Missile Thrown At Helicopter
Thread Starter
Missile Thrown At Helicopter
This is a true story, it happened in the UK Saturday 19 th April.
I will try not to identify the location and persons concerned.
Aircraft type , two seater piston helicopter, could be a R22, H300 or EN280. Persons on board, two pilots , both 5000+ hours each.
It had been a good flight, duration 1.5 hours as planned. We had made radio contact with the destination airport. We had been advised that the fixed wings were on runway 27, several in the circuit and one on final. As we were approaching from the south east, we were instructed to approach the 31 threshold and cross after the landing fixed wing. We approached as instructed and landed safely without any problems. However as we were on very short final for the 31 threshold, I estimate 100 metres to run and approx 75 AGL, we were EXACTLY on the white line, I noticed some small "chicken coups" in a paddock immediatley below and slightly to the left of our track. At that moment a "farmer" appeared out of one of these coups and threw his peaked cap in our direction. The cap went approx 10- 12 metres horizontally and 4 -5 metres vertically. I know he may not like helicopters but what if he had hit the aircraft? what if I was a student and lost control??
What would you do in this situation?
I will try not to identify the location and persons concerned.
Aircraft type , two seater piston helicopter, could be a R22, H300 or EN280. Persons on board, two pilots , both 5000+ hours each.
It had been a good flight, duration 1.5 hours as planned. We had made radio contact with the destination airport. We had been advised that the fixed wings were on runway 27, several in the circuit and one on final. As we were approaching from the south east, we were instructed to approach the 31 threshold and cross after the landing fixed wing. We approached as instructed and landed safely without any problems. However as we were on very short final for the 31 threshold, I estimate 100 metres to run and approx 75 AGL, we were EXACTLY on the white line, I noticed some small "chicken coups" in a paddock immediatley below and slightly to the left of our track. At that moment a "farmer" appeared out of one of these coups and threw his peaked cap in our direction. The cap went approx 10- 12 metres horizontally and 4 -5 metres vertically. I know he may not like helicopters but what if he had hit the aircraft? what if I was a student and lost control??
What would you do in this situation?
Last edited by TOT; 29th Apr 2003 at 02:31.
A similar situation arose at Bankstown (Sydney's GA airport) a few years ago - a Bell 47 was hover taxying (as it is allowed to do) past some fixed-wing hangars to his own pad. One of the F/W hangars had many aircraft parked on the apron, fairly close to the taxyway, and the B47 blew dust into the hangar and made the unlocked controls of the planes flap about.
An engineer emerged from the hangar and threw a SPANNER at the chopper. it passed through the rotor disc without hitting anything - lucky!
The engineer was reported to CASA and was subsequantly punished, but he could have had an out-of-control helicopter mixing it with his precious plankies, with huge damages.
So, you ask what you can do? One possibility is to report it to CAA, and one is to get a bigger chopper and go back and scare the snot out of his chooks.
Up to you.
An engineer emerged from the hangar and threw a SPANNER at the chopper. it passed through the rotor disc without hitting anything - lucky!
The engineer was reported to CASA and was subsequantly punished, but he could have had an out-of-control helicopter mixing it with his precious plankies, with huge damages.
So, you ask what you can do? One possibility is to report it to CAA, and one is to get a bigger chopper and go back and scare the snot out of his chooks.
Up to you.
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the same thing you would do if one of the chooks came out, dodge it or brace youself. you were still 60 ft above it anyway.
the more fun thing to do would be to get amongst his chooks!
the more fun thing to do would be to get amongst his chooks!
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Not to make lite of the situation, but I have seen several pre-loved hats chewed up and spat out of numerous helicopters. The annoying thing is, most of them were mine……..
A peak cap will not normally make a significant contribution to the downfall of a helicopter. On the other hand, a phone call from the farmer to the local lobby group has far more ‘impact’ than his cap could ever have.
The obvious questions to pose are firstly one of height. Would you be low enough on finals for this generous man to offer his hat to the occupants of the helicopter in the first place and secondly, if he could throw a peak cap 75 feet into the air then shouldn’t he deserve our respect for his abilities. Either that or we should patent the design of the cap for next generation aircraft. We could call the aerofoil design a NACAP.
In days gone by, it was a show of celebration to throw ones hat into the air. Maybe this gentleman was signalling his pleasure in seeing one of his favourite lads returning from a harrowing flight in an R22. I can understand his sentiments if in fact this was the case.
Maybe he mistook the R22 as an insect tried to shoo it away. I have often found that if you leave the lights on in the hangar, inevitably you will find an R22 caught in there.
As for his chickens……..
A peak cap will not normally make a significant contribution to the downfall of a helicopter. On the other hand, a phone call from the farmer to the local lobby group has far more ‘impact’ than his cap could ever have.
The obvious questions to pose are firstly one of height. Would you be low enough on finals for this generous man to offer his hat to the occupants of the helicopter in the first place and secondly, if he could throw a peak cap 75 feet into the air then shouldn’t he deserve our respect for his abilities. Either that or we should patent the design of the cap for next generation aircraft. We could call the aerofoil design a NACAP.
In days gone by, it was a show of celebration to throw ones hat into the air. Maybe this gentleman was signalling his pleasure in seeing one of his favourite lads returning from a harrowing flight in an R22. I can understand his sentiments if in fact this was the case.
Maybe he mistook the R22 as an insect tried to shoo it away. I have often found that if you leave the lights on in the hangar, inevitably you will find an R22 caught in there.
As for his chickens……..
Thread Starter
What if it wasn't a hat
HR
It definatley wasn't a 'pleased to see you gesture' it was more like a #iss of gesture. He actually ran a few metres to put a bit more inerta into it!!!! OK, the chances are the hat woudn't have done any damage, but what if he had a more useable projectile to hand like a stone or whatever!
TOT
It definatley wasn't a 'pleased to see you gesture' it was more like a #iss of gesture. He actually ran a few metres to put a bit more inerta into it!!!! OK, the chances are the hat woudn't have done any damage, but what if he had a more useable projectile to hand like a stone or whatever!
TOT
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"However as we were on very short final for the 31 threshold, I estimate 100 metres to run and approx 75 AGL, we were EXACTLY on the white line, I noticed some small "chicken coups" in a paddock immediately below and slightly to the left of our track."
HUH?
Buildings, albeit 'chicken coups', 100mts from a runway threshold at an airport large enough to have crossing runways??
Best you inform you’re Aviation Authorities.
Or is it possible you were several hundred meters from the threshold at 75ft AGL? That would make more sense and explain the farmer’s displeasure.
Mack.
HUH?
Buildings, albeit 'chicken coups', 100mts from a runway threshold at an airport large enough to have crossing runways??
Best you inform you’re Aviation Authorities.
Or is it possible you were several hundred meters from the threshold at 75ft AGL? That would make more sense and explain the farmer’s displeasure.
Mack.
Let me get this straight: you were only 75 feet high while 100 metres out from the runway?? I'll bet you weren't going very fast, either.
See, maybe it's me. I just don't understand the fascination helicopter pilots have with s-h-a-l-l-o-w approaches. Just make them steeper! What's the problem?
Helicopters have the ability to safely make an approach at virtually any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. Yet helo pilots continuously drag their noisy, downwash-generating machines in a long, low finals when a steeper, more neighborly approach would be perfectly adequate and maybe more suitable.
Now before all of you self-proclaimed "experts" jump on me, let me say this. A steep approach (say 8 to 10 degrees) allows you to dissipate your forward speed without any appreciable flare. Just squeak in a little collective and the ship should settle nicely into a hover (if you've done the rest right). A shallow approach will require an increase in the nose-up attitude to stop the forward movement. That's fine for planks, but inappropriate for a helicopter that is already low to the ground.
If you were both truly "5000+" hour pilots, then I think you two exercised incredibly poor judgement. We pilots have to be aware of what's on the ground we're flying over. Just because you were perfectly lined-up with the runway doesn't give you carte blanche to do anything you damn well please.
Helicopters should make steeper approaches than airplanes. Why? Because we can.
See, maybe it's me. I just don't understand the fascination helicopter pilots have with s-h-a-l-l-o-w approaches. Just make them steeper! What's the problem?
Helicopters have the ability to safely make an approach at virtually any angle from 0 to 90 degrees. Yet helo pilots continuously drag their noisy, downwash-generating machines in a long, low finals when a steeper, more neighborly approach would be perfectly adequate and maybe more suitable.
Now before all of you self-proclaimed "experts" jump on me, let me say this. A steep approach (say 8 to 10 degrees) allows you to dissipate your forward speed without any appreciable flare. Just squeak in a little collective and the ship should settle nicely into a hover (if you've done the rest right). A shallow approach will require an increase in the nose-up attitude to stop the forward movement. That's fine for planks, but inappropriate for a helicopter that is already low to the ground.
If you were both truly "5000+" hour pilots, then I think you two exercised incredibly poor judgement. We pilots have to be aware of what's on the ground we're flying over. Just because you were perfectly lined-up with the runway doesn't give you carte blanche to do anything you damn well please.
Helicopters should make steeper approaches than airplanes. Why? Because we can.
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P Fan 1:
Good point there, in addition where I fly when possible I choose departure/arrival routes at my base to be over industrial areas versus homes to be neighborly as well.
Over the everglades I was asked why I chose that route, my answer was "gators don't call and make noise complaints ... they don't have cell phones."
Good point there, in addition where I fly when possible I choose departure/arrival routes at my base to be over industrial areas versus homes to be neighborly as well.
Over the everglades I was asked why I chose that route, my answer was "gators don't call and make noise complaints ... they don't have cell phones."
Shallow approaches...and people
Thomas coupling:
Oh shut up. Just shut the hell up. I notice that *you* Thomas did not add anything constructive to the conversation. So shut up, mm'k?
Some pilot comes on here admitting that he and another 5000+ hour goofball were so low so far out on finals to a runway that a farmer thought he could hit him with his cap, and we're all supposed to go, "Oh yeah, terrible farmer"?!
Give me a break.
I stand by my post. I've got exactly ZERO sympathy for helicopter pilots who fly low and then get complaints. If we don't fly in a more neighborly fashion, we'll find that we cannot fly at all. We can and should fly steeper approaches than we do. Yes, even at airports.
Oh, and by the by, when the head honchos at PPRuNe (of which I am the #1 fan) decree that all who post here must show their helicopter pilot certs at the door, then you blokes can call the roll and challenge each other to a who's-logbook-is-bigger-contest like the children you are. Leave me out of it. Meanwhile Thomas, if you disagree with what I *say* then tell us all why. I'm sure everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for your input.
Pprune fan#1: I think I asked this before, and got no response then...You're not a helo pilot are you? So how can you comment. Stirring it up again as usual...................
Some pilot comes on here admitting that he and another 5000+ hour goofball were so low so far out on finals to a runway that a farmer thought he could hit him with his cap, and we're all supposed to go, "Oh yeah, terrible farmer"?!
Give me a break.
I stand by my post. I've got exactly ZERO sympathy for helicopter pilots who fly low and then get complaints. If we don't fly in a more neighborly fashion, we'll find that we cannot fly at all. We can and should fly steeper approaches than we do. Yes, even at airports.
Oh, and by the by, when the head honchos at PPRuNe (of which I am the #1 fan) decree that all who post here must show their helicopter pilot certs at the door, then you blokes can call the roll and challenge each other to a who's-logbook-is-bigger-contest like the children you are. Leave me out of it. Meanwhile Thomas, if you disagree with what I *say* then tell us all why. I'm sure everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for your input.
Thread Starter
Who was flying it??
Prune Fan, you have already decided we were to too low, to slow.
Well let me TELL YOU. between us both we have a total of 55 YEARS flying experience!!How many have you got?? we DO fly responsibly. we DO NOT FLY LOW , we do choose our route to be friendly. Notice in my post I said HE APPEARED as we were on short final. If we had seen him earlier we WOULD have RE ROUTED. The approach was NOT low.
Our speed , well it was 50 KNOTS EXACTLY ie the recommended for that type of helicopter. 50 Knots I hear you say?? yes thats right this one has a VNE OF 75 knots. Now your an expert , you work out what type it was and by the way the coups ARE directly under the approach and adjacent to the undershoot. If I wanted replies from an aeroplane pilot I would have placed this on the plank forum.
Well let me TELL YOU. between us both we have a total of 55 YEARS flying experience!!How many have you got?? we DO fly responsibly. we DO NOT FLY LOW , we do choose our route to be friendly. Notice in my post I said HE APPEARED as we were on short final. If we had seen him earlier we WOULD have RE ROUTED. The approach was NOT low.
Our speed , well it was 50 KNOTS EXACTLY ie the recommended for that type of helicopter. 50 Knots I hear you say?? yes thats right this one has a VNE OF 75 knots. Now your an expert , you work out what type it was and by the way the coups ARE directly under the approach and adjacent to the undershoot. If I wanted replies from an aeroplane pilot I would have placed this on the plank forum.
PPrunefan#1, have you not heard of the 'avoid curve' it is a graph of height V speed - at certain combinations of speed and height eg 75' and 20 kts a helicopter is unlikely to be able to make a safe engine off landing following an engine failure. That is why helicopter pilots don't like steep approaches - that and the increased risk of VRS.
If you know cock all about helicopters then stop jumping to ill-informed conclusions and slagging off good pilots.
If you know cock all about helicopters then stop jumping to ill-informed conclusions and slagging off good pilots.
Avoid imitations
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PF#1,
Such self righteous aggression and venom, quite possibly without justification.
Firstly, The rotorheads pages are described by Danny as "A haven for professional helicopter pilots to discuss things that affect them". The Oxford English Dictionary describes a haven as "A shelter from pursuit, danger, or trouble". So, as a person such as yourself, self confessed as unqualified to fly helicopters, you breach that on at least two counts. So don't expect people to take such inflammatory remarks without some comeback.
Secondly, get your facts right. If you had done a simple calculation you would realised that the aircraft was on approximately an 11 degree approach, actually steeper than the 8 to 10 degrees that you yourself recommend. Get a grown up to give you a sheet of graph paper and draw it and measure it with a protractor. It appears he was making an approach to the runway threshold in compliance with an ATC instruction and he deliberately made it steep. In many helicopters such a steep angle is difficult to fly because the pilot cannot see the approach point because the instrument panel gets in the way and potentially quite dangerous because of the parameters where vortex ring may occur. So I think he was probably doing his best to keep the plates all spinning.
By the same standards that you wish to apply to others, do you always make your fixed wing approaches glides with full flap ? (You SHOULD because you CAN, as you put it). That would help cut down on the noise a bit...and you too could then aim one third of the way up the runway.
Have a nice day, if you posted deliberately posing as a complete dork for a wind up, well done, it worked.
Such self righteous aggression and venom, quite possibly without justification.
Firstly, The rotorheads pages are described by Danny as "A haven for professional helicopter pilots to discuss things that affect them". The Oxford English Dictionary describes a haven as "A shelter from pursuit, danger, or trouble". So, as a person such as yourself, self confessed as unqualified to fly helicopters, you breach that on at least two counts. So don't expect people to take such inflammatory remarks without some comeback.
Secondly, get your facts right. If you had done a simple calculation you would realised that the aircraft was on approximately an 11 degree approach, actually steeper than the 8 to 10 degrees that you yourself recommend. Get a grown up to give you a sheet of graph paper and draw it and measure it with a protractor. It appears he was making an approach to the runway threshold in compliance with an ATC instruction and he deliberately made it steep. In many helicopters such a steep angle is difficult to fly because the pilot cannot see the approach point because the instrument panel gets in the way and potentially quite dangerous because of the parameters where vortex ring may occur. So I think he was probably doing his best to keep the plates all spinning.
By the same standards that you wish to apply to others, do you always make your fixed wing approaches glides with full flap ? (You SHOULD because you CAN, as you put it). That would help cut down on the noise a bit...and you too could then aim one third of the way up the runway.
Have a nice day, if you posted deliberately posing as a complete dork for a wind up, well done, it worked.
Last edited by ShyTorque; 29th Apr 2003 at 06:52.
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You said
"That is why helicopter pilots don't like steep approaches"
Speak for yourself, I've seen far to many shallow approaches, and I would advocate steeper and slower than shallow and brisk.
BTW the avoid curve is based on straight and level flight and asumes a reaction time of 1-2 secs for remedial intervention, and therfore has little bearing on a normal approach ( lower pitch setting, Hands on collective etc)
I think that operating a helicopter to and from protected enviroments (airfields) has a created tendancy for shallow (ie 3 deg) fixed wing approach, this also manifest itself in the pilots aiming point on the threshold rather than 1/3 rd of the way down the runway (not withstanding any ATC reqiurement to prohibit this) the danger of this mentality becomes evident when operating from unknown sites
If TOT had maid a steeper approach to a point 1/3 rd in from the threshold then the farmer in question would have not felt the need to vent his displeasure,
Any-how any one can make a shallow approach, thats why plank drivers do it, to make a steeper approach demands skill and flair and to my knowledge only helo pilots have that
You said
"That is why helicopter pilots don't like steep approaches"
Speak for yourself, I've seen far to many shallow approaches, and I would advocate steeper and slower than shallow and brisk.
BTW the avoid curve is based on straight and level flight and asumes a reaction time of 1-2 secs for remedial intervention, and therfore has little bearing on a normal approach ( lower pitch setting, Hands on collective etc)
I think that operating a helicopter to and from protected enviroments (airfields) has a created tendancy for shallow (ie 3 deg) fixed wing approach, this also manifest itself in the pilots aiming point on the threshold rather than 1/3 rd of the way down the runway (not withstanding any ATC reqiurement to prohibit this) the danger of this mentality becomes evident when operating from unknown sites
If TOT had maid a steeper approach to a point 1/3 rd in from the threshold then the farmer in question would have not felt the need to vent his displeasure,
Any-how any one can make a shallow approach, thats why plank drivers do it, to make a steeper approach demands skill and flair and to my knowledge only helo pilots have that
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PF#1
I agree completely with your first post (your second post was a little aggresive for my taste)
I don't see how two "experienced" pilots could fly so low over property as to disturb people or chickens or whatever, especially when landing in such a large area as an airport which gives many opportunities to avoid hurting anyones feelings and comply with ATC at the same time. I just don't see how this could happen with two "5000" hour pilots on board.
Over here if you scare people needlessly they will shoot at you, no questions asked, I just had a friend who got his 212 decorated by .22 shots from the caretaker of an ostrich ranch, same situation, the ranch was close to the runway and he scared the birds all the time, being an airport he could have probably done 1000 different approaches with disturbing anyone, but he had to do it over the animals, stupid.
True profesional/experienced pilots ALWAYS take into account their noise footprint and downwash when flying near the ground so as not to distrurb needlessly.
There's enough people out there who hate helicopters, and we pilots should not give them more ammo to use against us, especially when it wasn't necessary.
In my opinion, there's a lot of crazy people out there with ready to use projectiles and we as pilots should anticipate that for our own safety.
I agree completely with your first post (your second post was a little aggresive for my taste)
I don't see how two "experienced" pilots could fly so low over property as to disturb people or chickens or whatever, especially when landing in such a large area as an airport which gives many opportunities to avoid hurting anyones feelings and comply with ATC at the same time. I just don't see how this could happen with two "5000" hour pilots on board.
Over here if you scare people needlessly they will shoot at you, no questions asked, I just had a friend who got his 212 decorated by .22 shots from the caretaker of an ostrich ranch, same situation, the ranch was close to the runway and he scared the birds all the time, being an airport he could have probably done 1000 different approaches with disturbing anyone, but he had to do it over the animals, stupid.
True profesional/experienced pilots ALWAYS take into account their noise footprint and downwash when flying near the ground so as not to distrurb needlessly.
There's enough people out there who hate helicopters, and we pilots should not give them more ammo to use against us, especially when it wasn't necessary.
In my opinion, there's a lot of crazy people out there with ready to use projectiles and we as pilots should anticipate that for our own safety.
Last edited by BlenderPilot; 29th Apr 2003 at 07:14.
Pprune fan No31..
Mmmm, interesting bite to say the least. Looking back over your previous contributions, I reserve judgement regarding your qualifications.[Jury still out]
I think I'll see you and raise you a hundred that you are in fact a moderator trying to stimulate the thread.
Regarding the topic: 2 x veterans hanging out their dirty washing in public? I think not. They're too old and too bold to get this (particular) one wrong.
100 yds to run, 75' up, line good, speed good, on centre line.
My answer to that would be:
"Clear to land Romeo 22"
Mmmm, interesting bite to say the least. Looking back over your previous contributions, I reserve judgement regarding your qualifications.[Jury still out]
I think I'll see you and raise you a hundred that you are in fact a moderator trying to stimulate the thread.
Regarding the topic: 2 x veterans hanging out their dirty washing in public? I think not. They're too old and too bold to get this (particular) one wrong.
100 yds to run, 75' up, line good, speed good, on centre line.
My answer to that would be:
"Clear to land Romeo 22"
TOT ranted:
Heh- and you still screwed up! Maybe you should stop thinking that you've learned all there is to learn, you pompous twit. Sounds to me like you made an approach to an airport that wasn't very well thought-out. 55 years of flying experience evidently doesn't mean much in your case.
TOT gave us his little dilemma, without a whole lot of information, and asked us what we would do in his situation? Then he gets angry when a response isn't to his liking.
TOT will now go to great lengths to justity why he and his oh-so-experienced stick-buddy did not notice what was on the ground they were flying over until they were down to a mere 75 feet above it. Whatever. I guess nothing matters until you see angry people emerge from buildings and start throwing things at you?
TOT says:
Cross after landing traffic? Wouldn't you be hovering by then? Or were you planning on transitioning ("air taxiing") across the active at some altitude above a hover? What was the wind?
In any event, being told by the tower to "approach the threshold" does not necessarily mean that you have to put your skids on the nearest-most edge of the where the pavement begins, especially if that runway is not the one in general use. Furthermore, as I have already stated, even if you were approaching the very beginning of the runway surface, you still could have used a steeper approach and avoided the farm buildings adjacent to the airport. Heck, you say that you were at 50 knots...you could've come down at 45 or 60 degrees at that speed!
And let's be honest - if the airport was big enough to have intersecting runways and a control tower, then there was some "extra" land around the runways. That farmer's land did not go right up to the threshold of the runway. And since you were approaching a runway it is probably a fact that airplanes have flown over his chicken coops in the past. What was it about your approach that incensed him so? Something doesn't add up.
300 metres...the length of a U.S. football field. Seventy-five feet...2.5 rotor diameters. Pretty darn low for a helo, I'd say.
Then Shy Torque asked:
Well sweetheart, as a matter of fact I *do* make all of my f/w approaches with full flaps (as long as the crosswind component is not too strong). But power-off glides? Some airplanes I've flown had too high a rate of descent with idle power and full flaps, so that technique, while valid, is not safe. Therefore *some* power is usually required. But let us all realize that an airplane on finals isn't generating all that much noise - compared to its take-off for instance...and compared to a helicopter on approach, which makes just as much noise as a helicopter on departure. In light of that, we helicopter pilots have a duty to fly in a way that minimizes our impact on people/animals below (no pun intended).
But yes, in airplanes I do aim for the first third of the runway, as is good accepted practice. And if there are noise-sensitive areas surrounding the airport at which I'm landing, then I will use a steeper approach if conditions permit and I can do it safely, simply to give the people on the ground a break. You see, I am a professional pilot. I not only think about what's going on with my aircraft, but its relationship to the outside world as well.
To make plank approaches at airports simply because airplanes do is just not thinking intelligently and professionally enough.
I welcome comments.
Prune Fan, you have already decided we were to too low, to slow.
Well let me TELL YOU. between us both we have a total of 55 YEARS flying experience!!
Well let me TELL YOU. between us both we have a total of 55 YEARS flying experience!!
TOT gave us his little dilemma, without a whole lot of information, and asked us what we would do in his situation? Then he gets angry when a response isn't to his liking.
TOT will now go to great lengths to justity why he and his oh-so-experienced stick-buddy did not notice what was on the ground they were flying over until they were down to a mere 75 feet above it. Whatever. I guess nothing matters until you see angry people emerge from buildings and start throwing things at you?
TOT says:
As we were approaching from the south east, we were instructed to approach the 31 threshold and cross after the landing fixed wing.
In any event, being told by the tower to "approach the threshold" does not necessarily mean that you have to put your skids on the nearest-most edge of the where the pavement begins, especially if that runway is not the one in general use. Furthermore, as I have already stated, even if you were approaching the very beginning of the runway surface, you still could have used a steeper approach and avoided the farm buildings adjacent to the airport. Heck, you say that you were at 50 knots...you could've come down at 45 or 60 degrees at that speed!
And let's be honest - if the airport was big enough to have intersecting runways and a control tower, then there was some "extra" land around the runways. That farmer's land did not go right up to the threshold of the runway. And since you were approaching a runway it is probably a fact that airplanes have flown over his chicken coops in the past. What was it about your approach that incensed him so? Something doesn't add up.
300 metres...the length of a U.S. football field. Seventy-five feet...2.5 rotor diameters. Pretty darn low for a helo, I'd say.
Then Shy Torque asked:
By the same standards that you wish to apply to others, do you always make your fixed wing approaches glides with full flap ? (You SHOULD because you CAN, as you put it). That would help cut down on the noise a bit...and you too could then aim one third of the way up the runway.
But yes, in airplanes I do aim for the first third of the runway, as is good accepted practice. And if there are noise-sensitive areas surrounding the airport at which I'm landing, then I will use a steeper approach if conditions permit and I can do it safely, simply to give the people on the ground a break. You see, I am a professional pilot. I not only think about what's going on with my aircraft, but its relationship to the outside world as well.
To make plank approaches at airports simply because airplanes do is just not thinking intelligently and professionally enough.
I welcome comments.
Gatvol
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Lets see here..........2, 5000+ Hour Pilots in a small thing in the UK.
1, set of rules for flying that would choke a normal horse. 1, Pilots license that weighs no less than five pounds from endorsements and results of tests that are not even necessary.
AND they are worried about some farmers hat.........
Lets look at this a minute.......First "The Chicken or the Egg" Did they just build this Runway or has it been there for some years. If it has been there a while, then the farmer must have seen at least a few "flying machines" overhead. SPECIALLY on final approach.
Next is the title of this subject. "Missle thrown at Helicopter" A bit of exageration?? A missle is a Hellfire, Stinger or an old SS-11, not a dam hat that may only scare a Robbie driver. Geeeeesh.
Hell, they dont even have an instrument in the cockpit that shows Missle Lock......AND believe me that sound when it goes from beep to solid will make your ass tighten.
I think these folks were down there Stealing Eggs. You can do that in a helicopter. I have taken bags of Onions also Watermelons and once I stopped to Pee in an Oilfield......
1, set of rules for flying that would choke a normal horse. 1, Pilots license that weighs no less than five pounds from endorsements and results of tests that are not even necessary.
AND they are worried about some farmers hat.........
Lets look at this a minute.......First "The Chicken or the Egg" Did they just build this Runway or has it been there for some years. If it has been there a while, then the farmer must have seen at least a few "flying machines" overhead. SPECIALLY on final approach.
Next is the title of this subject. "Missle thrown at Helicopter" A bit of exageration?? A missle is a Hellfire, Stinger or an old SS-11, not a dam hat that may only scare a Robbie driver. Geeeeesh.
Hell, they dont even have an instrument in the cockpit that shows Missle Lock......AND believe me that sound when it goes from beep to solid will make your ass tighten.
I think these folks were down there Stealing Eggs. You can do that in a helicopter. I have taken bags of Onions also Watermelons and once I stopped to Pee in an Oilfield......