That would be an interesting thread and one that might scare off many wannabe professionals like myself. Their have been multiple discussions on single engine operations in GOM and why it still exists I think everyone agrees that it is financially driven. While I don't think that anyone wants to see other people parish there are those that are just worried about the bottome line. At least that is what I have gleamed from reading the various threads.
The way I see it one of two things needs to happen. Either it needs to be too expensive (Insurance Premiums) to operate a single engine helo in certian circumstances or the Pilots that are putting the lives at risk need to come together with an "enough is enough" stance. Understand that I am such a low time pilot that I can't even claim to be wet behind the ears, as I only have 132 hours, but my father is a 25+yr GOM Pilot. I grew up watching my father leave every week to go do a job that he was and still is proud to do. However, I have very distinct memories of my phone conversations with him when there were hurricanes and when their was a lost of a fellow pilot, no matter who the operator was. That is when I remember my father and his co-workers were willing to talk, gripe, and complain about having issues such as safety, pay and working conditions addressed.
This next part is not meant to incite anyone, it is just the observation of a youth and I am fully aware that there is more to it than I know
Adversely, I remember that it wasn't until recently (within the last decade) that there has never been a united front. When the heat was turned up by the operators the pilots would disban quicker than untrained militia. I don't think that there will be a chance of making any changes until all the pilots of every operator in the GOM come together and present a unified and united stance on these issues.
So maybe starting that thread and letting everyone see what the real frequency is would help snap some out of denial and motivate them to action. What every pilot does is always dangerous (afterall gravity never slips up so to speak) and it is every pilots job to minimize that risk. So my hat is off to all of the professionals out there sacrificing their home and family life everyday to ensure that those supplies and people make it from point A to point B as safe as possible
