Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

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TheGreenGoblin
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Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#1 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri May 29, 2020 2:08 pm

A privately owned aircraft landed at a closed RAF Base without permission on Bank Holiday Monday according to the MOD's Air safety information management system (ASIMS). The report filed says that a Pilatus PC12 N412MD took off from Fairoaks Airfield in Surrey and flew to RAF Valley on Anglesey
https://ukaviation.news/private-aircraf ... -raf-base/
A privately owned aircraft landed at a closed RAF Base without permission on Bank Holiday Monday according to the MOD’s Air safety information management system (ASIMS).

The report filed says that a Pilatus PC12 N412MD took off from Fairoaks Airfield in Surrey and flew to RAF Valley on Anglesey.

As it was a Bank Holiday, RAF Valley was closed and work was being carried out on Runway 19.

According to the report the pilot attempted to call the Tower frequency several times but despite receiving no response, landed on Runway 19.

RAF Valleys fire crew saw the aicraft and assuming it was in distress attended the scene as an emergency.

It was quickly determined that the aircraft was not an emergency and the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) attended the scene to find out what happened.

The pilot told them he had flown from London to “go to the beach”.

When the pilot was informed about the restrictions in place in Wales due to Coronavirus he told them that “it was ok as he had it two months ago”.

The pilot went on to inform MPGS officers that he had found the airfield on Google Earth and read on Wikipedia that it handled civilian traffic as well.

RAF Valley is also home to Anglesey airport, which sees daily flights from Cardiff Airport only, but has a strict prior permission required (PPR) system.
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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#2 Post by Boac » Fri May 29, 2020 2:10 pm

In my humble opinion, Acting OC Ops needs shooting. Oh dear - that won't make it to Twatter..........

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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#3 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri May 29, 2020 2:50 pm

Bunch of slackers at Valley. Every time I have flown in their vicinity they have been closed. :)

Second time having suffered an electrical over volt warning and requested a diversion in there. Nowt but the hiss of static and the Sunday morning fog covering the runway was my answer. I reset the system and soldiered on.
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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#4 Post by Boac » Fri May 29, 2020 3:01 pm

What were the notified opening hours?

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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#5 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri May 29, 2020 3:07 pm

Boac wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 3:01 pm
What were the notified opening hours?
Closed at weekends but you'd think they might have somebody on a listening watch. ;)))

Note to Russians, attack at tea time on Sunday's...
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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#6 Post by tango15 » Fri May 29, 2020 3:21 pm

TheGreenGoblin wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 3:07 pm
Boac wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 3:01 pm
What were the notified opening hours?
Closed at weekends but you'd think they might have somebody on a listening watch. ;)))

Note to Russians, attack at tea time on Sunday's...
After the fall of the wall, I was invited to visit one of the front line Russian Air Force bases at Chkalovsky near Moscow. We had a very pleasant chat and inevitably the subject turned to the Cold War. It was clear to me that they were just as afraid of us as we were of them, but they were much amused by the fact that many areas within our armed forces do not work at weekends. The base commander, with a huge grin on his face, said to me, "Of course, if we were ever to attack Великобритания, it would have been on the weekend of a bank holiday." =))

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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#7 Post by Boac » Fri May 29, 2020 5:07 pm

TGG wrote:Note to Russians, attack at tea time on Sunday's.
Traitor!!

Why should a closed airfield keep a 'listening watch'? If it were an MDA, yes.

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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#8 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri May 29, 2020 5:31 pm

Boac wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 5:07 pm
TGG wrote:Note to Russians, attack at tea time on Sunday.
Traitor!!

Why should a closed airfield keep a 'listening watch'? If it were an MDA, yes.
:))

Well for my benefit, what else! I pay my taxes... (tongue very much in cheek lest anybody take me too seriously)! ;)))

Valley used to be a MDA back in the 90's and was promulgated as a MEDA sometime around 2010 if I remember correctly. I think that these days you are expected to divert to Liverpool if you wear a uniform and to bugger off if you are a humble civilian bumbler like me.

I suppose if I had landed they would have forgiven me.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... JSP360.pdf
Any Civil aircraft in distress may make a forced landing on any MOD
airfield at any time. Action to be taken for a civil aircraft making a forced
landing, as detailed in Paragraph 3.4 below, which is registered outside the
United Kingdom, will be found in Chapter 4, Paragraph 4.9. See also
Paragraph 4.20 regarding ‘Prevention of Terrorism’, and Chapter 7
concerning landing charges.
3.3. When General Aviation aircraft of up to 3 tonnes, not being flown for
hire, make genuine Emergency Landings within normal operating hours they
may do so free of charge. Parking fees may also be waived for a period of up
to 3 days depending on the circumstances. It is at the Station or Unit
Commander’s discretion as to what constitutes an emergency, but it may
include mechanical failure, pilot illness or low fuel etc.
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/ga_ ... bSSL26.pdf
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ribrash

Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#9 Post by ribrash » Fri May 29, 2020 6:14 pm

Always seems to be open when I,m fishing off the island.

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Re: Flying to RAF Valley for a swim and a walk on the beach...

#10 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri May 29, 2020 7:31 pm

ribrash wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 6:14 pm
Always seems to be open when I,m fishing off the island.
Probably a Russian reconnaissance group ribrash! :)
RAF Valley - Home | Facebook
It is not our policy to advertise flight times, unless we are night flying. 2. RAF Valley airfield usually operates from Monday to Friday. The airfield does not normally operate on Bank Holidays or other UK holidays such as ....
https://m.facebook.com/RAFValley/
Though you remain
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"To be alive
You must have somewhere
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Your destination remains
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