| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Rozy Rider |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 10:51:55 AM
Petition against low flying helicopers
Yesterday at 10:38am This is the link:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Altitude/
We have until Saturday.
Please Please sign this we need all the help we can get.
Thanks You
Sue |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bey_sirocco |
Posted - 30 Jun 2009 : 1:07:22 PM
 Hmmm
I feel a bit like the enemy! (I am RAF!)
I understand where you are all coming from; I have had horses all my RAF career so have to deal with the same problems as you.
My first horse was actually kept on the airfield next to the heli landing pad!
The problem we have in the UK, is that we have very little space that is free for low flying that doesn't upset someone. We do our best to stay away from populated areas but this means going out into the beautiful countryside, which usually horse riders are trying to enjoy as well!
I would urge anyone on a nervous/young horse or anyone with a concern to check this website before planning a ride...
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/AirSafetyandAviation/LowFlying/LFAs/LfasMap.htm
I can't stress just how important it is though that our guys get time to practice.
Not just for the sakes of our guys overseas but for you too.
If you are riding your horse out in the countryside and have an accident it is likely that you will be airlifted to hospital by an RAF or Navy search and rescue helicopter.
These guys have to have to learn how to fly and these guys have to keep maintain their hours and in that situation your life depends on them.
We obviously do our best to keep clear of sensitive areas (like animal sanctuaries - I overheard some pilots the other day talking about an exercise they were doing when one of them said "we can't go that way - the bird of prey centre has just had chicks!") so your voices are being heard.
It is an awkward situation but please, if you are met with a low flying military aircraft please have be understanding in our reasons for being airborne in the first place 
Theo thanks for your lovely comments. I have lots of friends out there and am awaiting a lovely notice to be going myself early next year 
Not looking forward to it as my little boy will only be 18mths 
PLEASE DON'T QUOTE ME ON ANY OF THE ABOVE - THESE ARE MY PERSONAL OPINIONS AND DO NOT IN ANYWAY REPRESENT THE POLICIES/REGULATIONS/OPINIONS OF THE MOD!  |
| Theo |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 11:33:40 AM
Signed!
Incidentally, if you have any specific problems or issues, you can contact the MoD directly on lowflying@mod.uk at Whitehall. You should also make sure you have an emergency contact number on your mobile contact for your local RAF Air command centre. We are in West Sussex and our's is West Drayton. You can get the number from your local police contact (non-emergency) centre.
We managed to avoid disaster when a pair of chinook's decided to do a low flying exercise in tandem and their rotor resonnance was overwhelming! (Despite our horses are used to single chinooks)
Managed to get through and get the flights diverted away before anyone got hurt! Phew! The RAF and Royal Navy have been brilliant since!
IMHO, whilst I accept that low level flights are an essential part of training for out RAF/ Navy boys, singular flights the horses can get used to, but it's when they start coming over in multiples in close formation flight... now, that's scary!
Still... our thoughts are with our forces serving in Afganistan etc. this weekend. We are proud to fly the flag and proud of you guys. Come home safely! |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 08:34:19 AM
Sigfned, not good when they are too low. We live not too far from an air base but don't have a problem as they never come over really low, and, as others say, the horses get used to them.
Barbara |
| Annie Oakley |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 01:50:37 AM
Duly signed:
Let's hope it helps!!
Annie |
| liz |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 10:21:44 PM
Just to say that this petition only applies to military helicopters, not, for example, to those checking pylons.
Liz xx |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 9:11:22 PM
Done. We get Red arrows and lots of training jets too. Just what you need when sitting on a youngster for the first time. Also get helecopters checking the pylon line frequently. |
| faymouse |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 5:40:18 PM
Done, we have regular low flying chinooks who make no attempt to avoid us despite the fact we wear hi viz.Certainly below rader hight! |
| debs |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 08:29:39 AM
Done!
We keep having 1 or 2 going backwards and forwards, nearly all day sunday... maybe lots of fat cats at Chequers??? They are a pain! |
| saddlebred |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 9:30:43 PM
done |
| pathannay |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 5:57:58 PM
Done! |
| stuart |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 5:07:02 PM
Signed - they are a problem here in North Norfolk!! |
| Reagarth |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 4:42:25 PM
Signed - just as a low flying helicopter buzzes overhead!!! |
| precious |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 4:40:27 PM
signed x |
| Chrissie |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 4:29:35 PM
Done - what a great idea. We also have helicopters - balloons, hang gliders and jets flying over us at very low heights - not good especially with foals around.... |
| natntaz |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 4:23:53 PM
I have just signed we get a few going over and causing
problems with the horses when stabled as they go so
low  |
| geegee |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 2:38:27 PM
I often get low flying aircraft flying over, including jets. They are that low that I could describe the pilot All my horses are used to them now so they don't really cause a problem but it was very worrying when we first moved here.
|
| zooscat |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 1:50:34 PM
Done! Used to stable near a busy commercial/private airport and it was very scary. Ryazan not too bad, but lots of youngsters used to panic and rush about. A worry re legs/fences/potholes etc. Hope this makes a difference. |
| andrea.1297 |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 1:44:00 PM
signed petition asap |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 1:00:48 PM
Signed |
| Nut |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 12:59:38 PM
Duly signed |
| Roseanne |
Posted - 25 Jun 2009 : 11:08:29 AM
Done!! Low flying activity should take place in very remote areas, not over populated areas! |
