Am I in any danger?

[Chillum]

Where I live we regularly get buzzed by Apache helicopters flying at around 50 feet. Most of the time they stick to the fields out the front, but occasionally they fly over the house. Sometimes at night, past midnight.

Being military, they aren't exactly set up for noise reduction so it's pretty hair-raising, scares the dog and annoys the piss out of me (even though I grew up on RAF bases).

One time, they (there are up to 3 at a time sometimes) were hovering at the front of the house, my wife could see the pilot quite clearly and she recounted to me later how they were 'waggling a stick thing at the house' - she didn't know it was a helmet guided mini-gun at the time.

To cut a long story short, I got annoyed the other night and shone my torch at one coming past the front of the house. They turned away and took a flight path they never take, i.e. away from the house. I can't say I blame them, I was using the most powerful LED dive torch you can buy, it's quite bright BUT not a laser.

Anyone know if we can expect a knock on the door?

[chunk166]

Not sure where you would stand on that, i have read that the police don't like that sort of thing but as you say its not a laser light!,but saying that why are they hovering/flying over your home? You could phone the base & make a formally complaint? I live near RAF Odiham & we have Chinooks that used to fly over quite regularly at night i know someone who phoned to complain,it seemed to of worked as they now fly around the town!   


I have added an attachment i hope this helps??


Ray

[chunk166]

Here's another link


http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/aboutdefence/whatwedo/airsafetyandaviation/lowflying/howdoicomplainaboutmilitarylowflyingactivity.htm

[Chillum]

Thanks for the link and pdf, most useful.

I tried a while back to contact the base but got the runaround, this looks a bit more official.

[Chillum]

I read the pdf, and it seems that even though we aren't in a built up area, they aren't allowed to fly within 500 feet of the house (which they do).

I can't see them complaining about a torch being shone at them as they would be admitting they were either
a) blinded by a torch at > 500 ft  - not very likely - it's bright but it isn't a ww2 search light or
b) flying close enough to be blinded by a torch and up for a ticking off.

[chunk166]

It might be worth taking a few photo's or a video next time it happens so if they say that they don't fly that close then you'll have some proof to back up you complaint, I am having my own battles with local council,pubs & soon the police! as i live in a town centre the authorities think that the noise that happens at kick out time (1:30am) on a Fri/Sat nite or should i say morning is acceptable,most weekends i get to bed about 2:30am but believe me i am getting my way 


Persistence will pay off eventually!

[VNA - BMW Wank]

Complain to the base.

If they don't behave;

Try environmental health.

I'd say you have a noise pollution issue.

[Skippernick]

I think the worst you did was give the pilot a bit of blindness because the monocular guided cannon is also a night vision sight so shining a torch at him probably hurt him for a bit. That'll learn him.

[Chillum]

I think the worst you did was give the pilot a bit of blindness because the monocular guided cannon is also a night vision sight so shining a torch at him probably hurt him for a bit. That'll learn him.

That hadn't occurred to me, it certainly would explain his sharpish exit 

[chr999chr]

Let some industrial fireworks off just as they are approaching, you will certainly get a reaction 

[Leonidas]

It is a criminal offence to shine a light or laser at an aircraft with intent to dazzle or distract the pilot, its a fairly recent law and was brought in due to the increase in this sort of incident.

[pitternator]

 R U sure its not aliens ! 

[Chillum]

Two of the buggers were playing follow my leader across the fields last night. They were at least 100ft further away from the house than they usually were - it still sent the dog nuts and woke me up on the brink of sleep though. Took me two hours to get off after that.

I'll lay off the torch for a couple of weeks and then complain - don't want to make it too easy for them to add 2+2

[goldfazer]

How about 1 1Kw PIR floodlight that's moved upwards cos of the wind we've been having?

[Chillum]

How about 1 1Kw PIR floodlight that's moved upwards cos of the wind we've been having?

Which is exactly why I didn't wave the torch around last night after shining it straight at them. Plausable deniability

[locksmith]

Let some industrial fireworks off just as they are approaching, you will certainly get a reaction 

Yeah like a air to surface missile straight back at you