Might also be worth using the ‘search’ facility on here as you’d find all sorts of information about this ‘much loved aircraft!’ 😀
13-21 February 2010 Open Cockpits
Next week is Open Cockpit Week at NAM, for further details check out here!
Recent Aircraft Moves Around The Site
I hear from NAM that some of the exhibits in the front corner of the site by the car parking area are being moved. Not sure exactly what has happened so far but I understand that the plan is for the Meteor T7 to be moved forward towards the café; the Dove moved across towards the Vulcan; and the Canberra PR7 pulled back into the corner.
I also understand that some work will also be undertaken to spruce up the Vulcan nose and repaint some of the underside in advance of the Tribute to the V-Force event in April.
Perspex can be an acceptable barrier – it all depends on the type of radiation. For some sources a sheet of paper would work!!
People should also remember that it isn’t just instruments that are an issue: escape compasses, certain turbine blades, some escape route & fire extinguisher markers etc.
Can I remind people that in part we’ve been ‘here’ before on this topic:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=97355&highlight=health
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=96695&highlight=health&page=2
As has been said before the legislation isn’t going to get easier or go away.
I understand that one of the previous anomalies, the watch repair sector is also now coming under the legislation.
IMHO if the previously mentioned events; that we all participate in are to continue, things will undoubtedly have to change.
Exactly, and it keeps being evaded here.
Because some of us haven’t a clue how to.
That is what we are trying to ask, some of you do seem to know the relevent details but there is this real reluctance to pass around the info.
There is mention of ‘safe levels’, ‘guidelines’, ‘knowing what is right’, ‘recent actions’, and ‘the authorities’, none of this means anything to me or some others here.
The real grey issue seems to be actual materials used, and the date ranges they may have been used.
Don’t forget guages are collected by alot of people from teenage boys upwards, and we don’t all have the gen and geiger counters.On another note, I’m guessing there could be severe claims repercussions by opening up and allowing the public to sit in our cockpits?
In this litigious society there might be a degree of caution about appearing to give ‘definitive’ advice and then seeing people act on that advice. Until quite recently I thought that I had a reasonable understanding of the legislation, but that understanding might not be 100% hence why my personal posts on here and in PMs have been ‘guarded’.
There may even be some ‘confusion’ over whether individuals can be or need to be licensed.
As to your last point about cockpit access, yes it is an issue that needs checking and where necessary controlling. Various controls can be used i.e. restrict access or remove offending items.
Sorry T/O…..I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I take your point!……….
Not a problem Tangmere – but as we type it is a ‘real issue’ for many organisations across the UK and apparently now in Europe.
As has been posted on other threads, some organisations have dealt with the issue and obtained licences; others have ignored the issue; and some thought the issue was being addressed by people on their behalf, and as I understand that particular circumstance, they might also now have issues to deal with.
…It would appear that the majority of the extra stuff is found in some crash relics which had been missed by the authorities when they did their initial survey….
To reinforce Januar12’s post – a couple of years ago a representative from the HSE gave a talk on this subject at a BAPC meeting hosted at Duxford.
One of the case studies he cited involved the contaminated wreckage of a recovered World War II fighter at an ‘un-named’ collection in the south of England; IIRC that museum had notices served on it and had to change the way it displayed the wreckage to the public i.e. they were no longer able to reach across and touch it.
Sadly there are lots of myths and ill conceived views on this topic; but it’s a measurable problem that will have to be resolved.
Where is the advice and resources from the various UK preservation organisations?
Since 2001 the topic has been well addressed by BAPC for its members and a disposal scheme was negotiated with the authorities and put in place for particularly active material. Some groups took advantage of the ‘subsidised scheme’, others didn’t!
Yes, for an example ther might be huge differences saftey wise between a Spitfire, Hunter, and Harrier cockpit re levels.
As a basic question though, can an instrument panel really push out as much radiation as some houses have existing within them naturally?
Sadly the topic is far more complex than that (and that’s not just me being evasive).
From a health perspective a whole series of factors have to be taken into account: proximity to a source; length of exposure; what you do for a living i.e. a radiologist might have more issues than a gas fitter etc.
Also as I’ve previously stated IMHO health is not the sole issue here; a point reinforced by Air Ministry’s earlier post.
For various reasons I have given this topic long and careful consideration and will continue to do so. However it would be interesting to let a ‘legal mind’ take a look at the issue of ‘Duty of Care’. A lot of items covered by the legislation in the aviation sector are ex-MOD material so should they disposed of it as they did? Just a thought, or another ‘can of worms’? :confused:
Certainly not aware of that but I will ask questions – NAM itself is registered, surveys have been completed and items stored; really active items were disposed of via the BAPC arranged scheme. That said it doesn’t cover items brought onto site and I know that this year new ‘guidance’ is being prepared for the events it hosts.
…And borrow the seat from Coventry air museum, mannequin sat in it with TG’s helmet on… hey-presto a TSR2 makes it to Cockpitfest! Museums willing of course… Dream on…..
Scott.
They could join the bits already at Newark! 😉
Sorry Bruce, I didn’t intend it as ‘baiting’; I Came across the post in the resurrected thread and thought it might help!! 😮
Missed this first time round so in chronological order starting in 1973:
Vampire
Anson
Prentice
Meteor FR.9
Swift
Shackleton
F100
T33
Mystere (x2 includes Midland’s aircraft, to get our battery back!:diablo:)
Skeeter
Whirlwind
Javelin
Meteor NF.12
Heron
Meteor F.4**
Buccaneer
Draken
MiG-27
Sea Harrier
Viggen
All except ** (now in store in Florida) are detailed here!
:confused: There might be a few clues here! http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1229871&postcount=10