Does anyone else wonder what all the fuss is with this topic?
It reminds me why getting away from Offshore is a good thing. Not enough flying and too much time to think of things to worry and complain about.
The call for automated approaches to rigs at night seems great but why take away the only flying the autopilot lets these guys do?
I also cannot see why a trained pro would not relish the night approach and find it a doddle. Really it is.. face it, you know generally where the wind is, you are over the ocean (ie: flat), there are no wires, you know the orientation of the pad and platform, it is brighter than the sun, the radalt reads off your exact clearance from the planet, the radar paints the target, you have another pilot there to help and all you have to do is fly a constant angle, controlled rate of decent into a defined landing area. WHAT's THE ISSUE?
If it is an issue and concerning, I think a shift down to the slabwing operators might be in store.
But think! you might have to fly single pilot night approach on a back course ILS, without a working weather radar and TS in the vicinity to minimums at 3am in a grotty old Chieftain.... yuk!
ho hum...back to the tent and drill.
