: surrey
Just received an e mail from Cabair and the route they mention does indeed do what it says on the tin!!
For aviation enthusiasts out there this sounds like a cracking flight - bear in mind Cabairs own disclaimer and bear in mind the time of year you book with regards to weather and then enjoy.
For aviation enthusiasts out there this sounds like a cracking flight - bear in mind Cabairs own disclaimer and bear in mind the time of year you book with regards to weather and then enjoy.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: UK
A gentle warning to all posters on this thread - we are treading very close to the advertising line on this one. PLEASE - no more references to 'company'!!
PPRune Pop may choose to do some more editing yet!
PPRune Pop may choose to do some more editing yet!
