Heli's over Sydney Hobart race
 

I couldn't help but notice what appeared to be a black and a blue and white R44 (could conceivably be R66's) hovering over the lead boats after the start of the Sydney Hobart race. I'd eat my hat if either of the Robbos hat pop-out floats. They were quite a distance off shore, well over 10 miles at altitudes of perhaps 100-150ft AMSL. There were other aircraft there including Squirrels that DID have floats fitted.

What are the legal implications of the Robbos that far out without floats?

CAO 20.11 para 5.3.1 is your answer.

Assuming they were filming (which is AWK), floats are not required.

Well how about that! Thanks for the answer. As much as it is Airwork it seems a little bit risky being out that far and ironically some of the turbines were fitted with them.

you asked about legalities.. that's the answer as per the regs. whether it's sensible or not is upto the person flying I suppose.

When you cover a boat race there is plenty of people watching, plenty of boats, obviuously means help is available.
The bird might drown, POB will be saved.
Some helicopters carry the cameras, most of them carry the rescue swimmers/divers.

Rescue swimmers and divers???

Not on this boat race, all the choppers were either TV ships, or air working with photographers. The rescue birds are on standby at their bases. or at least they were, last time I flew this race was in 2000.

Wear a life jacket, carry a dinghy if there's room, otherwise the crew takes their chances. Never been a problem for the aircraft in all the years that helicopters have covered this race. But they have rescued a large number of boats in trouble.

I would have thought that the competing yachtsmen would have been REALLY, REALLY pee'd off with a load of eggwhisks churning up their wind.

Now someone tell me the air-displacement involved in keeping umpteen tons of metal and humanity aloft, has no discernable effect on the airflow across the sails of the subject-matter.

perhaps... though I bet the sponsors wouldn't have a problem with the race being plastered over the TV screen... No bucks, no buck rogers..

** Edit- what ascend Charlie says below. There is no discernible difference unless you fly right over the top of them..

"Now someone tell me the air-displacement involved in keeping umpteen tons of metal and humanity aloft, has no discernable effect on the airflow across the sails of the subject-matter."

Ok, the air-displacement involved in keeping umpteen tons of metal and humanity aloft, has no discernable effect on the airflow across the sails of the subject-matter.

We didn't fly OVER them, we flew to the side. No downwash got near them, we were smart enough to know that we would cause them problems if we blew downwash over them.

I've done a few of those Hobart things (OK, 10 of them) and only once did an aircraft cause us issues and that was when a AS350 gave a spinnaker a shake when hovering very low and to windward of us. The wash from the spectator boats was far far worse chopping up the seaway.

I like all was always pleased to see the aircraft when miles out to see. It meant that A. Somebody was near (in spirit anyway) and B. You were going to be on telly! My favorite of course was Gary T in the ABC AS355. He often appeared in the early light or late in the afternoon.

I too was surprised at the number of singles, without floats offshore for so long a duration.

Oz regs for aerial filming, taken on their own, apparently are not a sound foundation for prudent behaviour!

Helmets and life jackets go hand in hand especially if floats are lacking.


Mickjoebill

Was there a heli standby for picking up the onboard cameramen or just a boat?

One of the years past the cameraman jumped overboard and had to wait a bit too long for comfort to get picked up!

Live broadcast showed a cameraman picked up by a small boat.

Mickjoebill