Amazing how a simple post about an accident in NZ has revealed so much distaste for helo ops in NZ.
Is this glacier gig the same sort of thing as the deer hunting? Demanding flying sure enough but for what reason? To save lives? to win a war? Oh no it's about making money!
So we have to have sympathy when guys take operating conditions to (and clearly beyond in this case) the limits and, despite their 'god-like' skills, f**k up and are lucky not to kill everyone on board - and all in the name of making a few bucks from some tourists!
Sorry but I am with TC on this one. Seems like NZ aviation needs a dose of perspective.
So Crab based on your comment quoted above does that mean we also shouldnt give a !!!! about your UK colleague who flew into the crane in downtown London. Wasnt he just making a few bucks from punters. Sounds like the UK helo industry needs to take a dose of perspective if you care to apply your comments back to your own industry.
Sad that this place used to be a place where professionals would act like adults instead now when a fellow aviator has an accident and is in hospital with serious head injuries all you can do is attack him, the Kiwi industry etc.