S76 Heavy, couldn't agree more.....Radar!!!!!!
There are many holes in this piece of cheese that have been discussed....They all played a part, However, simplifying the situation, whether Blackrock was in/not in the database, an Imc letdown, a vmc night letdown etc etc...I don't care what the situation was, really the bottom line comes down to using the radar.. This IS your primary piece of Equipment that will save the day...When I used to fly offshore, even night VMC letdowns into the blackness, play with the radar, use the different modes, tilt, adjust, re-adjust, check all clear ahead, start the letdown...during the whole procedure, in any turn, the level off, I'd still be adjusting the tilt, etc, re-look where you are going, keep the communications going, and if the other pilot told me there was now a return , even if I was expecting something there, I wouldn't assume it was x until I could clearly see it, and if not visible, climb or turn well away until visual, etc.. and even though I am PF, I'll now take a glance too, see what's ahead, work together as a crew, not just take his/her word for it...and adjust accordingly...etc...I have used FLIR but we didn't have that offshore, didn't have other crew members apart from the other pilot, the rigs were in the gps but tankers passing through were not, doesn't matter, use the radar...don't need flir, gps doesn't show every possible target...doesn't matter, use the radar....and if I was x miles away from my destination and I was told to come left/right, alarm bells would have gone off?? Why come left or right? what the hell is out there? I am gobsmacked at the lack of use/poor comms from the radar operator and almost blasé attitude from the P1? If you were unfamiliar with an area too I would have been even extra cautious...used properly, at some point in the turn a large blob on the radar screen would have caught your attention even if it was off the screen on the last known approach track which has been suggested here due to drift!. It is easy in Hindsight to criticise, but as professionals, I am amazed and saddened at the total waste of life of 4 crew members, who I have the utmost respect for going out day and night to save others....
SAR is different from offshore, letting down towards land/rocks is different to letting down towards rigs, I have done both, but, the RADAR was still the primary tool to stop you hitting something....
RIP all the crew members, and I wish all the family members find the strength to get through this difficult time......