So angry! Low flying civilian helicopter made no attempts to avoid my horses!

[ltoolan]

I am so angry!

At c.10:30 this morning a blue Robinson style single engine helicopter flew over my land (and that of my neighbour) at the most unacceptable height - c.200ft max, within 500ft of our houses, our stables (should have been a clue there!!!) and preceded to fly straight over my horses with no corrective action to avoid them. It also flew over a railway line, in close proximity to the station, at the same height.

Running up the hill to check they were OK, I was disappointed to find my mare upset by the incident.

She's a very laid back girl - in the past she's had the air amblulance land in a paddock next to her without batting an eyelid (with prior owner), she's had the red arrows fly over us as I was picking out her feet (!) without flinching (she she was loose in her field at the time) and she regularly experiences hot air ballooons landing in the fields around us. We're also on the edge of a military corridor.

I fully accept low flying military aircraft have a job to do and I horse myself accordingly, given I live in an area where they occasionally pass by, but there is just no excuse for civilian hobby pilots to breach air navigation legislation and endanger property and life so flagrantly.

Rant over - apologies, had to get it off my chest.

More productively, if you live near Stratford upon Avon and were also subject to this breach, I would be grateful for your input - especially if you got the aircraft's registration number (which I stupidly omitted to do, I just could not believe what I was watching).

Aircraft appeared to be heading from Birmingham air space towards Wilmcote.

I'm just in the process of submitting a CAA complaint, so additional witnesses would be welcome.

 

[Frumpoon]

I used to stable over that way nearish to Coventry and a similar thing happened with a similar sounding aircraft.

Made a CAA complaint but was difficult without the reg number, although of the hire companies in the UK only a very small number have dark aircraft - black or dark blue.

Upsettingly 200ft is the legal limit I believe, certainly although the CAA were sympathetic they didn't believe that it was a contravention of the law.

 

[ltoolan]

I used to stable over that way nearish to Coventry and a similar thing happened with a similar sounding aircraft.

Made a CAA complaint but was difficult without the reg number, although of the hire companies in the UK only a very small number have dark aircraft - black or dark blue.

Upsettingly 200ft is the legal limit I believe, certainly although the CAA were sympathetic they didn't believe that it was a contravention of the law.

Thanks for your reply.

I would say he was 120ft max alongside the houses, but our land is on a hill so as he flew between by my oak tree and that of my neighbour's he was extremely low - I actually thought he was coming in to land!!! Importantly, he was not above my oak tree as he flew alongside it so this will be easy to measure - and as he flew towards the horses he made no adjustment for change in ground height because of the hill or them.

I was just trying to be cautious with my accusations until my husband got home and we could verify the height. I know people often under estimate the height of aircraft but I used to fly gliders so have some experience.

 

[indie999]

Its still worth reporting them ie the time etc as at least an awareness can be made to whoever is flying. I am not being funny how is anyone truely to know how near or far the object is etc. But flying over any animal in a field is going to cause a problem. I dont know your area but worth speaking to any other cattle/farmers or animal owners to see if they have had this problem too ie stampede etc due to low aircraft. If the animals go potty ie if walkers too they will end up trampling etc. Good luck

 

[scarymare]

Happened to me. Upon investigation it was the electricity lot 'flying the line'. I was lucky to see it as ususally would have been at work.

I was far more bothered than my horses were though (WB's and TB's and youngsters).