Hmmh, wonder if I've opened a can of crawling pink bird-food here....
A S-76 has just gone over Hammersmith literally 5 mins ago heading northbound, clear of cloud, but noticeably low. Couldn't be more than 500'AGL.
EGLL METAR is showing FEW070.
Obviously twin with ATPL(H)/IR aboard and super nav equipment etc, but seems rather tight to be working SVFR.
Guess my point is that those us fixed-wing would never get or attempt SVFR in these conditions, even with an equally well-equipped a/c (e.g. G1000 C182 or SR22 say).
Know a heli gives obvious other PFL options, hence the different Rule 5 criteria, but over a crowded conurbation, am wondering at the risk mitigation?
A catastrophic hydraulics failure or tail rotor loss does not give too many options or time at that height I would have thought.
Any thoughts, comments?
BFA