so you wanna fly in the gulf eh??????

[412driver]

here's the latest from the gulf regarding that missile:

 

 

"the missile.. Turns out it was a Tomahawk cruise missile fired from further down the gulf. They follow a narrow corridor just west of the Iranian waters (which just happens to be about where our north field is...). There's a notam out advising of a 'reserved area' between sealevel and 15 000 feet. This notam was never received here though, and they have fired 300 missiles so far! So, we are back flying up there - 500 feet mainly. We should probably leave the sliding doors open, so the things can fly straight through!"

 

those words from an e-mail received from the gulf!

 

boy, i feel much better now....

 

[RotorPilot]

From the Tomahawk cruise missile fact sheet:

 

Quote

The missile moves at about 550 miles per hour, and can make twists and turns like a radar-evading fighter plane all the while skimming over the land at 100 feet to 300 feet.

Unquote

 

Better check those altitudes...

[RotorPilot]

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On 4/5/2003 9:58:48 AM 412driver wrote:

 

There''s a notam out advising of a ''reserved area'' between sealevel and 15 000 feet.

----------------

 

between sealevel and 15,000... and you are flying 500 feet and feel much better now...!!!???

[412driver]

i edited the above post to make my post a little clearer to understand. sorry, i forgot that it's saturday morning....

 

i guess i should have mentioned that i "cut and pasted" a letter from my friend in the gulf. those were his words not mine. i have my butt safely planted in canada for the time being.

 

and don't be surprised to hear that they have resumed flights. go and experience work in the middle east and witness their culture and mentality first hand before dropping down the judgement hammer. those that have been there will understand....

[Guest]

Heads UP!

 

Hi boys, I just came back from the Gulf flying Sea Kings. We were in airframe 12426, call sign STRIDER, in the Gulf from Oct 02 until 2 Apr 03.

 

I was airborne at dawn on the morning the war started, 20 Mar 03, or Tomahawk Thursday as we called it. We were in the southern Persian Gulf area and our air controller who was on an aircraft carrier barred us from operating above 250 feet due to numerous Tomahawk launches. Our normal overwater altitudes are 150 to 200 feet anyhow but this limited us somewhat because we often had to climb up to 1500 feet to get UHF comms with our ship if we were sent too far from her.

 

When we returned on that morning one of the first questions we asked was, "has anyone issued a notam for these Tomahawks". We had seen several overfly us at 500 feet on the first day. Turns out no notam had been issued because "no civilians are out there over the Gulf unless they are on IFR airways". We were stunned, we immediately informed our Air Officer and the message was passed that several helos were probably operating to all those oil fields all around us but we were not sure of your altitudes, obviously higher than us because we never saw you day or night.

 

The notam was issued later that day but I always wondered how many Tomahawks might have come close to guys, now I know.

 

PS: If it was a SAM, you wouldn''t have written that email my friend. Whether you are driving a medium Bell or a Sikorky, you''d be dead. I cannot believe you guys were still operating during this time. We had full self defence flare and chaff and would not launch without it. Never afraid of enemy fire, but friendly fire from a Yank, whoa baby.........

[Charles W.]

AAhhh Yes:

 

 

Their culture and mentality....

 

Then again, if you are bored on a Friday morning in Jeddah you can just stroll up the road to chop chop square and take in some culture.

 

Yeh, the mentality and culture are different all right.

 

As to the SAMS, depends on what make they are. We were told in Africa that you were fairly safe above 12,000 but who wants to find out.

 

Chas W.

[412driver]

I cannot believe you guys were still operating during this time. We had full self defence flare and chaff and would not launch without it. Never afraid of enemy fire, but friendly fire from a Yank, whoa baby........."

 

go try working for an arab.......

[Guest]

Yeah, living amongst an Arab culture is not easy. Of course I only shopped and travelled a bit, I have never had to work for them as you guys did.

 

As for the SAMS, yeah up to 12,000 feet is safe for the smaller ones that is true but don''t forget for most helo drivers that is not a feasible flight profile and those smaller ones will get you in your climb or descent.

 

Things are safer now over the Gulf, but the bottom line is that if you know anyone still flying to rigs in the Persian Gulf, I would highly recommend that they make themselves extremely visible and follow regular flight patterns/corridors. I can tell you for a fact that whenever you guys transit through the Gulf out there, weapons systems on warships and from shore in Iran keep your machine locked on and ready to fire constantly. The only reason you don''t get taken down is your behaviour such as following a straight direct route to a rig and back to shore.

 

Anytime a warship is "on station", their air defence system will lock you up, their missiles stay armed and ready to fire. We patrolled up to 12 miles off the coast of Iran and our system on the ship would always acknowledge that our helo was being tracked by the Iranian air defence system.

 

Our transponders have four modes to ensure we sqawk the proper codes and do not get shot down. You lads are out there just doing your jobs with a simple mode three/C, that is why our crews were horrified that the war started without proper notams. We were deadly scared one of the civilian helos would get blown out of the sky "accidentally".

 

All I''m saying is fly safe, do not ever approach a warship, give them at least 5 nm if that is feasible and otherwise stay on your routes to and from your oil fields. My hat is off to you lads for what you do. I''d go crazy flying up at 4, 5 or 6,000 feet all the time. I hate it when I have to climb higher than 500 feet, helicopters just don''t belong up there but I digress.

 

PS: If you ever in doubt out there and scared of the warships you see and want to know what is going on, all coalition aircraft and ships monitor guard 121.5/243.0 at all times. The big angel in the sky (707 with a huge dish on top) knows where everyone is at all times, they will gladly assist and deconflict you and your position if you call for help. Just don''t be surprised if you get an escort though.

[RotorPilot]

 

Hi Chas

 

----------------

We were told in Africa that you were fairly safe above 12,000 but who wants to find out

----------------

 

Right for the Sam7.

At 10,000 the control system gives its last order and the missile just keeps flying that same one until it falls. Even if the control system was correctly flying towards the target (not following shaft or something else) and if the target is moving, it will be no longer there when it arrives at 12,000

 

Pretty high for fling wings...

 

[Charles W.]

Yeh it is high for fling wings for sure.

 

We were flying stiff wings and in around 25 different African Countries.

 

Had an interesting situation with two Mig 29''s in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia a couple years ago.

 

Oh, by the way the Mig 29 will get to 12,000 feet...in a hurry....

 

Chas W.. ( Reverend )