Video -
YouTube - helicopter landing on platform at night
The otherwise excellent EGPWS in the context of offshore ops has some serious holes in it. The system can use terrain or obstructions as the datum for a series of proximity warnings that can include excessive RoD and ILS glideslope. Unfortunately it doesn't know where all the obstructions (platforms, rigs, ships etc) are so when you make an approach it can't figure that you actually want to land on the 'obstruction'.
I have yet to play with EGPWS for real but I'm sure there are folk out there who can contribute their first-hand experience but I do remember that when I asked Sikorsky some years ago about this problem I was met with a blank stare and a crooked smile that conveyed a huge gap in their appreciation of the problem.
Then we have the debate about whether EGPWS is a substitute for AVAD. I don't think they got that right either.
G
