Despite being urged by his client twice not to fly due to poor visibility, Cpt Barnes told him by text message: “I’m coming anyway..."
Possibly the most revealing words in the report. I'm prepared to bet that the pilots who crashed the Haughey Air helicopter in Norfolk thought or said something along the lines of 'We're going anyway' as well.
Is it me or do helicopter operators appear to be more afflicted by commercial pressures than their fixed wing counterparts? Is it because their clients, whether rich businessmen, toffs or oil companies are rolling in it and keep the operators in a state of perpetual fear of losing their business?