Jim59 I cannot find anything that permits a helicopter to fly in accordance with VFR in IMC. Do you have a reference?
https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/...solidation.pdf
See page 28 of 92
* When the height of the transition altitude is lower than 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 shall be used in lieu of 10 000 ft.
** When so prescribed by the competent authority:
a) flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 m may be permitted for flights operating:
1) at speeds of 140 kts IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or
2) in circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low, e.g. in areas of low volume traffic and for aerial work at low levels.
b) helicopters may be permitted to operate in less than 1 500 m but not less than 800 m flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision..
*** The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in Class A airspace.