......Then let’s ask the question: what was the helicopter doing offshore? Fishing? Why would anyone put an aircraft over water without a compelling reason? The aircraft ditched into water, unless I am totally mistaken, solid land would be more attractive.
If that is true then unless the pilot was stupid then he was over water because he had been directed to fly over water by ATC or I grant you, if he was following the official VFR Corridor on the VTC which shouldn’t be over water anyway. In either case AsA bears responsibility for both this and the Mooney crash.
I am sick to death of this practice of forcing light aircraft to accept unnecessary risk for the convenience of AsA and RAAF and perhaps coastal nimby scum. U.S. experience has been that much closer separation standards are allowable with minimal risk increase.