Perhaps someone being a little over-cautious and never heard the adage - 'if it ain't raining, it ain't training'
Crab, don't be a prat all your life. Perhaps you should give Bond Helicopters in Aberdeen a call and see how they are getting on with their insurance claim for an S92 that was written off just before Christmas due to triggered lightning.
It is not an over water phenomenon. There have been the most strikes of triggered lightning over the North Sea because that is where most of the helicopters fly but it is by no means an over water issue. Why do I think you knew that anyway.......
Is it really worth the risk of writing off a multi million pound helicopter just so an MR exercise can take place. No. But they will take the risk for an operational flight and that is as it should be.
P3