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Aviation History
1981
1981 - 0073.PDF
FLIGHT International. 10 January 1981 67 Letters ^Parachutists, aircraft and responsibility I Why keep SIR—In drawing attention to the hazards of aircraft operating in close proximity to parachute dropping zones (Flight, December 6) your correspon dent makes the point that such zones are often situated within areas of active flying. This, of course, demands equal care from all parties. A case in point is Thruxton—a convenient cross country destination for trainee as well as experienced pilots and seemingly a very active dropping zone. In an incident early this year I arrived in the circuit with the neces sary clearance to find, on joining the downwind leg, that the air was alive with parachutes (or so it seemed), one being so close as to be recognisable as a rather apprehensive young lady. On touchdown the same young lady was gathering up her 'chute within a few yards of the active runway. Fortunately there were two of us in the aeroplane and vigilance was bet ter as a result, but it was an exciting arrival which we could well have done •vithout. SIR—Much has been written about the standard of service supplied to general aviation pilots at many British airports and airfields. Most of it is not particularly complimentary. It has involved Air Traffic, Fuellers and Customs. Together with three colleagues I recently left for Amsterdam to collect an aircraft previously left there. On arrival at Southend to clear Customs we found that the liferaft normally carried in the baggage area of our Cougar was not present. We there fore had to buy or borrow one. We happened to discuss the problem in SIR—I have recently read, with a degree of unease, the letter from Mr Fortescue ("Troubleshooter," Novem ber 15) concerning insurance. I am uneasy because private pilots still find it difficult to arrange any type of insurance. There are several very good companies who are fair to private pilots, but there does seem to be a certain lack of communication between them and the pilots, especi ally in the life and personal accident field. Consequently far too many pilots do not try, or have given up the idea, of comprehensive cover for them selves and their families. The type of holiday insurance that Mr Fortescue was talking about has been available to members of the Air craft Owners and Pilots Association It occurred to us that the dispatch ing of parachutists into the active cir cuit of an airfield was bordering on suicidal and one wonders why this is not confined to the "dead" side of the field. The para's needs are more criti cal than those of aircraft and the circuit could be varied to suit—or so one would have thought. Perhaps this was an isolated inci dent in which something went wrong, but there are usually two sides to a case and the reference to "light air craft and gliders flying blatantly and at random over promulgated drop zones" is just a little emotive, though the point Mr Peacock is making is understood. The skies are available for all to use and enjoy within the limits of the law and safety. The onus is on everyone, pilots and parachutists alike, to act in a responsible fashion. Willow Cottage G. F. ROWLEY Broadham Newdigate, Surrey front of Customs at Southend: with out any prompting they proceeded to make six telephone calls on our be half, located a raft, and arranged for us to borrow it (our sincere thanks to Langham International Aircraft Ltd). That service from Southend Customs was fantastic. We would like to say "thank you" publicly for far exceeding the call of duty. Biggin Hill JOHN DOW-SMITH School of Flying BRIAN AUSTIN Biggin Hill ROBIN DE GARSTON Aerodrome Kent (Aopa) for some time, and several members have taken out varying types of holiday cover. I have been fortunate to arrange several this last year, ranging from one week flying only, personal accident cover, to three months for a family on a flying holi day in the USA. The cost, of course, varies depending on the type of cover needed, but it is not excessive when you consider the possible cost of medi cal treatment abroad, etc. If Mr Fortescue is a member of Aopa I would advise him to get in touch with them and see if they can help on this problem. Avsure CHRISTINE OWEN 22 The Hythe Staines Middx TW18 3JA redundant pilots ? SIR—As a pilot who, in his time, has been made redundant because his company no longer had an aircraft for him to fly, I would make comment on the reply by Mr J. W. Jessop of British Airways to the letter written by Mr B. Neill-Gourlay (Flight, Nov ember 22). If it is good economic sense, even when the airline is showing a loss, to keep redundant pilots on strength at full pay, why do the independent air lines and foreign airlines not do so? I have no axe to grind with the pilots concerned. I feel just as sorry for them as I do for Mr Neill-Gourlay. It is the "us and them" society that has been developed by the public sec tor, with their expected comparability, security and index-linked r insions, to which I object. I just do not think that there should be one set of rules for public sector employees and another for the private sector. Seven Gables CAPT D. A. WARD Up Hatherley Cheltenham Glos GL51 6HX BA "a last resort" SIR—I refer to your article "BA policy will fill Swissair first class" (Flight, December 6) and—as a very frequent traveller—wish to comment that car riers maintaining a good first-class service are certainly to be congratu lated. It is a fact that the quality of air- travel has diminished in function of the industry's development, so that first class remains the only option available to the traveller who doesn't want to be mobbed and who cares for a reasonable inflight service with a little personal attention, as he could reckon with in the Fifties and early Sixties. Club or business class are no sub stitute for first class, and the answer as to why BA can only manage to fill 3 per cent of seat space available in Europe can probably be found in the quality of service BA cares to offer. I have had to fly BA on various occa sions, and due to the cancellation of a KLM flight I used BA from London to Port of Spain. I can state with a good conscience that the cabin ser vice (quality of food and couldn't-care- less attitude of flight attendants) is definitely the reason why I would fly BA only as a last resort. PETER JOHN BAEHR 37 Chemin Moise-Duboule 1209 Geneva Switzerland An accolade for Southend Customs Insurance can be arranged
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