Latest news with #RichardWells
New York Post
01-08-2025
- New York Post
Uber rich tourists are paying upwards of $25K to visit this new hotspot — but pilots refuse to fly there: ‘It's not worth the risk'
It's got some pilots feeling flighty. Antarctica has become a trendy travel spot for extreme adventurers looking to chill out, with some intrepid explorers spending upwards of $25,000 for an icy-cold expedition, according to Aurora Expeditions. Despite the enticing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to take a true polar plunge or go penguin-spotting, many aviation experts say it's actually among the scariest places on the planet to fly. 3 For decades, the only humans on the continent have been researchers, but technological innovations have changed that. NicoElNino – 3 Cruises are by far the most popular way for tourists to reach the icy continent. íí»íµí°íí°í½í´í⬠íÅí°íâ¬íâ¡íµí½í°í¾ – It's not for lack of experience, or even the planes themselves — despite recent crashes and incidents that have air travelers feeling anxious — it's the weather and inestimable climate. 'I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different,' Richard Wells, a 54-year-old retired pilot, told The Mirror. 'Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk.' Though the pilot has logged over 10,000 hours of hang time and has decades of experience flying over Europe, Asia, and the Americas, he's perfectly fine to leave Antarctic travel to the adventurers. 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with,' Wells said. Commercial planes almost never fly in the region, and often, specialized, highly trained charter pilots are the only ones making the journey, Wells added. The small planes that fly there are also typically more prone to turbulence, making the windy skies above the sea especially scary. 3 Many expeditions to Antarctica offer outdoor travel, tours and penguin spotting activities. ANITEK MEDIA – 'Exercise increased caution in Antarctica due to environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather and limited emergency services,' warned a July 28 travel advisory issued by the U.S. government. The Drake Passage — the rough stretch of southern sea between the tip of Chile and icy Antarctica — has been regarded as one of the most dangerous ocean crossings for well over a century, and according to weather experts, for good reason. 'It's the only place in the world where those winds can push all around the globe without hitting land – and land tends to dampen storms,' Alexander Brearley, oceanographer and head of open oceans at the British Antarctic Survey, told CNN. 'The Southern Ocean is very stormy in general [but] in the Drake you're really squeezing [the water] between the Antarctic and the southern hemisphere,' he said. 'That intensifies the storms as they come through.' Apparently, waves regularly churn and crash anywhere between 15 and 49 feet — when they reach storm wave classification. Between the waves and wind, ship captains and pilots alike are wary about crossing the stormy stretch of the Antarctic Ocean — which is why the passage is so highly regulated. Last month, an American teenager was detained in Chile after attempting to make the flight without clearing it with the proper authorities first. He was attempting to fly around the world solo, but experienced complications while in the air and landed at a Chilean air base.
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Pilot with 22 years of experience reveals the place he would NEVER go near
A commercial pilot has revealed one destination he steers clear of - despite having over two decades of flying experience under his belt. It's not a lack of experience that had Richard Wells avoiding routes to Antarctica, it's the extreme weather conditions. The 54-year-old retired long-haul pilot, from Kent, spent more than 22 years flying across Europe, Asia and the Americas and has experienced almost every kind of common flight problem, from turbulence to emergency landings. In spite of this, Well draws the line at flying to Antarctica as there are too many risks involved. According to travel guides at Wildfoot Travel, pilots face significant challenges and risks when flying to Antarctica, resulting in many commercial airlines avoiding the route entirely. The primary reasons include a lack of infrastructure, such as airports and emergency landing sites, extreme weather of strong winds, freezing temperatures and low visibility, and the heightened risk of mechanical issues occurring. These combined factors make any flight to Antarctica a high-risk journey, especially for passengers and crew on commercial flights. Wells, who's clocked up over 10,000 flight hours over the years, noted his familiarity with 'mountainous regions, remote islands and tropical storms' but was quick to dismiss Earth's southernmost continent. As reported by the Mirror, he said: 'Antarctica? That's different. Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong - there's no backup. It's not worth the risk.' He added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' While the continent is not a no-fly zone, there are are a limited number of specialised charter flights that operate within Antarctica - though frequent delays and cancellations are common due to little-to-no visibility, whiteouts and high winds.
Daily Record
29-07-2025
- Daily Record
'I'm an experienced pilot but there's one place in the world I would never fly'
Despite decades of flying experience many pilots will refuse to navigate one place A long-haul airline pilot has revealed the one place in the world he avoids. Despite having more than 10,000 flying hours under his belt and two decades of flying experience in places across the globe, he steers clear of one location. Commercial airline pilot, Richard Wells, spent more than 22 years flying across Europe, Asia and the Americas before retiring. But there's a spot on his no-fly list because the conditions are far too extreme. The 54-year-old said he draws the line at flying in Antarctica. According to travel experts from Wildfoot Travel, Richard is not alone. They said that seasoned pilots with vast experience will avoid the area thanks to its unpredictable and unforgiving conditions. Tourists to the area will usually get their own specialised expedition vessels rather than on a commercial aircraft for this reason, reports The Mirror. Richard said he has encountered every type of flight scenario in his time in the skies, but explained why Antarctica is a no go. He said: "I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different. " Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk. While a limited number of flights do operate into the continent, particularly to King George Island, these are highly regulated and weather-dependent, with frequent delays and cancellations due to sudden whiteouts, high winds, and near-zero visibility. Commercial airline pilots do not fly there. Only highly specialised charter flights or military and scientific missions operate in the region. Richard added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' In addition to visibility and runway issues, the lack of air traffic control, unpredictable jet streams, and absence of emergency diversion routes all add to the risk. Despite the aviation challenges, Antarctica remains a dream destination for thousands of British tourists every year. Wildfoot Travel reports a sharp increase in interest for 2025 departures, especially for those seeking to explore the continent's wildlife, towering glaciers, and surreal landscapes without relying on direct air access. Their most popular options include: Small-ship cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage Fly-cruise hybrids, where travellers fly to King George Island and board an expedition vessel Extended voyages including the Falklands and South Georgia, known for penguin megacolonies and elephant seals All itineraries are supported by expert guides, marine biologists, and ice navigation crews trained specifically for polar conditions. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Passengers also benefit from daily landings, often by Zodiac boat, with chances to see Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, whales, leopard seals, and towering icebergs up close — something impossible to do by air alone. Antarctica is not only the coldest and windiest continent, but also one of the most aviation-unfriendly. There are no large-scale commercial airports, minimal navigation aids, and the environment can shift rapidly with little warning. Extreme temperatures also regularly affect flight instruments and engines, and strong katabatic winds - wind that flows downhill and are caused by gravity pulling higher density air downslope to lower density air - can make landings unsafe with little notice.
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a pilot with 10,000 flight hours but I won't go near this place'
ccording to Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, even seasoned pilots acknowledge that the world's southernmost continent presents some of the most unpredictable and unforgiving flying conditions on the planet Despite having over 10,000 flight hours and two decades of global flying experience, one commercial airline pilot says there's one place he still avoids. It's not because of fear of flying, but because the conditions are simply too extreme. The place is Antarctica. According to Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, even seasoned pilots acknowledge that the world's southernmost continent presents some of the most unpredictable and unforgiving flying conditions on the planet — which is exactly why most tourists don't fly in on commercial aircraft, but arrive by specialist expedition vessels. Richard Wells, 54, is a retired long-haul pilot from Kent who spent over 22 years flying internationally across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. With over 10,000 hours in the air, he's experienced nearly every type of flight scenario — but he draws the line at Antarctica. "I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different. Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk," he said. While a limited number of flights do operate into the continent, particularly to King George Island, these are highly regulated and weather-dependent, with frequent delays and cancellations due to sudden whiteouts, high winds, and near-zero visibility. Commercial airline pilots do not fly there. Only highly specialised charter flights or military and scientific missions operate in the region. Wells added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' In addition to visibility and runway issues, the lack of air traffic control, unpredictable jet streams, and absence of emergency diversion routes all add to the risk. Despite the aviation challenges, Antarctica remains a dream destination for thousands of British tourists every year. Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, reports a sharp increase in interest for 2025 departures, especially for those seeking to explore the continent's wildlife, towering glaciers, and surreal landscapes without relying on direct air access. Their most popular options include: Small-ship cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage Fly-cruise hybrids, where travellers fly to King George Island and board an expedition vessel Extended voyages including the Falklands and South Georgia, known for penguin megacolonies and elephant seals All itineraries are supported by expert guides, marine biologists, and ice navigation crews trained specifically for polar conditions. Passengers also benefit from daily landings, often by Zodiac boat, with chances to see Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, whales, leopard seals, and towering icebergs up close — something impossible to do by air alone. Antarctica is not only the coldest and windiest continent, but also one of the most aviation-unfriendly. There are no large-scale commercial airports, minimal navigation aids, and the environment can shift rapidly with little warning. Temperatures regularly affect flight instruments and engines, and strong katabatic winds can make landings unsafe with little notice. All expeditions follow strict IAATO environmental protocols, ensuring safe and responsible tourism in this fragile ecosystem.
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Almost a million Brits have used private healthcare amid NHS delays, data shows
New data from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) has shown that more UK patients than ever are turning to private healthcare to beat NHS delays Record numbers of Brits are choosing private healthcare over NHS waits, with fresh figures showing a shift due to NHS delays. The NHS waiting lists saw an uptick in March this year, and despite some feeling as if they're turning their backs on the cherished NHS, the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) reported that a staggering 939,000 people opted for private treatment last year, marking a 3% rise from 2023. Now, less patients are paying for it themselves via savings, loans or fund-raising. Instead, many are turning to private medical insurance as a means to cover their costs, with many companies offering private healthcare cover as employee incentives. PHIN's Chief Executive, Dr Ian Gargan, an advocate for transparent private healthcare costs, highlighted the inner conflict for some patients considering private options. There's a sense of unease and perceived disloyalty towards the National Health Service. He said: "The NHS is a very unique, amazing organisation. It's very much in the psyche and entrenched in individuals in this country, rightfully, that they're afforded free accessible healthcare because they pay their taxes." He added: "I think there's a real sense that people are reluctant to leave the NHS, they respect it and it's a shrine and they know that it's full of great people who work really hard. I've met a lot of patients who think if they go and access private healthcare, it's almost a betrayal of the NHS." London has emerged as one of the biggest hotspots for Brits turning to the private health sector. The East of England was the only region where the numbers dipped. In Scotland, there was a 6% increase up to 50,000 private hospital admissions in 2024. Wales saw the same 6% increase, with 32,000, and a 12% surge in Northern Ireland to 24,000. Procedures like colonoscopies and gastroscopies have seen a rise. Cataracts, hip and knee operations are popular with those aged over 50. However, younger generations are using it for blood tests and x-rays. Richard Wells, PHIN's Director of Information, said: "There is no doubt that the private sector continued to make a significant contribution to the UK's healthcare in 2024. "Every country saw record figures for several measures, including total admissions, insured admissions, and number of active consultants. And it was sustained growth; every quarter in 2024 had a record number of admissions compared to the equivalent period in previous years. "Private hospital admissions are also becoming more universal. People in their 50s remain the biggest users of private healthcare, but there was an increase in admissions for all age groups from 0 to 69. "With the recent news that NHS waiting lists have increased in March 2025, it's likely that PHIN will continue to report record levels of private hospital admissions."
