Re: Three Dead....Another Night Bad Weather Flight Over Dark Terrain
Further to the missing EMS 109 in Slovakia last night, wreck of helicopter found on the side of a mountain with all dead, 3 people, Pilot - Doctor - Paramedic.
We refused it, they throught they could do it.
To answer SASless's questions:
"In your opinion, would that Coordinator have to be physically present for there to be "pressure" felt by a pilot regard turning down flights?"
- Depends on the pilot. Some people are more likely to press on because they are afraid of management than others. Point is, there should have been NO pressure in the first place.
"Do you advocate reducing night VFR weather minima if an operation adopts NVG's?"
- NO WAY. Remember you are still flying VFR...the minimums DO NOT change, things are just a whole lot safer.
"What night weather minima do you use at your operation for Night VFR unaided flights....and Night VFR aided flights?"
- Currently we only fly Night VFR unaided (May be starting a NVG assisted program this year) Weather minimums for this company are: Cloudy conditions-8 kms vis with minimum cloud base of 800ft, No clouds-5 kms vis. Anything less and NO flight.
"What procedures do you use for Goggle Failure during aided night flights in marginal weather? What do you classify "marginal" weather to be at night?"
- We are a 2 pilot operation at night and when we introduce goggles the weather minimums will stay the same. We will NOT be flying nights in marginal weather just because we are on NVG's. With the current generation goggles, the chance of both tubes failing has to be considered pretty remote, but if so you revert back to normal VFR unaided. You were flying VFR weren't you...?