Runway,
Are you really asking yourself out of curiosity or just (excuse me) phishing for some answers to avoid paying for them. Some people make a business out of this game you know.
Who do you think wrote Annex 6 to the MCA document? It was basically a panel of "experts" being ex-mil people and others.
Unfortunately, yachts are under no pressure to operate in all weather or at all times. So they probably don't need a North Sea helipad. (And I'll show you a good looking oil rig that is owned personally.)
The Catch 22 is, that these regulations are based on COMMERCIAL operations of the vessel.
For various reasons, too many to bring up here, some owners hire the boat to themselves (think about it) which makes it a commercial operation. If not it is private and none of these regulations apply, yet it might not be a prudent way to build a yacht when you consider that one day you will sell it.
There are a plethora of "consultants" out there that are happy to insulate yacht owners from reality and some of their readies. No doubt they will bound into this thread shortly with their anonymous "recommendations."
It is an unfortunate fact that because of the vessels registry it has to comply with "flag" rules. This compliance is to keep insurance underwriters happy. Depending on the colour of the flag these can be different.
Flying of the aircraft in different countries normally does not require any more permission than any other aircraft. It is the use of the deck and where it may happen to be at the time.
Most regulations involving the permission to use the deck have various reasons behind them but it would appear that the helicopter is a threat to it's own versatility. Customs and border authorities are the ones that twitch!
Last edited by RVDT; 4th Jan 2009 at 13:21.