Mil Helicopters over central London
Not sure I agree with you Dave, when cleared in, you will request and be given a prescribed route i.e. H4 - H3 and you are to follow the route (unless subsequently vectored by ATC to, for example, deconflict with other traffic), corner cutting isn't the norm regardless of your a/c type - the single engine rule applies to certain routes/areas because of the requirement to be able to land clear in the event of an engine failure...
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/7/EIS%2006.pdf
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I agree Dave, but to quote your link: Pilots should fly precise routes as depicted in the chart - "corner cutting is to be avoided"
Just because an aircraft is capable of maintaining safe flight with a SE failure doesn't mean they can gash off the route and straight line it down the Thames!
ME RW can indeed travel where SE can't and be given clearances that would be inappropriate for SE but, when following a route, you are to follow that route - unless subsequent clearance or vectoring is given.
Just because an aircraft is capable of maintaining safe flight with a SE failure doesn't mean they can gash off the route and straight line it down the Thames!
ME RW can indeed travel where SE can't and be given clearances that would be inappropriate for SE but, when following a route, you are to follow that route - unless subsequent clearance or vectoring is given.
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MOPC. Helicopters don't cut corners on the prescribed route and twin engined helicopters usually follow the standard routes. Direct routing is often used for helicopters which would be delayed by using the prescribed routes. Typically, from south of the zone direct to Battersea, from the BNN area direct to Battersea and transit flights over the west side of the zone.
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I do agree with both HD and Dave, I think our interpretations of the rules are fairly similar, however the point which caught my interest was Joy Ride's initial query of "more and more Chinooks and Merlins ignoring the bends in the river... have [they] relaxed the corridor regs."
My thoughts were no they haven't, helicopters are expected to follow the routes as per the map regardless of type, but you're right, direct routing is definitely practised regularly as you say to avoid delays etc
My thoughts were no they haven't, helicopters are expected to follow the routes as per the map regardless of type, but you're right, direct routing is definitely practised regularly as you say to avoid delays etc
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As a current SVFR controller, I can say that although we rarely clear aircraft to cut the corners, and rarely helicopters ask to do it, occasionally you will see aircraft cut the corners. This happens a lot on H3 between Barnes and Thorpe (Though it is a very difficult route to follow from the air). It happens occasionally on H4, which should be fairly easy to follow though. (We will sometimes ask helicopters to cut the corner between London Bridge and the I.O.D if we have traffic that might effect into/out of London City and the helicopters are in a hurry.
Living where I do close to Sandhurst RMA military helicopters-along with automatic weapon fire are just part of the background noise to day to day life. Lots of Odiham based Chinooks up and down M3 or skipping around the London TMA and army Pumas and Lynxs in and out of Sandhurst- delivering senior officers? Familiarity training for cadets ?
We get used to it but the site of a three ship of Apaches very low still catches the eye especially when armed to the teeth and very very low - . Certainly would not like to see one of those that close in earnest -very menacing -makes the Surrey plod chopper look very meek- perhaps they should try using them for motorway crime but perhaps not that PC lol
We get used to it but the site of a three ship of Apaches very low still catches the eye especially when armed to the teeth and very very low - . Certainly would not like to see one of those that close in earnest -very menacing -makes the Surrey plod chopper look very meek- perhaps they should try using them for motorway crime but perhaps not that PC lol
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Ah, Chevron, those were the days!! Chipmunks at White Waltham, Beverleys, Hastings ,Ansons at Abingdon, and the best one of all, 45 mins in a Vampire T11 from Shawbury, all around Snowdonia, aeros, formation with two others. Best 45 mins as a passenger I have ever had, and that included flight-decking Concorde!!!!!
