Why is it necessary to 'lillypad' ? Genuine question. And why can't that be done by the Lynx/Wildcat element ?
WRT Chinook deck clearances and EMC, it surely has them as it has operated from ship before ? Merlin Mk3 has no such clearance as it was not designed to be operated at sea - that was the Merlin Mk1, of which i believe there is about 40 gathering dust in storage throughout the country.