However on the plus side for shooting ENG from the right seat in an Enstrom, is you have more room in the front than a Jet Ranger or an R44, and the door is very large with plenty of room to shoot with a camera.
I would agree that the turbine powered Enstrom is acceptable, as I understand it the aircraft in the crash question was the smaller piston engine version with three abreast seating where the seats are close to the bulkhead.
The CTV video has some stills taken of the cameraman seated in the craft before the flight. He is a sizeable bloke. Try and imagine what seating position he would have to be in to shoot at 45º to 90º to the direction of flight with the camera on the right shoulder. The common method is to sit with ones hips positioned at approx 45º across the seat so the torso does not have to twist too much. This means there is considerable scope for slack in the seatbelt. In these circumstances an additional harness is prudent.
Sure there is plenty of leg and head room in the front but what would be more useful is greater clearance between the seat back and bulkhead to allow free movement of the rear overhang of a pro sized camera without having to lean forward. This is far less a problem if shooting out the left hand side.
It is a pity that all manufacturers of light helis do not offer an observer seat and anchorage system or accessories that are designed to accommodate those crew whose work involves facing 90º to direction of flight.
That the aircraft came to rest with cabin largely intact and resting on its left side and that the cameraman was sitting on the RHS but was ejected should raise the question of the level of increased survivability if the cameraman had the benefit of a helmet and a harness.
Partially disabled due to plaster cast over left wrist and hand, no helmet, no sign of a harness, no flight suit, no door, shooting wrong side from a small cabin so seat belt (probably) compromised.
If some or all of these factors are contributory to the level of injuries who is responsible and how do we improve safety of ad hoc aerial filming and photography assignments in the future?
Mickjoebill