after reading most posts, it occured to me that those pilots that approve of the video probably actually fly helicopters for a living, and those opposed teach.
joe - I do both and I am often required to put a helicopter in far more dangerous positions than the guy in the video - sometimes to save lives, sometimes to train other pilots to save lives.
The point is that no-one says you can't do things like that in a helicopter - but
shouldyou be doing things like that unless there is a very good reason.
I could drive at 120 mph on the motorway because speed is fun - I don't because it is also dangerous (not only to me but to others) - if I had to in order to save a life then I would approach it with some application of forethought and consideration of the risks involved.
Our friend in the video did neither.