Silverstone has got to be the ultimate in events where the helicopter community attend in droves. I attended the qualification day (I couldn’t get entry tickets for the race) and there was certainly no shortage of movements on the day and I am reliably informed that the movements increase significantly on the main event day. As most people know by now, HeliAir have secured the rights to operate the heliport for the next umpteen years and Silverstone 2010 was to be the main event for them since establishing a base there as part of a permanent site. I’ve already reported on the practice day, but all eyes were going to be on the main events and I know that many of the staff were nervous .
From what I saw, the event went to plan and although I’m sure there were some problems, I can only imagine that these were teething troubles. In any case, with so much helicopter traffic, you aren’t going to be able to please all the people all of the time.
Silverstone FATO 02/20
I had a reasonable 1100 slot time in and 1600 out which meant I could commute down from Manchester at a leisurely pace and also leave at a reasonable time. I am not an F1 fan per-se. I do like anything with an engine, but I really wanted to a) tick the Silverstone box and b) see all the scantily dressed women helicopters usually associated with Formula One. Our trip down was uneventful as was the approach and landing. I was actually hoping to be put in the hold, but there wasn’t sufficient traffic which meant we were pretty much cleared to finals. As I did, the TV helicopter was hovering just off to my left at a similiar height and an R44 was slightly lower than me on finals to one of the landing areas. To be honest it was easy as long as you knew the frequencies, knew the general principle of what they wanted and did everything quick!.
As we came closer to the ATZ the noise was immediately noticeable as the cars roared around the track. This wasn’t even the F1 cars it was rally cars or Porsches etc. We weren’t there in time to see, but they were loud enough, whatever they were. Once on the ground and parked there was a steady stream of heli movements and to be honest I really wasn’t fussed to move away from the heliport. In fact we didn’t for about 45 minutes. Although HeliAir were the main operators, there were other Companies offering pleasure trips from 12 parking slots and there seemed to be no shortage of spectators taking the opportunity to have a short trip around the circuit. We watched an EC-130 and a Jet Ranger as well as an R44 taking on board passengers, floating them around and hen depositing them back on the ground ready for another load of people.
Heliport Shuttle
Reluctantly we left the heliport area to be transported in two Audi 4×4′s to the stand that we had seats in. It was pretty sexy to be driven through the crowds of people in a car that had Heliport Shuttle in the window and see people looking in on the off chance we were celebrities (which we’re not, clearly!!) After a quick bite to eat, we sat in the stands (front row !!) and waited for the big boys to come out and play. With about 5 minutes to go until they were due on the track, the first car could be heard starting it’s engine and revving up. This was closely followed by another, and another and so on. Right on cue, the first car entered the track and roared it’s way around the circuit, closeley followed by the rest. I have to say it is pretty impressive to watch them as they roar past, but after a while it became………well, a bit repetitive. (My humblest apologies to all the F1 geeks reading this – it’s blasphemy, I know). They just drive past at such speed that you really can’t follow what’s going on. Our mistake was not renting one of the portable TV screens that explains what’s going on – but we know for next time.
And ‘that’ as they say was ‘that’! Cars whizzing around at high speed, lots and lots of noise and lots and lots of helicopters.!!