Originally Posted by
MOSTAFA
Surely a job for a Billy Pugh on a winch or even the hook - might scare them fartless but I'd guess they'd have preferred the option - and yes maybe they couldn't get to the roof after the fire took hold but surely a muster on the roof before it did would at least be an option.
You are talking about tenants who are untrained / unaware of what to do if they reach a basket on the top floor, many would panic, many would refuse to get on the winch / pugh or whatever you lower down until the very last minute.
Those you try and rescue would not conduct an orderly climb on and you would thus put the aircraft in jeopardy, you cannot put crew on the roof (even if you could get close) as it would push the acceptable risks beyond safe operating limits - you have to remember it was dark - the LFB never requested SAR - and SAR would not have primacy - LFB took the lead and co-ordinated a rescue of those that were saveable.
Yes it's worth looking at the viability but lets get away from the statement that a helicopter
would have made a difference.
Oh and regarding the muster on the roof option - if you opened your flat door and found you could breath (limited smoke damage) in the stairwell - would you
A) make your way downstairs in the hope you could get out
B) make your way to the roof (even though you could perform A) in the hope that someone sent a helicopter...
