Typhoon warning

[SkippyBing]

To be honest it's a public right of way so unless they put up actual traffic lights and a barrier the Typhoon pilots should probably learn not to land short. This seems to be a bit of a problem at Waddington possibly due to the runway being wider leading to an optical illusion that's caused at least one French pilot to hit the fence.

Hi, Skippy
Not claiming any knowledge of this particular situation, but they did show flashing red lights on the road, I think that's a fair indication. A lot of Australian railway crossings in rural areas have only flashing red lights. It's up to the road driver to choose whether or not to pit his tonne of steel against a passing freight train.

I think it's worthy as a light news item, just enough out of the ordinary to give us a smile, or shake of the head in wonder.

True, it's an indication, but they're not actual traffic lights so people can happily ignore them and obviously do. Presumably the great expense of changing them is beyond the RAF's budget...

[Dev One]

There was a situation at Llanbedr quite a few years ago where a Jindivik fell short of the runway on landing & hit a parked car with its occupants in it. As it was outside of the airfield boundary all that could be done was to place warning notices, there was no authority to do any more!
Keith

[Garry Russell]

Locally there is a no parking area in the path of the runways, that's the simple solution.

[emfrat]

The report that I saw down here in Oz, but from the Beebsite, had the RAF bod explaining that the RAF had no powers to prevent idiots ignoring the many signs on the road directing them to keep clear - hardly an apology.
Had I been flying the plane, I would have been sorely tempted to make a shallow but safe approach, in the hope of removing the distraction those fools cause.

MikeW

[SkippyBing]

Had I been flying the plane, I would have been sorely tempted to make a shallow but safe approach, in the hope of removing the distraction those fools cause.

Tempting, but at the subsequent board of enquiry quite hard to justify!

To be honest I'm surprised Waddington isn't being more pro-active in sorting this out, it must be one of their higher risks, never mind the negative publicity if something actually does happen.

[emfrat]

Good point , Skip - a few spools of razor wire and a couple of dogs would ensure safety for pilots and public alike. The local bobbies can deal with the traffic offences.
ATB
MikeW

[NigelC]

Mind you a French pilot hitting the fence is worth a smile or two!!

[airboatr]

brings a new meaning to the sport of fencing

[Chris Sykes]

I belive it was a Sentry E-3 that has hit the fence before... They were there for the arivals day before Waddo airshow, however Waddo do a very nice pay and park near that end of the runway for all the photographers and enthusiasts. Its is kind of their own fault they put themselves in harms way...

[Garry Russell]

People should be responsible for their own actions. In no way is Waddo even remotely to blame.

But that's the way it is now. people do stupid things and if anything happens it's someone else's, anyone else who is to blame for not stopping it from happening.