Originally Posted by
Musician
I think it's not unreasonable to assume that words being exchanged in the cockpit/the extra workload prevented the pilots from noticing the ATC transmissions to the helicopter, and that would have impaired their situational awareness. Situational awareness is required for safe flight, especially in congested airspace.
If the SOP requirement was instituted by the airline out of a safety concern, to reduce the workload on the pilots during that critical phase of flight, then that has a bearing on how responsibility is apportioned.
Weren't the jet and helo on different frequencies?