Hunt for FDR delayeddue to bad weather
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6215935.stm
"Ideally, the search today (Friday) would focus on finding the black box, but it looks as though the weather will curtail that," he said. He said the Met Office had forecast force six to eight winds, occasionally rising to severe gale force nine for the next 24 hours, with the following day seeing force six to eight, increasing to storm 10 at times.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/77682.html
Keith Mullett, from helicopter company CHC Scotia, said both pilots were experienced. He said the firm operated five Eurocopter AS365N helicopters – known as the "Dauphin" – in Europe, and the aircraft's safety record and performance in the fleet had been "excellent". Mr Mullett said it was "extremely difficult" to say at this stage what may have happened.
"The amount of information we have is extremely limited, the investigation is in its early stages. It is much too early to say or to speculate at all about what could have happened," he said.
A spokesman said that there was a stringent routine maintenance schedule approved by the CAA and in light of the accident a number of additional routine checks, including visual inspections of critical areas, were being carried out on their fleet.
Any idea what these extra checks are?
More wreckage brought ashore
Flowers on a seaman's statue pay tribute to the victims of the helicopter crash in the Irish Sea. Photograph: John Giles/PA
Further tributes to Steve from local newspapers
http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/View...icleID=1949745
http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.as...icleID=1949479
Blackburn Cathedral has confirmed that special prayers will be said for the victims, including Preston father-of-two Simon Foddering, twice daily throughout the holiday period. Services will be held at 10.30am and 3pm throughout the next few days.