Helicopter above 10 Downing street

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 194

I have just watched the news of Mr browns resignation etc and there were live pictures from above, presumably a helicopter.
My question is how involved would the form filling have been to obtain permision to fly over the Downing street/ Whitehall areas at such a security sensative time?
Beejay

Original post

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 8,847

Don't know, but CNN showed the footage.

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 693

I would have thought it was some sort of BBC owned chopper or at least on some sort of long term lease to the BBC so it would have a "security pass" of sorts to fly over central London and all the Westminster landmarks.

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 459

Maybe it was shot from one of those little RC choppers!

Member for

16 years 1 month

Posts: 384

I can remember BBC points of view or something having complaints, saying it was a waste of license payers money having a helo following the Prime minister to the palace and back, the BBC's response was that they agree a contract with a company to provide so many hours of aerial footage a year, pre paid, and if they didn't use it, then they would lose it. As far as security I havn't heard of a no fly zone over downing street or the palace, so as long as they are atc cleared, i guess they can fly anywhere. (saying that, i'm sure i can recall a press/monarchy agreement not to send aircraft to hover over buckingham palace all day after one of the royal scandals)

Member for

13 years 11 months

Posts: 1,335

the helli looked to be an as 350 or more likely 355 twin squirrell because of low flying over a major city the twin engined version is selected

it will be on more than likely permanent contract to a t.v. production company ( not necessarilly BBC )

mike smith ( ex radio 1 D.J. ) now owns an air filming company ( check out G-PIXL ) a specialist camera conversion robbinson r44 that is his main heli !!

multiflight also lease out G-WENA a twin squirrell for filming duties

although the one used over westminster was blue and G-WENA is green

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 194

Thanks for the answers.