Not being a UK PPL pilot or helicopter owner, I am very surprised that all of you are against all these proposals. I can understand the feeling about floats as they can be heavy and cost a bit but then helicopters are not cheap.
I don't understand why you don't want a liferaft or an ELT. I bought a small single seat liferaft which clipped onto my belt and was the size of a sandwich box. This meant if I ditched, the liferaft came with me even if there was a biiger one in the back. Only cost about $200.
I can't believe a little 1 pound ELT could not be easily fitted to any helicopter, however small. Having searched for numerous missing boats, people, plank wing and helicopters over the last 45 years, I know how much easier it is for the SAR pilot to find you if you were pinging away.
At the end of the day you are talking about your own life, so it is a very important decision to take.
