The Mull
dalek,
The term "safe" in the BOI's finding was in respect of the icing clearance - not the visibility/turbulence/down draughts or the prospect of a lightning strike.
It is the contention of some contributors to this thread that icing limitations would have precluded a climb to Safety Altitude - the BOI addressed that specific issue and concluded that such a course of action was feasible and within the published limitations.
The Gentleman in the boat testified on oath to the BOI that his position when he saw the Chinook he was "2NM SW of the Mull and the visibility was 1 NM limited by haze." He subsequently stated to the FAI that when the Chinook came into view he was manouvering around a fishing fleet and he could "see the North Antrim Coast so the visibility was around 5 - 7 miles". You can research for yourself the variation he gave to the House of Lords.
The Yachtsman was referred to as "the lone yachtsman" by the BOI because that was the evidence he gave. At the FAI he referred to "calling to his cabin boy to come and see the helicopter that has been sent to rescue us." At the HOL investigation the "cabin boy" had become an "Adult Male Sailing Companion ".
There are several discrepancies in the evidence that he gave at various stages of the inquiries; regrettably he has not been asked to give a definitive version of events. I do not think it is fitting to discuss them in this forum because of the possible ramifications regarding the fact that the Yachtsman's version of the weather is preferred by campaigners over the observations of the 2 qualified Met Observers stationed at the Mull.
It is, perhaps, fitting to remind you that ZD 576 crashed some 100 metres from two Gentlemen who were searching for WW2 aircraft crash sites. They heard the aircraft and the crash but saw nothing. They were the first to stumble upon that scene of carnage - yet their evidence is discounted by campaigners.
Last edited by cazatou; 16th May 2009 at 21:37.