Do any of you offshore guys (or girls) have any info as to what effect the
gasses and heat from the flare have on the helicopter? I knew the pilot
who (reportedly) hit a flare stack and crashed last week. Do not know if that had anything to do with it, but I am curious about those stacks.
I can assure you that any gasses or heat coming out of the flare stack have no connexion whatsoever with anyone flying into the stack!
Apart from that, standard procedures apply: avoid flying through the smoke from the flare for the comfort of the passengers and crew (and because I'm told that any sulphurous compounds in the smoke can be detrimental to the engines). Radient heat from the flare during an emergency venting is very hot, but it doesn't usually affect the operation of the helicopter.