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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Lazydocker on 16 January 2013, 08:42:41

Title: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Lazydocker on 16 January 2013, 08:42:41
Doesn't sound good at all. My thoughts go out to anyone involved or with loved ones on the site.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: zirk on 16 January 2013, 08:48:06
Yep, just heard, was just on the way out to Stockwell, not far away, think I might hold back for a while thought they were suposed to follow the line of the Thames River?  :o :o
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Elite Pete on 16 January 2013, 08:55:19
The news says it hit a crane :(
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Lazydocker on 16 January 2013, 08:59:04
Yep, just heard, was just on the way out to Stockwell, not far away, think I might hold back for a while thought they were suposed to follow the line of the Thames River?  :o :o

Right by the river so could have been :-\

I'm surprised there isn't some conspiracy theorists shouting that it was a terrorist attack on MI6 ::)

As above, thoughts to those that are involved in any way
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Varche on 16 January 2013, 09:26:31
I have just watched that drama unfold live on the morning news.

Smartphones have really changed the way News is reported.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: cleggy on 16 January 2013, 09:29:07
Yep, just heard, was just on the way out to Stockwell, not far away, think I might hold back for a while thought they were suposed to follow the line of the Thames River?  :o :o

Right by the river so could have been :-\

I'm surprised there isn't some conspiracy theorists shouting that it was a terrorist attack on MI6 ::)

As above, thoughts to those that are involved in any way

Cem will be thinking of a reply  ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D

Very sad for those involved :(
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: henryd on 16 January 2013, 09:33:12
Very sad,as said thoughts go out to those caught up in the aftermath :'(
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: zirk on 16 January 2013, 09:44:36
2 people dead, god bless them, surprised there's not a lot more a very busy area normally let alone rush hour.

The remains of the Crane not looking good, approx 600ft up, going take a while to sort that thing out.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: ozzycat on 16 January 2013, 11:48:19
very sad but in the police interveiw some silly cow asked about a complaint that the police took nearly 5 mins to get there what planet is she from  10 to 8 midle of rush hour i think they did well to get there so quick
my thoughts are with the two persons that have died and there familys
very lucky that alot more wernt killed at that time in the morning in central london
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Vamps on 16 January 2013, 22:45:09
It turns out that the Pilot was very experienced and well respected in the profession, also being a 'stunt Pilot' on films, including James Bond and a Great North Air Ambulance Pilot who has been involved in a number of high profile rescues....... :y :y

Thoughts are with the family and friends of the 2 people who died............ :( :(

I have to agree with the comments being made that it was lucky that many other people did not lose their lives....
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 January 2013, 22:58:52
The guy who works the crane was late for the first time in years this morning according to a colleague interviewed. Talk about lucky!!!!!!
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: pscocoa on 16 January 2013, 23:18:16
I saw the aftermath of this on way in to work this morning - very very sad. Seems to be a freak set of events coming together - when your numbers up......
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: plym ian on 17 January 2013, 00:21:08
The guy who works the crane was late for the first time in years this morning according to a colleague interviewed. Talk about lucky!!!!!!
perhaps he was held up in the traffic jam but yes extremely lucky
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Bionic on 17 January 2013, 05:15:33
Its a sad affair and regrettable that innocents have suffered again but it was inevitable that it would happen one day. Years to come will see the skys as full as the roads if history is anything to go by and it will only get worse. The price we pay for technology and progress is somethimes way too high. Just a thought.....
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: mantahatch on 17 January 2013, 07:37:39
And now a train on fire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21056044 I don't know about you but 2013 is not starting very well for some people, me included.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Nickbat on 17 January 2013, 08:29:01
Its a sad affair and regrettable that innocents have suffered again but it was inevitable that it would happen one day. Years to come will see the skys as full as the roads if history is anything to go by and it will only get worse. The price we pay for technology and progress is somethimes way too high. Just a thought.....

One crash, with just two fatalities (however sad), is a small price to pay when you think of the hundreds of thousands of flights that have been made over London by helicopter - including Air Ambulances which have saved many more than two lives...
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: tunnie on 17 January 2013, 08:45:19
Human error was to blame, often case when technology is said to be issue.

16,000 flights a year go across or in London, by Helicopter. This is the first crash since records began back in the 1970's.

The pilot diverted due to fog, but was not informed about the crane.

Its a damn fine safety record I think, crash occurred due to lack of visibility and lack of communication. 
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 January 2013, 12:18:11
Not sure it was a case of not being informed about the crane. The air navigation order would have required the pilot to remain 500 feet clear of any "person, vessel, vehicle or structure" and 1000' clear of any "built up area or organised assembly of people" with the ability to glide clear in the event of engine failure. An exception is made for taking off and landing.

That's assuming decent visibility, too. I'd expect MUCH wider margins to be used in fog!

I would regard London, with the exception of the Thames, as a built up area, so, if he was flying at less than 1000' above the building, he planned to be over the Thames.

Unless the crane extended significantly more than 500 or 1000 feet from the building, depending on your viewpoint, its' presence shouldn't have been material because the pilot wouldn't have been planning to fly that close to the building.

I reckon he was simply flying in very low visibility and wasn't where he intended to be. :(

A tragic event, and sympathies to those killed and injured. It could have been very much worse, however.

It does make me wonder how wise it is to allow non-emergency aircraft to operate that low over a city in instrument conditions, though.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 17 January 2013, 12:23:17
The guy who works the crane was late for the first time in years this morning according to a colleague interviewed. Talk about lucky!!!!!!
perhaps he was held up in the traffic jam but yes extremely lucky

He explained on This Morning that he normally is woken by his sons, one who suffers from aspergers, every morning and does not bother with his alarm clock. Yesterday morning his sons failed to wake him, and he was an hour late arriving at the scene just moments after the crash took place.

I always say if your number is up...........but his wasn't and he survived! :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Andy B on 17 January 2013, 12:26:35
The guy who works the crane was late for the first time in years this morning according to a colleague interviewed. Talk about lucky!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21060021

Time to buy a lottery ticket ....... while they're still only a quid  ;)
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Terbs on 17 January 2013, 13:10:54
Its a sad affair and regrettable that innocents have suffered again but it was inevitable that it would happen one day. Years to come will see the skys as full as the roads if history is anything to go by and it will only get worse. The price we pay for technology and progress is somethimes way too high. Just a thought.....

One crash, with just two fatalities (however sad), is a small price to pay when you think of the hundreds of thousands of flights that have been made over London by helicopter - including Air Ambulances which have saved many more than two lives...

Don't forget all the airliner flights...
If you are gonna come down, it does not matter how high you were (apart from damage area) I fear London is living on borrowed time..... :(
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Nickbat on 17 January 2013, 14:22:15
Its a sad affair and regrettable that innocents have suffered again but it was inevitable that it would happen one day. Years to come will see the skys as full as the roads if history is anything to go by and it will only get worse. The price we pay for technology and progress is somethimes way too high. Just a thought.....

One crash, with just two fatalities (however sad), is a small price to pay when you think of the hundreds of thousands of flights that have been made over London by helicopter - including Air Ambulances which have saved many more than two lives...

Don't forget all the airliner flights...
If you are gonna come down, it does not matter how high you were (apart from damage area) I fear London is living on borrowed time..... :(

Same as many other cities round world, besides which it's highly unusual for aircraft to contact terrain that far out from an airport. Nearer to Heathrow is a different matter, but given the Nav aids at such an airport, even that scenario is not likely. There again, sh*t happens.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 January 2013, 16:18:33
The levels of risk associated with operating airliners into a Cat III ILS equipped international airport in the suburbs must be tiny compared with helicopters buzzing around a city centre at a couple of hundred feet in fog. The former will get you anywhere in the world. The latter gets you through the last few miles of your journey. Public transport can do that job just as well (but without the prestige) and with much reduced risk, especially in marginal weather.

This assumes the helicopter's role was transport, of course. It may not have been.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 January 2013, 16:38:12
I note the pilot used to fly the Leicestershire air ambulance so pretty experienced
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 17 January 2013, 16:43:04
The levels of risk associated with operating airliners into a Cat III ILS equipped international airport in the suburbs must be tiny compared with helicopters buzzing around a city centre at a couple of hundred feet in fog. The former will get you anywhere in the world. The latter gets you through the last few miles of your journey. Public transport can do that job just as well (but without the prestige) and with much reduced risk, especially in marginal weather.

This assumes the helicopter's role was transport, of course. It may not have been.


I understand Kevin he did not intend to go into London and was going to Elstree (the film studio?), but because of the weather asked to divert and ended up flying over London.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: henryd on 17 January 2013, 16:57:38
I note the pilot used to fly the Leicestershire air ambulance so pretty experienced

Did some flying in the Bond films too.
Title: Re: Helicopter Crash in London
Post by: Kate on 17 January 2013, 17:31:25
I was just driving along where this happened the day before.

It's so sad.