Re "In typical helicopter flight levels of 1000ft or 2000ft in remote areas of Australia, I would estimate that over 80% of the time, there is no communication to a ground transmitter on the area frequency. This means you have to rely on another aircraft in the sector monitoring that frequency. In remote areas this is very often unlikely."
It would be a 'poor' - ill prepared - chopper, or any other aircraft for that matter, that went out to these areas without the support of its parent company, or HF radio at least.....
Or maybe a 'Sat Phone' would do the trick. I dunno, I've never used one, but I have used HF a lot....
A VHF 'relay' may not be available 24/7 depending on where you are in relation to other aircraft routes.....would you really want to have to RELY on a relay in an emergency..??
Cheers
