Weather
Inverton - Good point about the course of action but sadly I think you are being mislead about certain facts.
Tandem - without wanting to defend Invertron, I think you have the wrong end of the baton. There is no mention in Invetrons article about a Chinook or indeed of the location of this fictional scenario. I think its just that - a fictional scenario asking a question of what the reader would do. Its not supposed to be a dig.
Arkroyal - Good point made there. I recall from my days with the RN that they had particular stringent rules with regard to flying over the sea and close to land. I suppose it stems from the fact that Flying over the sea close to land in ****ty weather is twhat the RN do. Can't recall the rules right now and to be honest its irrelevant but there was something to do with Tactical maritime and non tactical maritmime sorties. The RAF have never used those rules.