CAA Complaint

It is very likely that the Cessna was one of several operated by a UK based house photography company. I have also complained regarding the low flying aspect direct to the CAA. Sadly I did not have photographic proof which could have backed up my estimate of 250..300 feet agl over the town.Even the military avoid direct overflights at 250 feet and go around the the town or are around 1,000 ft.

Not only are the flights over built up areas a hazard,they also spend to long operating between 250…500 feet in the military low flying areas which increases the risk of collision. For example 35 minutes in the middle of the Spey valley , a busy fast jet transit area . They would never see the fast jet coming round the bend because they are too busy circling farms and single houses. I have never forgotten the Jaguar / Cessna mid air at Carno in Wales and I file CANP when planning to operate in the LFAs.

If you see the Twits doing this for ages over your town/ village then I suggest you grab some pics, including foreground objects.You dont need binocs to read the reg! Then tell the CAA.The local airport/airfield do not have any input on activity away from their circuit..zone.

Oh and I do aerial photography for a living and dislike this unsafe way of operating.I produce good quality pics and my commercial pilots stick to the rules.I am not a NIMBY but just dislike the way this type of flying gives a bad name to light aviation and it would be even worse if an accident occured.

I fondly recall an occasion around twenty years ago when a local PPL, who had been taking house photographs over our village, cold called to attempt a sale. My wife answered the door and chatted to the hopeful salesman/pilot. She suggested that since her husband was also a pilot that he might be interested. When I appeared the embarassment on his part was acute. He well knew my employer was the CAA…..!!! but had no idea I lived in the village. I was given the photograph with absolutely no mention of any payment being involved. Happy days.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS – He now has an ATPL and flies for our national airline as a Captain. Great chap.

[QUOTE=Old Git]there has been a light aircraft going backwards and forwards overhead [QUOTE]

I was trying that yesterday (though not for any great length of time) in the Pushpak.

20kt wind on the nose + sitting in pre-stall buffet = negative ground speed.

Lower the nose to go forwards (slowly) again! 😀

Honest though, it wasn’t me at Hungerford!!

If you find someone knocking on your door trying to sell you an aerial photo of your house soon…..I bet the Cessna might be the cause of it all.

We get them buzzing around here all the time, just going round and round all day and normally on a Sunday too.

Martin

Deano/BlueRobin – thanks for your replies and sorry to waste your time – for one reason and another I just had a bad day and I should learn to be more tolerant. I do remember a few years back I met my son for a drink at the Downgate pub at Hungerford Common and we watched a Tiger Moth practicing landings on a field not far away and it was a pleasure to watch I have to say. I think it was the one that sadly crashed not long back G-ACD??

I guess the point here is that if the aircraft was not in breach of Rule 5 the CAA wouldn’t do anything about it anyway, they probably would not even entertain the idea. It sure is annoying though, we have aerobatics that takes place over my house several times a week, every week, and it does get on my nerves after a while.

Nice one OG. I have to agree that the likes of some light aircraft, e.g. the Cessna 152 do tend to make a very turgid sound, far louder than their performance would otherwise indicate! Compared that to some other high performance singles where a) the noise is lower due to slower-spinning constant-speeding props and b) their own speed carrying the noise away.

Do you hear about the military hospital early morning flights into Birmingham? The local NIMBY complained unawares and was put in his place!

Two hours is a long time in one area.
My guess goes along these lines:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-143010.html
i.e. one of Mel Cubley’s taking photos again to sell door-to-door.

The author of the thread lives nr Hungerford.

Did you get a reg?

Thks Bluerobin – no I didn’t get a reg but I have calmed down now, I have lived under the flightpaths of 2 major airports which never worried me but this had the effect of a fly buzzing back and forth, it was just a bad day and I will have to work on my patience levels – Thanks again
OG

Two hours is a long time in one area.
My guess goes along these lines:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-143010.html
i.e. one of Mel Cubley’s taking photos again to sell door-to-door.

The author of the thread lives nr Hungerford.

Did you get a reg?