Should more be done to promote helicopter benefits?

[rotorspeed]

In the last few days we have had two very high profile rescues using helicopters; the EC135 plucking Schumacher off the Meribel mountainside and the ? Kamov Ka 32 rescuing the stranded ice breaker passengers in Antarctica. In both these cases, as is often the case, no other means of transport could do the life saving job. This contrasts with two serious UK accidents in the last year, Sumburgh and Glasgow, the major media coverage of which inevitably erodes public confidence in the safety of helicopter travel.

How much of a problem do particularly charter operators find this is? Does charter interest reduce much in the wake of serious helo accidents, and for how long? Should the industry do more to promote just how very safe helicopter travel is and trumpet its successful missions, and if so, who should be doing it?

[homonculus]

I would be careful about your examples. In the case of Antarctica I wasn't aware any of the scientists were in any danger, and the crew are planning to stay on board until the ice clears. The BBC news has just described the 15 minute helicopter transfer as 'a white knuckle ride'. Not really the best description to whip up charters :ugh:

[rotorspeed]

Yes I agree that the Antarctica rescue probably didn't save any lives, but it was a big media story involving a helicopter rescue in a dramatic setting. Without a helicopter rescue Schumacher may well not be alive now though. Anyway the point was not really to pick out the most live-saving examples, but well publicised stories that serve as examples of the kind of things that the industry might actually promote more to balance the negative drama helicopter accidents seem to attract in the media. And leaving the Antarctica story with "white knuckle ride" impressions seems to support the point!

[SilsoeSid]

Here's a live saving story based in Antartica!

BBC - History - Ernest Shackleton (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/shackleton_ernest.shtml)

Early in 1915, 'Endurance' became trapped in the ice, and ten months later sank. Shackleton's crew had already abandoned the ship to live on the floating ice. In April 1916, they set off in three small boats, eventually reaching Elephant Island. Taking five crew members, Shackleton went to find help. In a small boat, the six men spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station. The remaining men from the 'Endurance' were rescued in August 1916. Not one member of the expedition died.

Not to mention that on return to England, a lot of the men then went to fight in 'The Great War'. Spare a thought for them and especially for Timothy McCarthy, who died in the war just 3 weeks after returning from Antarctica.

Sorry, just fed up with the drama!

[Bertie Thruster]

Silsoe, I've been lucky enough to see what Shackleton had to traverse on South Georgia to get to the relative safety of that whaling station.

'Trek' doesn't do it justice.

Happily I was in a helicopter!

[SilsoeSid]

Bertie, it must have been awesome, I enjoyed your thread/blog & vid.
I wasn't one of the fortunate ones to get on the South Georgia Det while down that way many years ago, I guess it'll have to be on my SAGA cruise list :)

[rotorrookie]

Igor Sikorsky said once

"If a man is in need of rescue, an airplane can come in and throw flowers on him, and that's just about all." "But a direct lift aircraft could come in and save his life."

[SilsoeSid]

"For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton." — Sir Raymond Priestley.

[twinstar_ca]

Still, the rescue of the fellow off the crane in Canada has helped to mitigate/reduce the footprint of the ice hockey via R44...

We need to always show r/w aviation in the best light.. if we don't blow our own horn, who will... :ok::}

[rotorspeed]

Twinstar - thanks, the Kingston Canada crane rescue is a good story and example of unique life-saving benefits of helicopters. A video here, if it works! Crane operator rescued by helicopter from massive Kingston fire (multiple angles) | Watch News Videos Online (http://globalnews.ca/video/1036545/crane-operator-rescued-by-helicopter-from-massive-kingston-fire-multiple-angles). An even more dramatic crane rescue here: Awesome Helicopter Rescue! - YouTube

There really should be (and may well have been) a TV programme showing a whole variety of different spectacular rescues with a good accurate narrative - anyone aware of such a thing? Has anyone put together a video of some of these? Be good if someone with more time and knowledge than me could look into this as, back to my initial point, it must be a good thing to promote the live saving and intrinsic safety of helicopters through what is bound to be a captivating TV programme for the general world population. Unfortunately it is still the negative of crashes that is generating the most media.

[mdovey]

The Really channel (in the UK) is showing Helicopter Heroes (tonight's episode has just started).

Helicopter Heroes | Really Channel (http://really.uktv.co.uk/shows/helicopter-heroes/)

Matthew

[alouette]

The BBC should change their name to BIC... The Blimmin ...... Corporation. White knuckle ride?!? Bah!