Copter almost shot down in prank near summit

[RotorPilot]

Saturday, June 28, 2003 - Page A11

Copter almost shot down in prank near summit

 

Zurich -- A Swiss air-traffic controller jokingly put an "al-Qaeda" label on a French helicopter that strayed into restricted air space during recent the Group of Eight summit, nearly leading to a shootdown by the French air force, officials confirmed yesterday.

 

Full story:

 

 

 

[407 Driver]

...the next "clearance" that ATC guy should be involved in is wiping the half-eaten fries and burger off of a MacDonalds table !

[downwash]

Those would, of course, be ''Freedom Fries,'' 407?

[RotorPilot]

407

 

You can be sure that he will not go unpunished, especially after the horrible accident DHL Airbus/Russian plane also in Swiss controlled airspace. Too many mistakes in little time !

 

The “message” that comes with this event is clear: “No jokes with serious matters” 

[RotorPilot]

(As expected)

 

Friday 04.07.2003, CET 18:31

 

Swiss told to improve air safety

 

The government is taking steps to improve air safety after a report revealed that standards had slipped in recent years.

 

The transport ministry has appointed a security expert to assist in drawing up a national aviation safety policy.

The independent report, carried out by a Dutch institute, was commissioned after the authorities were criticised in the wake of last year’s mid-air crash in Swiss-controlled airspace.

 

The collision between a Russian passenger plane and a cargo jet over Überlingen in southern Germany claimed the lives of 71 people, including 52 schoolchildren.

Full story:

[downwash]

If the Swiss don''t already have it, maybe they''ll be "lucky" enough to get the kind of regulation we''ve had to swallow.