Pilots are not on ‘ego trip’

These young men and women are certainly not mindless; they are intelligent, well motivated and have faced a rigorous selection progress before even starting flying training.

Furthermore when learning to operate a complex, unforgiving and expensive piece of machinery their minds will be fully occupied and under great pressure. They will neither be enjoying an ego trip, but hoping to perform their task to an acceptable and very high standard.

I cannot imagine civilian pilots indulging in “dog fights”. The Civil Aviation Authority would very rapidly and firmly punish such transgressions. They are very probably RAF aircraft, but in today’s crowded airspace (it may not seem that way, but look at an aeronautical chart rather than just the sky and it becomes self-evident) there is not that much room for basic flying and navigation exercises.

The standards required in aviation together with self-discipline, are higher than in most other professions and while a degree of self-confidence is necessary, being on an “ego trip” while operating an aircraft is a technique for a short aviation career and life.

BAF Baker, Flt Lt RAF (retired), Pickering

• WELL done MJ Gloyens, of Norton, (Gazette & Herald, March 4). I too am utterly sick of the continuous drone from morning until evening with very little respite.

As a sheepdog, I am very frightened of these noises, which happen most days, it is as if every day is Bonfire Night.

I am told that I get very cross and angry, causing me to become aggressive in the house and bark too much. I just don’t feel safe anywhere, hiding doesn’t seem to help.

Things go from bad to worse and I end up having a set-to with my mistress, which pleases her not. Please give me and all the other animals and humans a break from this very annoying and never-ending aggravation, so that life can be a bit more pleasurable again.

On a serious note, from my mistress, those who fly these planes cannot possibly realise just how much annoyance they are causing to relative peace and quiet.

I do not look forward to the warmer days when it will be unbearable to be in the garden without drone, drone, drone, which will presumably only be extended with the length of daylight. Maybe the powers in the know will reply to our letters.

Barney Jolliffe, Pickering

• MJ GLOYENS, of Norton, is upset by RAF low flying training and by “dog fights ... conducted by a group of mindless pilots, clearly on an ego boost...”

The aircraft which regularly fly over my house are RAF Short Tucano high-speed training aircraft and they are used as the lead in trainer for high-speed jet pilots before they progress to the Hawk trainer.

I think if I was a few feet off the ground travelling at supersonic speed with ground fire from Taliban or ISIS insurgents, I might prefer that my training was not carried out over the North Sea.

And if, God forbid, we ever end up attacked in the air, the basic handling developed in dog-fight training and close formation high speed manoeuvres might come in a bit handy. Can I suggest we look at it as a free airshow and enjoy the spectacle?

Jerry Swift, Great Barugh

• IN reply to the pilot appeal letter in the Gazette & Herald on March 4.

The letter writer is not alone. I am so sick of it. These pilots have no idea just how much this constant droning on when they are flying above us, or around the area.

We wish something could be done about them because it is not only me who is fed up with it, day after day. I have spoken to other people and they are sick of it too.

We live on the moors and enjoy the peace and quiet, but not anymore because we have to put up with this noise.

I have phoned several places to see if there is anything we can do about it, but they all say the same thing, then pass me on to someone else and get no where.

G Petch, Rudland