Re Ogslpashs comments,
I recently had a look and play with a set of the latest NVGs and I was amazed to say the least!. I know that it's early days but I firmly belive this is the way of the future.Not only will they make approachs in to areas of poor light better but if you had an urgent situation arise during a A --B flt at night that nessatated an immediate landing your chances of finding a spot down there in the black would be seriously enhanced.
The sooner these devices become the norm the better I say.
My comments re armchair experts still stands ,all I would like is for these sort of people to look at the "big picture" and not to run with the media show as some of the medical people have done before getting on national TV and trying to destabilise a small and dedicated group of helicopter people who are mostly doing a good job around the countryside.
Lets look and find some solutions and stop rubbishing the whole group when only a few have run a muck!.