Re: UK Coastguard SAR - Bristow out??
On the subject of icing clearances, the "limited" icing clearance was obtained in the early eighties because Bristow wasn't prepared to pay the money for the full de-icing kit. The AS332L flight manual icing clearance is very restrictive and doesn't really give any benefit due to the +airtemp requirement at least 500' above MSA requirement. The operators had to produce "get-round-the-rules" procedures to allow a/c to depart IFR overland in icing conditions with escape routes to warmer air at low level offshore. Arriving back at on onshore base in icing conditions still requires +airtemp at least 500' above the surface (if my memory serves me correctly). This is usually ignored.
These "Operational Procedures" would never be allowed if proposed today as they do not fully take into account oei performance degradation due to blade icing.
It is about time we as pilots insist on full icing clearances for North Sea aircraft.