'Mile high club' grounded in Gloucestershire
COUPLES hoping to take their love making to new heights by joining the 'mile high club' have seen their hopes crash back to earth after "prudish" aviation watchdogs grounded a Gloucestershire business.
Mile High Flights has been flying out of Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton, for two years giving couples - and then some - the chance to make love above the clouds – all for as little as little as £640.
But health and safety chiefs at the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) have refused to renew the firm's licence claiming the in-flight action could be 'too distracting' for pilots.
Mike Crisp, 36, a software engineer and the founder of the business, accused the civil aviation authority of being prudish.
"I'm not giving-up on what was a very popular business idea, because someone at the CAA doesn't like the sound of what goes-on in our plane," Mr Crisp, formerly from Cheltenham and now living in near Worcester.
"Joining the Mile High Club is something a lot of British couples dream of and we were providing the chance for people to fulfil that particular fantasy.
"We had people from all walks of life wanting to join 'the club', from 21st birthday flights to 60th birthday ones. We even had one threesome.
"I am getting emails every week from couples who want to go up in the plane. It's a shame we've had to stop because of some prudish snobbery on the part of the CAA."
Mr Crisp developed the idea in 2007 when a close friend landed a pilot's licence.
He and a business partner invested more than £10,000 into transforming a Cessna Grand Caravan single-engined plane to accommodate couples, adding fire-proof carpets and upholstery.
According to the CAA, Mile High Flights couldn't give safety chiefs the assurances needed to be issued with a new licence to trade.
A spokesman from the aviation authority said: "We cast no moral judgments on what people do in their planes, that's not our business
"Safety-wise, as long as all angles are covered we have no issue with that company trading.
"Unfortunately it became apparent that our safety criteria couldn't be met and the application was not passed."
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by Martin, Flickforth
Sunday, January 02 2011, 11:55PM
“"Poshest" and "Gloucester".
Talk about mutually exclusive values”
by Anthony, Glos
Sunday, January 02 2011, 1:20PM
“As much as some people might like the idea of doing it in a plane with there Girlfriend or Wife (SUCH AS ME)
I think making it into a business is just low as it gets, we already had to put up with a swingers hotel next to the poshest restauraunt in town already thanks”
by GreenLand, the better side of the county...
Saturday, January 01 2011, 5:46PM
“Henry the One Eighth, Gloucester
May you be reminded... you sir are poor! and as the unpleasent cretinous bit of filth you are you should remember to only talk when we ritch folk give you permision....
Therefore you should be appologising to Mr Tom from Germany and the Cotswolds as he sounds ritch... far ritcher than you will ever be you Gloucester swien!”
by Henry the One Eighth, Gloucester
Saturday, January 01 2011, 12:12PM
“Tom, Germany/ Cotswolds,
It was hardly worth it, was it?”
by Tom, Germany/ Cotswolds
Saturday, January 01 2011, 2:41AM
“Gloucester Tower, Glosimer
haha i was waiting for the inuendos to kick off.... From what i heard it was a 'hard' business to be in and although owners had a 'stiff' grip of the reality of HSE rules they found it difficult to keep 'abreast' of the situation. I also hear there were a group of people who though they ruling couldnt 'come quick enough'
sorry buts thats the best i can do after a few beers for the new year :)”
by Gloucester Tower, Glosimer
Friday, December 31 2010, 9:50PM
“Mile High Flights! Shame they cant keep it up!”
by Danny, Gloucester
Friday, December 31 2010, 9:18PM
“What on Earth are you going on about? A risk assessment doesn't reduce risk, for heaven's sake! Risk reduction/elimination measures do.”
by furbie, Churchdown
Friday, December 31 2010, 9:16PM
“He he he ;o)”
by TALON, Gloucester
Friday, December 31 2010, 7:58PM
“Not prudish, "discrimination against bi sexuals and polygamous heterosexuals". Again another example of objection born from religious morality rules. company should Provide a risk assessment to minimise the risk so that the pilot canot be distracted and they should have no objection as safety has been countered. will be glad to do this for you..”
by norman, Zhuhai . China
Friday, December 31 2010, 3:01PM
“OK they will have to settle for the back of a car,on top of Cleeve Hill for six pounds fourty.Not quiet the same but a great saving.”