GGrrrr low flying helicopters

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SecretSquirrell379

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Can anyone point me in the direction of where I can make a complaint about a low flying helicopter?

We were out on a hack tonight and a great big Chinook came across the field towards us and if it was 100ft up I would be amazed. It made no attempt to change its flight path, we both had hi viz on (mine ironically came free from the MOD!) and he must of seen us. Luckily our horses were good but there was a split second where I thought Cropi was going to make a run for it, but, she didn't
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I am really pee'd off as there was no need for it at all
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Thanks xx
 
They should have managed to avoid you if they were that low, however people are usually wrong at guessing heights. No offense meant but it's hard to judge from the ground. Good to hear riders wearing hi viz though!

Ring your nearest flying base to make a complaint and remember to tell them that you were wearing hi viz.
 
Yeah you'd need to contact MOD but I don't think there's a lot that can be done, I'm pretty sure that there's only a low flight restriction over built up areas. Where I live we get the jet fighters practising dog fights and under radar flying and the big bombers coming so low that the pilots can actually wave to you (and have done); puts your heart in your mouth sometimes but luckily the horses seem to become used to them pretty quickly and I know there's nothing we can do in our area; it's only if they 'buzz' the houses in local villages as they're meant to avoid these. I've actually had roof tiles taken off by them before now and haven't been able to get any sort of response.
 
Blimey that is low, amazing to watch sometimes I would of thought?. Its a semi rural area and he certainly came across quite a few houses. I will ring the local MOD tomorrow and make a complaint. I know that it is hard to judge heights from the ground too, we could see the pilot and all of the intricate bits on the wirly bird. The helicopter skimmed the elm trees that we reckon are 100ft, they certainly can't be that much higher.

He could easily of changed course a bit and given us a bit more space, the noise was unreal too, really booming.

Thanks for the advice
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We get the bloomin things over our field all the time, all sorts of aircraft. I did make a complaint once, strangely it 'got lost'
To be honset, usually the nags don't turn a hair, just the big 'far too low' ones.
 
I was surprised that my girl was as good as she was, I did feel the old flightly feeling come on though but luckily she decided against it!! I am not expecting an apology or for it to make much difference but I just want them to know that it was a damn dangerous thing to happen and ridiculous when I have got MOD issued hi viz on!!!
 
you do need to notify MOD if riding is in the area, they have made a commitment if people do contact them to make a concerted effort to avoid areas such as yours.

Read on and contact number below:-

Helicoptor Low Flying
All helicopters share common mission profiles: they depart from their operating base, navigate to an objective area, deliver the required effect (whether this is direct fire, surveillance or support to ground forces), and then return to their operating base. Recent conflicts in Iraq and Afganistan have shown how vulnerable helicopters can be to a wide variety of weapons, and helicopter crew's primary means of survival is to fly as low as possible, to minimise exposure to these threats by achieving surprise, and thereby reducing risk.

Tactical helicopter low flying is therefore vital to protect both crews and the troops they support during operations, and is used for concealed approaches and departures, operating in confined areas, pick-up and delivery of troops and under slung loads, and for both direct fire and observation. The low flying skills necessary to conduct these missions have to be constantly practised during peacetime so that helicopter crews are ready for operational duties anywhere in the world, often at very short notice. Helicopter crews training for these activities in the UK may be authorised to fly down to ground level when necessary.

Helicopter crews are highly trained to avoid horse riders if at all possible and special drills on the helicopter are used to minimise disturbance if riders can be seen in sufficient time.

Visibility Trials
In the spring of 2005, MOD conducted trials to see what could be done to increase the conspicuity of horse riders. Personal strobe lights, emergency radio beacons, infra-red devices were all examined, but none offered a robust and cost-effective solution. Trial BRIGHT EYES was devised to test the effectiveness of high visibility clothing and initial results were very encouraging, leading to flight trails using volunteer riders, arranged with the assistance of the BHS. The live flight trial investigated the range at which helicopter crews detected riders dressed in 'normal' riding wear, and then looked at the effect on detection range when high visibility clothing - comprising jacket, helmet cover and exercise sheet - were used. The trial showed very clearly that, providing the riders were in line of sight of the helicopter, high visibility clothing significantly improved detection ranges, allowing the crew to see the riders in time to avoid over-flight. Whilst high visibility clothing may not always prevent helicopters from over-flying riders, it does provide a considerable and cost-effective improvement in rider safety.

Free Phone Advisory Service
As a result of the MOD review of helicopter low flying, a number of improvements have been made to the MOD freephone advisory service, first launched in March 2005. This improved service, with more detailed information on helicopter low flying is available to horse riders by calling 0800 51 55 44.
 
make a complaint to the MOD...it will do no good whatsoever.

also on their webby is a diary of who's flying where...quite interesting!
 
Might help if I explain the pilots point of view?

It's not easy for low flying helicopters or aircraft just to avoid. Often they are on a tactical phase of flight or target run and deviating from that is just not an option. They're not just flying around looking for people, and they need to train as they'd operate when they're out in operations theatres. If they don't practice exactly as they need to fly, then they'd be under exceptional risk.

debradley, as for your low flying aircraft none of them would have been below 250 feet. They don't operate below that unless they're in a designated tactical training area, and the only ones are in the centre of Wales, south west Scotland, and north west Scotland. Helicopters sometimes operate lower, but again that's so they're prepared for what they'll have to do in theatre. It might be noisy and sometimes annoying, but they're all already massively restricted in where they can operate, and if they don't practice, they end up dying on ops.

donkeygal, the reason why it 'got lost' is because it probably did. All complaints are logged officially. Not really sure what you expected back; if the aircraft was operating legally, then I'm afraid you being inconvenienced is part and parcel of living in a country that has an air force.
 
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make a complaint to the MOD...it will do no good whatsoever.


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What do you want them to do? Low flying is an exceptionally difficult, very perishable skill. If you don't practice it, then you end up very probably killing yourself and crew when you have to do it. Especially if you're only doing it when your flight is a scramble to deliver air support to troops pinned down by the Taleban.

No-one gets away with illegal low flying, so if it was below the authorised height, or in the wrong area, then serious steps are taken.
 
If you live near a MOD base I kind of think you have to put up with it.
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I have always lived near a base and the stuff flying over head has never ever caused me any problems. We have the chinooks flying low in the valley it shakes everything but is very impressive.

It's the stuff on the ground that bothers me and the horses far more.

It was quite exciting this evening as I was lungeing my boy and there was a police helicopter flying around the valley, hovering and moving on, coming back and hovering. S didn't even notice it but it wasn't half distracting me. LOL. I was thinking "Ooooh I wonder what they are looking for"?
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Needless to say S's lungeing session was very easy as I spent more time looking at the sky than I did at him.
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Don't get me wrong I do not expect the MOD to make my riding area a 'No Fly Zone' just because I don't like it
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My point I want to make is that although I realise that they need to practice flying low, the time, area and way in which it was being performed is, in my opinon, wrong.

The statement that Marsden has posted is excellent (thank you
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) and exactly what I am trying to say. We were very visible and could be seen from a fair distance away, he could of 'moved over a bit' to give us a wider berth.

I know that they have to practice but not when I am out riding
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We live near RAF camp and put up with most of it but sometimes they fly rediculsly looow its stupid! It's not just when riding but sends the horses nuts in the field!

Don't bother complaining any more you just get the same standardised letter and leaflet!

They only do it as they fly into the base so surely they could take another route!
 
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make a complaint to the MOD...it will do no good whatsoever.


[/ QUOTE ]

What do you want them to do? Low flying is an exceptionally difficult, very perishable skill. If you don't practice it, then you end up very probably killing yourself and crew when you have to do it. Especially if you're only doing it when your flight is a scramble to deliver air support to troops pinned down by the Taleban.

No-one gets away with illegal low flying, so if it was below the authorised height, or in the wrong area, then serious steps are taken.

[/ QUOTE ]

oh yes of course.

the countryside in britain is full of Taliban......
 
As my dad is a pilot in the RAF we have always been close or on RAF bases with regular air travel.
Our horses have therefore always been near to RAF bases, they have never been bothered by low flying aircraft. At one point the horses were living on the RAF base and were only about 100 metres away from the runway.

IMO if you live in an area close to a military base you have to except that there will be low flying aircraft, all the pilots etc have to practice somewhere.


And as for the comment they should only practise when i'm not riding...How are they supposed to know when your riding? If you want to avoid low flying aircraft you can contact the RAF bases and they should I think be able to inform you as to when low flying will occur
 
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And as for the comment they should only practise when i'm not riding...How are they supposed to know when your riding?

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Erm it was tounge in cheek!! a joke!! for goodness sake I don't have a hotline to the MOD to let them know when I'm hacking out
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I do not live near an MOD base as I said in a previous post, I think that the Para's must of moved into the Army Garrison which is about 5 miles from us. I have been at the yard for 2 years now and never had a helicoptor flying this low before.
 
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As my dad is a pilot in the RAF we have always been close or on RAF bases with regular air travel.
Our horses have therefore always been near to RAF bases, they have never been bothered by low flying aircraft. At one point the horses were living on the RAF base and were only about 100 metres away from the runway.

IMO if you live in an area close to a military base you have to except that there will be low flying aircraft, all the pilots etc have to practice somewhere.


And as for the comment they should only practise when i'm not riding...How are they supposed to know when your riding? If you want to avoid low flying aircraft you can contact the RAF bases and they should I think be able to inform you as to when low flying will occur

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no i do not live ANYWHERE near a military base of any sort...

so no, i don't wish to have military near me or my horses.
thank you.
 
I live very close to Middle Wallop Air Base and both I and the horses are used to the low flying aircraft. The pilots have to practice, not a lot of good getting to Iraq or Afghanistan not having practised low flying. We want these people to protect us, so we have to put up with their training. I'm sure they don't deliberately fly low to annoy us!
 
I think obviously horses do get used to MOD helicopters and RAF jets coming over, but you always get the odd one. We unfortunately live on a flight path for the RAF so regularily get Tornado's coming over. Usually my horses are fine with them, however there has been the odd one or two very occassionally who have been way too low. I know they're too low as my dad used to fly so knows what height they *should* be at! There's not much you can do though TBH. If I see one coming which looks like its too low then I will hop off very quickly!

I understand they need to practice but when there's 3 of them raging about the skies chasing each other for 1/2 an hour it does make schooling a youngster pretty damn hair-raising! I think for proper messing about, they should do it over far less built up areas or possibly change their courses once in a while so the same people dont get it for years!
 
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They don't operate below that unless they're in a designated tactical training area, and the only ones are in the centre of Wales, south west Scotland, and north west Scotland. Helicopters sometimes operate lower, but again that's so they're prepared for what they'll have to do in theatre.

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That's very interesting; I live on Exmoor and we often get very low flying aeroplanes, mainly jets and Hercules. Being a very hilly area I have before seen jets flying along a valley while I've been on top of a hill, the jets must be very low as they are below the level of the top of the hill. However, you are right that it's very hard to judge the height of an aircraft from the ground. Plus of course we get the big helicopters. We also have the Chivenor rescue helicopter flying over frequently.

The bonus of this is that the ponies are so used to the noise that they generally take no notice whatsoever, in fact mine rather likes the helicopters, and will watch them with fascination as they fly overhead with their 'pretty lights' flashing!
 
Blackhawk. I'm not saying I'm complaining about low flying my family is from a military background so know only to well the need for exercises. My horses are well accustomed to the flying patterns now, but sorry they use the Malverns and local area for low flying, ask anyone in this area. I agree not all the time, but they have been known to come below 250, although I appreciate it's very hard to ascertain height from the ground. I would rather our forces be well trained and ready for combat than not, having had members of my family in that situation; but I also know when a jet manages to shake a tile from my roof; and I like giving a wave to the pilots when I can. So no complaint from my side, but it's blooming scary and deafening sometimes when you're not ready for it.
 
Blackhawk, we had a chinook (sorry don't know how to spell it) fly over our yard one day. They often fly across checking the pipeline which is over some of the fields and at a safe height. But this particular day it had hopped over the trees at the top of our drive (and I mean literally hopped) then proceeded to fly over the yard where my hubby was just in mid get on point on a 3 day backed 2yr old. The helicopter was not doing any speed it was hovering slowly over the building and just appeared above his head. Hubby leapt off and looked up and we both saw the pilot and co-pilots faces. The both looked horrified when they reaslised there was a person with an exploding horse in their hand and held their hand up and nodded at us. They then flew off. Needless to say that since that day we have not experienced any low flying helicopters over the farm since. We didn't complain at the time as we didn't have a number and forgot to note down what time during the day it was.
 
Cazza - you did spell Chinook right!!

What you have said covers my point.... I don't expect my yard to become a 'no fly zone' but I would appreciate it if when a pilot is flying low on manouveres and he/she spots a horse and rider out that they try and give us a wide berth. I have filled in the online complaints form and I have just rung the 8th telephone number for the Garrison
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Blackhawk, we had a chinook (sorry don't know how to spell it) fly over our yard one day. They often fly across checking the pipeline which is over some of the fields and at a safe height. But this particular day it had hopped over the trees at the top of our drive (and I mean literally hopped) then proceeded to fly over the yard where my hubby was just in mid get on point on a 3 day backed 2yr old. The helicopter was not doing any speed it was hovering slowly over the building and just appeared above his head. Hubby leapt off and looked up and we both saw the pilot and co-pilots faces. The both looked horrified when they reaslised there was a person with an exploding horse in their hand and held their hand up and nodded at us. They then flew off. Needless to say that since that day we have not experienced any low flying helicopters over the farm since. We didn't complain at the time as we didn't have a number and forgot to note down what time during the day it was.

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Aw a good story (ish) Glad to hear they are no longer flying over you. I find hoovering is worse when riding
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not surprised they were horrified. I've been flying quote a bit and scares the life out of you thinking that you could cause an accident.
 
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