Hi Hugh
Where in the hell did you get that photo???? The person on the ladder was a deck attendant who had never climbed a rope ladder in his life which is why BP chose him. The person in the back is an engineer whose job was to watch and make any safety comments but not to do anything unless for safety.
The ladder was rolled up and fitted under the rear seat, the whole idea being that it could be left there and rolled out by the pilot when an emergency rose.
The pilot, and I won't say who he was but he left for Oz the nezt week, rolled out the ladder and the climber was in the back in under 30 seconds. BP were suitably impressed as this was done in response to a 61 ditching with only 3 on board and the other helicopters flying by could only watch, although 1 did toss out a life raft which went a few miles downwind. The Forties Kiwi very kindly made the ladder.
How time flies!!!
