JTobias - please do not take offense at my comments but I have to disagree quite strongly with your post. Of course this is my own opinion and I am not saying everyone must agree, but I do not think you should necessarily be telling people to complain about these measures just because that is your standpoint.
After reading the following article, each and everyone of you, YES, THAT MEANS YOU, must make a response to EASA (the European version of our CAA) on their proposals which may affect future helicopter usage.
By all means people should read and make up their own minds, and then if they feel strongly enough contact the EASA.
However, I believe all of these measures are a good thing, and a step in the right direction. I fly offshore and over water every working day and would not dream of flying without some sort of serviceable flotation equipment. If you are advocating to do so in order to save money is a good idea, then I will have to disagree. Your comment "even for twins" also I find rather naive. Do you believe the only reason for ditching is an engine failure?
For any night flight in a helicopter
installation of a second attitude indicator
installation of a pitot tube heater
installation of an alternate static pressure source
installation of a pilot moveable landing light
I really cannot see why any sensible pilot could disagree with any of this. Night flying on a dark night with a pitot/static failure or AI fail on you is perhaps a far scarier prospect than you realise, and to advocate again that the use of back-up instrumentation at night is a bad idea is frankly insane.
Whilst you may be happy to fly in such a manner, would your passengers/friends/family, in the aircraft also be so happy to know that you can be so complacent about the safety of their lives. There are way too many helicopter accidents every year, so anything and everything possible should be done to make it safer. I have lost way too many friends in helicopter accidents, so any improvements in safety must be welcomed.
I for one will FULLY SUPPORT the EASA proposals, and I am truly sorry that this may cost you money, but if it prevents anymore accidents and fatalities it can only be a good thing.
This is not intended as a personal attack on you, but I merely seek to point out that people should take all the facts (not just financial), and make up their own minds.