orca - OK, fair enough. I'd agree with you on operation in "thick mist", but again the definition is probably important - a numerical visibility might be more useful. An AWR is probably a much safer place to operate in reduced visibility than the rest of the UKLFS, certainly as a singleton. Of course, at most ranges the pattern extends beyond the AWR boundary, which may be a flaw in that argument! I don't know if it was an issue in this incident, but I think there's a difference between sustained operation in weather that's below limits, and pressing through for a few seconds in the hope/knowledge that the situation will improve. I'm not talking about full-up IMC, but, say, less than 5km vis in a shower.