Old Man Rotor.....try this one on..... The FAA made the following change to the FAR's for aircraft certified under part 29......such that they are exempt from the H/V limitations when departing from elevated helidecks offshore.
91.9 Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may operate a civil aircraft without complying with the operating limitations specified in the approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, markings, and placards, or as otherwise prescribed by the certificating authority of the country of registry.
(d) Any person taking off or landing a helicopter certificated under part 29 of this chapter at a heliport constructed over water may make such momentary flight as is necessary for takeoff or landing through the prohibited range of the limiting height-speed envelope established for the helicopter if that flight through the prohibited range takes place over water on which a safe ditching can be accomplished and if the helicopter is amphibious or is equipped with floats or other emergency flotation gear adequate to accomplish a safe emergency ditching on open water.
This begs some questions.....such as "define momentary flight", what about if the sea state is ugly....thus a safe "emergency" ditching isn't possible? Is any ditching other than "emergency"? If you can ignore the H/V....whatelse can we ignore while operating offshore?
Maybe this is an argument for going to all singles or avoiding certifying helicopters under Part 29?
What say you Professor Nick?