BBC Two Scotland

The Garden Productions Ltd

Chloe Solomon

Dollan Cannell

Chris Taylor

Emma Whitehead

Steve Moore

Mark Penarski

Tony Parkinson

Martin Gosling

Graham Bakewell

Chris Daniels

Roger Scholes

Baron Boot

Baroness Boot

Skies Above Britain: Episode 4: When Speed Counts

Documentaries

When Speed Counts

Episode 4

Episode 4: When Speed Counts

Skies Above Britain

BBC Two - Skies Above Britain, When Speed Counts

Racing champion Martin is preparing to compete for the Schneider Trophy.

A look at the skies above us. Martin is preparing to compete for the Schneider Trophy, where 14 pilots will fly wing to wing around outlying islands in Alderney.

Racing champion Martin is a member of the oldest flying club in Britain, the Royal Aero Club. He is preparing to compete for the Schneider Trophy, where 14 pilots will fly wing to wing around outlying islands in Alderney in the Channel Islands. The hair-raising race attracts an eclectic mix of pilots, from Geoffrey, a baron, to dentist Roger, who has bought his first plane especially for the race.

Cargo pilot Mark flies solo from the Isle of Man to Dublin to East Midlands daily in his Piper Navajo plane, delivering anything from fresh flowers to human remains. His schedule is so tight that even during bad weather he must cross the Irish sea.

East Midlands Airport is the cargo hub that connects the whole of Britain to the world beyond. A hundred and fifty thousand parcels run through DHL's warehouse each night. Graham, a senior sorter, must make sure his team can respond when a crucial conveyor belt breaks down, while senior loader Tony Parkinson works against the clock to load thousands of parcels onto cargo flights.

At NATS, bad weather grounds planes and dangerous wind sheer causes pilots to abort landings, wrecking the carefully planned landing and take-off schedule.

BBC Two

BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

BBC 2

BBC2

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Factual: Life Stories

The complex, hidden world of the skies above us.

Skies Above Britain explores the complex, hidden world of the skies above us and discovers the human stories of the people who spend their life in flight.

BBC Four

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Skies Above Britain

Episode 4: When Speed Counts

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Two Scotland

About BBC Two