Bronx wrote:
I'll never forget the footage of that 206 pilot rescuing people from the icy Potomac after the airplane crash a few years ago. He even had his skids in the water at one point so a guy could cling on and be flown to safety. He broke every rule in the book, but saved five people.
Umm. What?
Wasn't that a U.S. Park Police helicopter? Arent' they categorized as "public service" or whatever that exemption is to U.S. FAR's?
Bronx, I know you said that they broke "every rule in the book," but could you be a little more specific as to just exactly WHICH rules they "broke"?
Expanding on that, can you specify how many and which rules would have been broken if it was a civilian, commercial operator who hauled those people out of the river? Were any of them sling-loaded?
Seems to me that your FAA recognizes the fact that the number of times civilian helicopters are involved in "life-saving rescues" is extremely small and not deserving of regulations to specifically prohibit or allow them.