Defence Helicopter Flying School
Discussion
ZM506 flew over me earlier. Didn't see it but from the FR24 database it looks like the same colours as the local 5-0 chopper:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
The Defence Flying School is based at Shawbury and operates Junos (Airbus H135s) and Jupiters (Airbus 145s) - both twins
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
MrBig said:
ZM506 flew over me earlier. Didn't see it but from the FR24 database it looks like the same colours as the local 5-0 chopper:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
Fleet in same colours, as I believe they are 'leased' from same Govt contract source, or something like that?https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
aeropilot said:
MrBig said:
ZM506 flew over me earlier. Didn't see it but from the FR24 database it looks like the same colours as the local 5-0 chopper:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
Fleet in same colours, as I believe they are 'leased' from same Govt contract source, or something like that?https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zm506
What's the story, do they operate the Police helicopters or just have a fleet in the same colours?
The Police ones, belonging to the National Police Air Service, as owned by West Yorkshire Police, who are the Lead Force for NPAS. They are an amalgamation of all the Airbus helicopters that were owned or leased by the individual forces a dozen years ago and then taken under single Force ownership for the national model.
The Shawbury ones are MOD leased for the military flying trading contract.
Geneve said:
The Defence Flying School is based at Shawbury and operates Junos (Airbus H135s) and Jupiters (Airbus 145s) - both twins
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
Possibly so the helcopters can be operated at night (or at least night flying rules), even if its only positioning flights, maybe they have any secondary role which would justify a second engine, and given how risk averse the Military Aviation Authority is these days, maybe the risk assessment demanded it?It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
GliderRider said:
Possibly so the helcopters can be operated at night (or at least night flying rules), even if its only positioning flights, maybe they have any secondary role which would justify a second engine, and given how risk averse the Military Aviation Authority is these days, maybe the risk assessment demanded it?
They also train rear crew Which includes winch Ops and I suspect a decent amount over water So that probably helps with the decision. ecsrobin said:
GliderRider said:
Possibly so the helcopters can be operated at night (or at least night flying rules), even if its only positioning flights, maybe they have any secondary role which would justify a second engine, and given how risk averse the Military Aviation Authority is these days, maybe the risk assessment demanded it?
They also train rear crew Which includes winch Ops and I suspect a decent amount over water So that probably helps with the decision. GliderRider said:
Geneve said:
The Defence Flying School is based at Shawbury and operates Junos (Airbus H135s) and Jupiters (Airbus 145s) - both twins
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
Possibly so the helcopters can be operated at night (or at least night flying rules), even if its only positioning flights, maybe they have any secondary role which would justify a second engine, and given how risk averse the Military Aviation Authority is these days, maybe the risk assessment demanded it?It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
We often see them flying through our valley, very low and level with my house. Lots travelling to "enthusiastically" drive on the Welsh roads believe the police are keeping an eye on the roads.
Geneve said:
The Defence Flying School is based at Shawbury and operates Junos (Airbus H135s) and Jupiters (Airbus 145s) - both twins
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
Yes it sounds a bit unusual doesn't it. Students are effectively doing a PPL(H) and multi engine at the same time. And on turbines.It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
I guess it's a quicker route to having them ready for the next stage instead of having to start out on a single piston engine and then do a conversion. Plus in terms of maintenance and operations its simpler if there are only turbine aircraft to fuel and maintain.
48k said:
Geneve said:
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
Yes it sounds a bit unusual doesn't it. Students are effectively doing a PPL(H) and multi engine at the same time. And on turbines.ARHarh said:
GliderRider said:
Geneve said:
The Defence Flying School is based at Shawbury and operates Junos (Airbus H135s) and Jupiters (Airbus 145s) - both twins
It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
Possibly so the helcopters can be operated at night (or at least night flying rules), even if its only positioning flights, maybe they have any secondary role which would justify a second engine, and given how risk averse the Military Aviation Authority is these days, maybe the risk assessment demanded it?It surprises me that they don’t do the ab initio training on singles - unless anyone knows differently.
But AFAIK, the Squirrels and Gazelles are now retired.
Even the little Cabri would surely be a much cheaper and faster way to get the first 40+ hrs completed.
We often see them flying through our valley, very low and level with my house. Lots travelling to "enthusiastically" drive on the Welsh roads believe the police are keeping an eye on the roads.
ATG said:
Hello neighbour. I see them night flying from time to time near Alberbury / Criggion as I drive through that area btwn 11pm and midnight at least once a week. Not many people to disturb if they stick to the flood plain.
That's interesting as I am not far from Llynclys and rarely see them after dark out here and it's not that many miles away.I do like to see them though.
I used to be a flying instructor at the DHFS. We used to have a Night Duty Instructor in the ATC Tower for emergencies or in the event of flying complaints and one night I got two separate complaints....it was middle of summer about 11:30pm. Phone goes and friendly bloke says "he's been circling over my house for 30 minutes now, can you do anything about it as I am trying to get my kids to sleep?" I asked him how bad the noise was and he said he'd open the window to which WHAPPAWHAPPAWHAPPA as one of ours thuds directly overhead. Oops. So I ask the ATC controller to call him up and move him on (he was training someone to use NVGs at a training field near this guy's house). No problem and happy chap as said helicopter heads off elsewhere to annoy someone else.
Phone goes again 5 minutes later, very snooty lady "This is Lady X of ***** Manor, am I speaking to the Duty Instructor?" Hello and yes I say. "One of your helicopters has flown over my house at below rooftop height" impossible I say as the minimum height we can fly, if we are not taking off or landing is 250' at night and we are not practising takeoffs or landings in *****. "Well he was done, I saw it myself and next time it happens I will tell one of my shooting parties to shoot him down" Well madam, we take threats to kill very seriously and as we record all our phonecalls (we didn't
) I will now have to pass this threat to kill to the Shrewsbury Police Force, can you confirm your full name and address at **** Manor please?"
Cue at least 10 minutes of pitiful pleading that she didn't mean it, she loved the military and she had a relative who was a cavalry officer too. Never heard from her again....
Phone goes again 5 minutes later, very snooty lady "This is Lady X of ***** Manor, am I speaking to the Duty Instructor?" Hello and yes I say. "One of your helicopters has flown over my house at below rooftop height" impossible I say as the minimum height we can fly, if we are not taking off or landing is 250' at night and we are not practising takeoffs or landings in *****. "Well he was done, I saw it myself and next time it happens I will tell one of my shooting parties to shoot him down" Well madam, we take threats to kill very seriously and as we record all our phonecalls (we didn't
) I will now have to pass this threat to kill to the Shrewsbury Police Force, can you confirm your full name and address at **** Manor please?" Cue at least 10 minutes of pitiful pleading that she didn't mean it, she loved the military and she had a relative who was a cavalry officer too. Never heard from her again....
Great stories Siko, I had a lot of fun at DHFS when I was a student doing the course in 1999-2000. Really enjoyed the flying and had some great course mates. Friday happy hour was carnage too!
I heard a story just before I started the course that a student had jettisoned an under slung load in the circuit when he meant to radio ‘downwind’ Apparently they fitted guarded switches to the Griffin after that. Any truth in that?
I heard a story just before I started the course that a student had jettisoned an under slung load in the circuit when he meant to radio ‘downwind’
Apparently they fitted guarded switches to the Griffin after that. Any truth in that?AndrewGP said:
Great stories Siko, I had a lot of fun at DHFS when I was a student doing the course in 1999-2000. Really enjoyed the flying and had some great course mates. Friday happy hour was carnage too!
I heard a story just before I started the course that a student had jettisoned an under slung load in the circuit when he meant to radio ‘downwind’ Apparently they fitted guarded switches to the Griffin after that. Any truth in that?
Hi Andrew I do believe that story is true but I think just after my time there (98-99). I believe it was a chap with the initials DW who went onto the Wessex (remember that?!) afterwards. They torched a few engines when I was there practising single hydraulics failures when the steely eyed instructor selected the auto/manual fuel governing (iirc) to manual instead of the hydraulics (they were right next to each other).I heard a story just before I started the course that a student had jettisoned an under slung load in the circuit when he meant to radio ‘downwind’
Apparently they fitted guarded switches to the Griffin after that. Any truth in that?Siko said:
Hi Andrew I do believe that story is true but I think just after my time there (98-99). I believe it was a chap with the initials DW who went onto the Wessex (remember that?!) afterwards. They torched a few engines when I was there practising single hydraulics failures when the steely eyed instructor selected the auto/manual fuel governing (iirc) to manual instead of the hydraulics (they were right next to each other).
Yes! In fact now you mention it, I know exactly who it was alleged to be, we were on the same UAS together I had another mate who went to the Wessex and he said it was like flying a semi-detached house looking through the bathroom window. Wasn’t an option for me though, I think it had gone by the time I graduated. Interesting about the engines getting torched, I remember thinking it was a bit odd that my QHI was so paranoid about it, now I understand why. It does sound like a human factors nightmare though.
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