I'm not particularly concerned about the litigation aspect per se. However, I have to remind myself occassionally that:
(a) I (as a police helicopter pilot), am flying 'punters' around. Fee paying passengers. Would I divert offshore to save someone if I had a cab full of punters from a race course on the way home? (excessive example accepted) but that's how the CAA/JAA perceive the carriage of police observers.
(b) I am no longer SAR current, and observers are most certainly not rescue trained.
Therefore my major concern would be:
whilst in the process of exercising my (self perceived, blown up) excellent piloting skills and expertise, I blow the rescue, I inadvertently kill 2 passengers and land on top of the drowning victim....Risk management or what?????
My family pay for it emotionally and financially for the rest of their lives.
I've just read a report about a neighbouring police force to ours who went thru just this experience for real recently. They witnessed the falling into a fast flowing freezing river of a scrote(!) followed by the dog who chased after him , followed by the dog handler who went in to save his dog!
The chopper stayed with them and did a very professional job acting (no doubt)as a comms link, threw stuff into the water to help, but in the report I read, didnt actually fly down and effect a physical rescue. That decision must have plumbed the emotional depths of that crew!
Alternative rescue vehicles eventually saved the day due to a co-ordinated effort..........
Gotta get your head round these decisions before the day of the race. Too much adrenaline at the time to think straight...methinks
Westwind 1950: thanks for the input from Germany. Is there ever light at the end of the tunnel, will there be a solution or can you persuade the authorities to delay the regulations for ever!!!!