2012 Olympics plane forced to land at Cambridge

Single pilot aircraft, night, possibly IMC, busy airspace, electrical failure. Yes I would have thought flying with only a map and compass would be a problem.

Of course, provided you were sure of your position.

Nap-of-the-earth map-reading at high speed was a different matter and demanded a high degree of concentration and precision – not something that your average GA pilot trains for nowadays, I suspect.

I don’t want to drift off-topic but in relation to accuracy of navigation in the two world wars, a reading of the history of WW2 in particular reveals that (a) dead reckoning navigation, especially at night, was quite inaccurate and (b) navigation aids of various sorts were developed to assist with getting aircraft of the different combatant countries over their intended targets. The early bombing results of the RAF, when analysed, showed a frightening lack of accuracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butt_Report

Oh, no doubt about it – but that is, or was high altitude bombing.

Low level night-time bombing had quite high levels of precision when required.

Obviously, when seeking to land an aircraft, I would imagine descending to a low level would be necessary! 🙂

Yep – pilots expect their hands to be held at all times by the flight computer these days.

Cue the “but you weren’t there” line…. :rolleyes:

It’d make you wonder how multiple airforces fought 2 world wars with only charts and a compass…

It will be interesting to read the official report on this in due course. If, as stated in the report, it was night time, one assumes the weather was good enough to enable visual navigation by reference to the ground.

I don’t want to drift off-topic but in relation to accuracy of navigation in the two world wars, a reading of the history of WW2 in particular reveals that (a) dead reckoning navigation, especially at night, was quite inaccurate and (b) navigation aids of various sorts were developed to assist with getting aircraft of the different combatant countries over their intended targets. The early bombing results of the RAF, when analysed, showed a frightening lack of accuracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butt_Report

Is that a problem ?

Yep – pilots expect their hands to be held at all times by the flight computer these days.

Cue the “but you weren’t there” line…. :rolleyes:

It’d make you wonder how multiple airforces fought 2 world wars with only charts and a compass…

Never great when your plane “falls” on the runway. One always hope that it glides down gently 🙂

~Alan~ Good point about charts 😀 but I’m guessing you need more than a compass to land a plane these days… But perhaps not!

From a navigational point of view, it seemed to be all he needed.

“……Operators, ASL of Belgium, said the pilot had to navigate on Saturday night using only charts and a compass…..”

Is that a problem ?

Are you being serious?:confused:

Glad they’re okay.
I think one of them ASL kingairs have been operating out of cranfield recently too with a camera on the bottom of the fuselage.

“……Operators, ASL of Belgium, said the pilot had to navigate on Saturday night using only charts and a compass…..”

Is that a problem ?