Insane PC re flypast (OT)

"A commemorative flypast over what organisers claim is one
of the biggest Armistice Day parades in the country has been
grounded due to safety fears.

CWatters...

See this thread..

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will not allow a WWII
Spitfire to join Bedworth's parade, in Warwickshire, due to
health and safety rules.
It says it cannot allow single engine planes to fly over a
built-up area. "

These aircraft cost hundreds of thousands to restore. They
all have airworthiness certificates

Hugh Watkins...

the rules are simple

you have to be at a height from which in the case of engine failure
you can glide to an open space

CWatters...

Thats the rule for aircraft operating with a CoA. Aircraft operating on a
"Permit to fly" aren't allowed over built up areas at any height. I think
the CAA can grant an exemption but I'm not sure.

eg River Thames or the Royal Parks
some bad air show accidents means rules are being tightened

Hugh W

Graeme Wall...

Single engine planes fly over built up areas all the time, so that excuse is
a nonsense

Charles Ellson...

Civil aircraft aren't allowed to fly without assorted restrictions WRT
minimum height over populated areas and seperation from other traffic.
I suspect the minimum height (in combination with private ownership?)
might be the spoiler in this case.

CWatters...

Not quite: Only aircraft covered by the CoA scheme can overfly and only then
under certain conditions/heights. I believe Spitfires are unable to comply
with CoA rules because Supermarine who built them is no longer in business.
They come under the Permit to fly rules which have lower safety standards.
"Permit aircraft" are not allowed to overfly built up areas at any height.
Military Aircraft including the Battle of Britain memorial flight are
covered by different rules.

Some people have said that if they flew a little to the east (or was it
west?) of their proposed route they wouldn't be caught by the overflight
rules anyway. It's possible the organisers didn't pick quite the right route
on their CAA application.

David Massie...

But they'd still be breaking the Air Navigation Order 2000, under which
such aircraft are prohibited from flying in certain areas. Spitfires do
not have the required navigation equipment to fly over Bedworth and the
(huge) restricted airspace around it. It's quite possible that they also
lack the capability to glide free of the built up area if their engine
fails.

Nothing to do with political correctness, nor health and safety rules,
just the law...and probably a journalist getting the facts wrong yet
again(sigh).