Bikes behind the Dykes

The Moto Grand Prix in Assen, the Netherlands

The TT Circuit Assen, which is located one mile s-w of Assen, is the home of the annual Dutch Motorcycle Grand Prix, known world-wide as the Dutch TT and is one of the classic events in the World Championship Calendar. The Dutch TT is traditionally staged on the last Saturday in June and this year, the 76th Dutch TT, (A-Styler TT Assen) it was on Saturday 24th June 2006. The Moto GP is the world's premier motorcycling championship, with a season of seventeen grand prix races in five continents across the globe. Apart from the main program, the Moto Grand Prix, the program also included two extra races. Several helicopters flew in during the practice days and the grand prix on the Saturday. There where two helipads, one, only temporary, was located inside the circuit and was used both by the ‘response ready' HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) helicopter as well as two other helicopters, there to be used for aerial filming. The second heliport was located just outside the gate and was used for VIP arrivals and departures.

Aerial filming and broadcasting

A German company, Heliteam Süd had been contracted by Dorna ( an international sports management and marketing company) for aerial filming at the Dutch TT. Heliteam Süd is also used by three other circuits. Two helicopters were operated from the helipad inside the circuit during the weekend for filming and broadcasting; a Bell 407 and one Bell 206. The Bell 407, registrated as D-HUTA on the German register, was equipped with a gyro stabilised aerial filming platform, the Gyron 935, which is a versatile gyro-stabilised system from Aerial Camera Systems Ltd. The Gyron 935 was fitted on a side mounted bracket on the right side of the helicopter. Although this is primarily used as a helicopter platform, the system can also be fitted to boats, cranes and vehicles. A small display is mounted in the cockpit, so the pilot, Hako Zimmer, could easily see what he was filming and could change the angle if he thought it was necessary. During the races, Hako Zimmer flew with his Bell 407 between a minimum altitude of 500 feet and a maximum altitude of 1500 feet and he flew almost continuously around the circuit, following the action. Between the races, Peter Davis, from ACS made sure that the lens was clean and that the systems worked properly.

The other helicopter, a Bell 206L-3 registrated as D-HOPY, was flown by pilot Hans Schneider. “I only have to be airborne during the 250 cc and the Moto GP races” he says. “During these two races there are four riders with a small camera mounted on their motorcycle that is broadcasting. So, we aren't filming as my colleague does. Instead the helicopter is actually an airborne relay station. We receive the signals that the small cameras are broadcasting and send them directly to the ground station.” The small cameras are used to give the viewers at home a close look at what is happening on the circuit. Hans continues, “During the race, I am hovering above the circuit between the 2500 and 3000 feet. 2500 feet is absolutely the minimum, because it is sometimes difficult to receive a signal from the camera owing to the angles when the motorcycles are almost flat on the ground in the corners.” The receiver was mounted on the skid at one side of the helicopter, while the transmitter was mounted on the other side. During the flight, a film crew member sits in the back of the Bell 206 helicopter and operates the equipment. Hans explains: “The filmcrew member receives the signals from the four motorcycles and thus he is able to watch them all in one display at the same time. He decides which one will be broadcast to the ground station.”

HEMS

The other helicopter on the temporary helipad was a yellow German registrated B0-105CBS-5 from the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH. This helicopter was on stand by for HEMS-missions during the practice sessions and the races. The medical crew, consisting of a doctor and a nurse, are normally assigned to ‘Christoph Europa 2' which is based at Rheine, Germany, while the pilot came from the ADAC in Munich. Fortunately, their help wasn't needed during the weekend. If an accident occured just outside the circuit during the weekend, then the assistance can be called from ‘Lifeliner Europa 4' based on the rooftop at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). If the Bo-105 helicopter crew had to assist an incident outside the circuit, then the races would officially have to be stopped, upsetting both the spectators and the organisers.

VIP

The second heliport was located just outside the gate and was only in use on the Saturday for VIP flights. Several VIP's including Karla Peijs, the Dutch minister from the ‘Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat' ( Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management) arrived by helicopter early in the morning. She did not come to Assen only to watch the race, but to open the revamped circuit. For VIP's a ‘BMW VIP shuttle' was flown in the morning prior to the races and at the end of the day for their return flight. Heliflights arranged those flights that were flown with helicopters hired from Heli Holland, a Dutch company that operates a variety of helicopters. A Bell 206 JetRanger and a Eurocopter EC120 were used for the VIP flights.

In three days, more then 132,000 visitors came to Assen both to see the practices and the races. On the Saturday, almost 92,000 people were counted. The Moto GP ended with a climax. The likely winner, Colin Edwards, suffered a heartbreaking crash only a few meters from the finishing line. Nicky Hayden, who was driving closely behind Colin Edwards was able to overtake him and finish first. Nicky Hayden will never forget his first win of the season. Neither will Colin Edwards.

This article was published in the Autumn 2006 edition of Helicopter Life.