Not in my back yard

Practice makes perfect © Blackrat

This evening I watched the news, nothing remarkable in that other than it is something I always mean to do and somehow never actually manage to do!

Among the reports was one that caused my ears to pick up and for me to take notice.

The report in question concerned the dangers involved in members of the RAF practicing their low flying skills, specifically in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. It seems there have been a small number of 'near misses' involving low flying fighter jets and gliders resulting in those in support of the 'sport flyers' calling for more strict controls on the RAF's activities in the area.

This is not a new issue. Also this week a report was issued concerning a woman who was killed in Lincolnshire when a low flying helicopter apparently caused her horse to bolt resulting in her being throw off and her subsequent death. The coroner in the case sent various recommendations to the RAF regarding how they should in his opinion modify their practices!

This all raises a number of questions in my mind. Firstly is a coroner qualified to make such recommendations, after all his or her experience i doubt is generally based in military training and nor does it seem to me to look at the bigger picture..........and this is where the whole issue really begins to annoy me.

There is absolutely no doubt that to lose one's life or the life of a loved one in any such circumstances is a tragedy and not one any of us would like to have to experience, or to come face to face, from the cockpit of your glider, with a Tornado must be terrifying to say the least but, and for me this is a big but, is it not always the case that wherever a dangerous but necessary activity is engaged in, there will sadly be repercussions on occasion?

It is a fact, whether as individuals we like it or not, that we need to have highly trained fighter pilots in the RAF. it is not a choice, it is a necessity, current events and events of recent years have proved that beyond any doubt and yet there seems to be constant complaint from some quarters when our combat pilots require training. There are unending calls for the flying height restrictions and noise levels to be amended .........do those that complain think that in an environment of conflict a pilot has always a choice not to fly into certain situations, not to have to avoid the enemy or the landscape....to be able to fly nicely and politely within acceptable restraints? I think not!

So it seems this is yet another case of 'not in my back yard'. Yes, doubtless the complainants want a well trained Air Force, want our country and those of our allies suitably protected and no doubt in many cases are proud of our airmen and women's skills, they are second to none..........just as long as they themselves don't have to suffer the risks or noise pollution involved!

The not in my back yard mentality annoys me more than almost anything else. Where should these pilots practice the skills they need exactly? Perhaps those who complain would like to see this taking place over the centre of London, Edinburgh, Birmingham or some other large urban conurbation, where should one crash, hundreds could be killed or injured!! These guys (and gals) undertake a massive responsibility, should we not be allowing them to train suitably for this task...yes, the payback is massive, a Tornado for instance must be the ultimate 'grown up toy' but in the end, when push comes to shove these guys risk their lives and I have no doubt they want to stay alive as much as the rest of us.

It seems to me that given this training has to be undertaken it is far wiser to undertake it in areas such as the Brecon beacons where the risk to those on the ground is the smallest. Yes there is risk and yes there is phenomenal noise generated by a jet at 250 feet but it seems to me a relatively small price to pay.

This is not a subject I know nothing about, I live in an RAF low flying zone, I get woken regularly by the earth shattering noise, I am used to it but despite that it scares the life out of me at times. There is nothing in my experience, louder, more ear splitting or more sudden. These things come from out of 'nowhere' and often so low the pilot can easily be distinguished in the cockpit.

For those who complain I have one final point to make........ the death of anyone is a tragedy but despite being very much in the 'firing line' so to speak, I'm damn sure I would rather a Tornado crashed here than in the middle of Manchester!

Oh...and for those that are interested, and anyone who knows me knows the interest and care I have for animals, the field full of horses at the back at my property don't bat an eyelid at their airborne companions and nor, after only a very short time did my cats......... I see anything from 5 to 50 military jets a day, day after day, after day but I have yet to see one fall out of the sky, it happens I know but by comparison to the flying hours it is damn rare. Perhaps a little perspective is called for here by some!