A FLYING instructor and his student were forced to land their aircraft in a Chorleywood field after experiencing engine faliure on Saturday, September 28, at about 1.44pm.

Mr Dominic Kenny, 44, a part-time flying instructor from The Pilot Centre, in Denham, was forced to land his Cessna 152 light aircraft, with his student Mr Tom Wisemann, of High Wycombe, in a field in Amersham Road, Chorleywood, opposite The Garden Centre.

The pilot, who is also a full-time police officer with London Metropolitan Police, and is based in Hillingdon, said the plane took off from Denham at about 1.35pm, seven minutes later it was forced to land in Chorleywood because the engine was playing up.

He said: "When we landed in the field, the fire service, the ambulance and the police was on hand to help us, luckily we had made a successful landing and nobody was hurt."

He said the students were frequently put through the practice of making "forced landings" and explained that when the aircraft engine failed, the plane was brought down to safety in a smooth and controlled way.

A Watford firefighter who attended the scene confirmed the aircraft had made a forced landing in Chorleywood, he said: "Our crews attended but noboidy was hurt and the incident was not serious."

For more information about flying with The Pilot Centre, telephone 01835 833838, or log on to www.egld.com.

October 2, 2002 18:00