Helicopter crash off Cape Point
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The press are idiots
I have been following the press the past few days and can only say that they are a bunch of idiots. I have been personally involved with this accident and am well aware of the FULL FACTS that are known so far. (pending CAA and Coroner report).
Noone from the police, the helicopter operators or owners have made any statements and literally most of what has been reported can only have been made up. This has caused great distress to all involved especially all of the rediculoius reports on Tuesday claiming that the body was found when clearly it wasn't. This can only have been made-up/guessed by the press.
Talks of first or second solo flights are completely rediculous, aerobatics, strong wind, owners details, military involvement, flying close together, three helicopters and pilots, taking off from the Waterfront, etc... all entire hogwash. In fact about the only thing they got right was the fact that the accident was near Cape Point.
This was my first close experience of a true life accident with parallel press coverage and always wondered why the press had such a bad name. Now I know... never believe ANYTHING you read. They can only be making it up or guessing... it calls into question literally everything I will read in the 'respected press' in future. The Cape Times article on Thursday was however fairly accurate. The article quoted above from the Argus is so wrong on so many points its rediculous. The reporters would be more at home with the baboons they obviously interviewed to get their story.
Mr Erasmus is one of the greatest guys any of us have ever had the pleasure of knowing and was a meticulous and thorough man with an absolute heart of gold, a wonderful father of two and although still a PPL student was a very capable, confident and precise heli pilot and was flying in conditions well within his capabilities.
The facts will out... but in the meantime, believe absolutely nothing you read. Noone of any importance will be saying anything until the full official conclusions are drawn.
This is a massive loss for everyone surrounding the accident and the world has lost a truly great man whose passion for flying and life was unrivalled.
Rest in peace 'pallie'.
Noone from the police, the helicopter operators or owners have made any statements and literally most of what has been reported can only have been made up. This has caused great distress to all involved especially all of the rediculoius reports on Tuesday claiming that the body was found when clearly it wasn't. This can only have been made-up/guessed by the press.
Talks of first or second solo flights are completely rediculous, aerobatics, strong wind, owners details, military involvement, flying close together, three helicopters and pilots, taking off from the Waterfront, etc... all entire hogwash. In fact about the only thing they got right was the fact that the accident was near Cape Point.
This was my first close experience of a true life accident with parallel press coverage and always wondered why the press had such a bad name. Now I know... never believe ANYTHING you read. They can only be making it up or guessing... it calls into question literally everything I will read in the 'respected press' in future. The Cape Times article on Thursday was however fairly accurate. The article quoted above from the Argus is so wrong on so many points its rediculous. The reporters would be more at home with the baboons they obviously interviewed to get their story.
Mr Erasmus is one of the greatest guys any of us have ever had the pleasure of knowing and was a meticulous and thorough man with an absolute heart of gold, a wonderful father of two and although still a PPL student was a very capable, confident and precise heli pilot and was flying in conditions well within his capabilities.
The facts will out... but in the meantime, believe absolutely nothing you read. Noone of any importance will be saying anything until the full official conclusions are drawn.
This is a massive loss for everyone surrounding the accident and the world has lost a truly great man whose passion for flying and life was unrivalled.
Rest in peace 'pallie'.
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Originally Posted by helipilotincapetown
I have been following the press the past few days and can only say that they are a bunch of idiots.
When every potential source clams up, the reporter has to get the news from somewhere. Flight schools often have rules about disclosing information. I don't believe the press would make things up. They may even have sourced some dodgy information from another pilot.
As aviators, we are curious as to why this dreadful accident happened, and it is natural to have our own view. After all, we analyse past accidents to teach new commercial pilots. These are published long after the event. I would guess there will also be a long wait before the CAA are ready to publish.A helo pilot who sees a senior lawyer - described as "meticulous" - losing his life would definitely want to know as much as possible in order to prevent another incident. Until we do, we can only speculate and read between those sensationalist lines.
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I have one question:
Why have the training school not give a short statement saying that the accident is currently under investigation and they can not comment blah blah.....
But they keep on dodging the press and that, I believe, gives the school a bad name in the media's eyes.A short statement will ease the pressure on them and they can focus on the other issues, of which there are plenty...
Just my thoughts - whatever its worth
Why have the training school not give a short statement saying that the accident is currently under investigation and they can not comment blah blah.....
But they keep on dodging the press and that, I believe, gives the school a bad name in the media's eyes.A short statement will ease the pressure on them and they can focus on the other issues, of which there are plenty...
Just my thoughts - whatever its worth
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I would imagine that until the CAA and police have finished conducting their enquires the company is obliged not to make a statement. The Press and some ppruners try fill in the gaps with speculation, and as a result, come up with some hairbrained and often offensive conclusions, as we have seen. What happened will, no doubt, come out soon enough.
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The reason why the press "always sees an explosion" before an aircraft accident, is that everybody is keeping the facts from them. A respected journalist (Oom Hannes) once said to us that he will always get some information, even going through the back door, or climbing thru the window at night. But this information is second or third hand. Being involved with most aircraft accidents north of the Oranje River, I learned to give the facts to the media and not hide any information from them. Do not speculate though.
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I remember a few years ago, going to a workshop/presentation by SAA personnel on what they had learnt from the Helderberg disaster.
One of the things they stated was to be honest and lay the facts up front to stop any press speculation. It is important to have the press on your side and to use them to your advantage - not to fight them.
I believe that Starlite should have issued a statement straight away and then kept the press informed of what was being done further down the line. This would have stopped the rumour mongering.
This is certainly 1 lesson that all clubs, small charter companies, etc should learn from this accident. Put in place some sort of precedure for the CEO, CHief pilot, chairman, etc to be avail, or their designate, to speak to the press and to issue a statement straight away.
One can only speculate on whether such companies have such procedures. One hopes they will look at this aspect of their company - a lesson for all companies in fact.
One of the things they stated was to be honest and lay the facts up front to stop any press speculation. It is important to have the press on your side and to use them to your advantage - not to fight them.
I believe that Starlite should have issued a statement straight away and then kept the press informed of what was being done further down the line. This would have stopped the rumour mongering.
This is certainly 1 lesson that all clubs, small charter companies, etc should learn from this accident. Put in place some sort of precedure for the CEO, CHief pilot, chairman, etc to be avail, or their designate, to speak to the press and to issue a statement straight away.
One can only speculate on whether such companies have such procedures. One hopes they will look at this aspect of their company - a lesson for all companies in fact.
GunsssR4ever
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Oom Hannes
Originally Posted by Voel
A respected journalist (Oom Hannes) once said to us that he will always get some information, even going through the back door, or climbing thru the window at night.
Lots of memories but nearly 30 years ago
Is he still alive Voel ?
Sorry a bit of the topic ...
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Banana's, aardappels on the hand-out? Paralax nogal, ending with the Edwardian III, or was that the II as a comparison to what?
Some posts, must say....shame, some parties is really doing patchwork. Many mysteries solved on the pprune. Best posts are the ones discrediting the eyewitness accounts as speculation, 3clicks way, were the tapes impounded, but then again...
Some posts, must say....shame, some parties is really doing patchwork. Many mysteries solved on the pprune. Best posts are the ones discrediting the eyewitness accounts as speculation, 3clicks way, were the tapes impounded, but then again...
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Helo search & recovery
my post was aimed at dispelling some of the myths, rumours and wild speculations doing the rounds. I stuck my head out because I felt that for you, as "professional pilots", the information (although still "officially unreleased") I posted here (from first hand involvement in the recovery) would provide some factual insights. Sadly I see that for some it provided only a convenient "springboard" for further rumour-mongering and utterly unsubstantiated speculations. As this is completely contrary to what I intended I have deleted my posting.
Last edited by RescueDiver; 27th Jan 2006 at 20:43.
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Hi there Rescue Diver, you can send your pics to: [email protected], and I will post them up here for you as soon as I get them.
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Anybody got news re: the final autopsy report.Latest speculation is that he died of a heart attack, apparently he had one couple of years back...
Does anybody know anyone who knew a family member that knew a guy that worked for the coroner? Would be interesteting to get that report. It will stop speculation of accident cause, if it was a heart attack...
Does anybody know anyone who knew a family member that knew a guy that worked for the coroner? Would be interesteting to get that report. It will stop speculation of accident cause, if it was a heart attack...
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Originally Posted by glimmerman_alpha
Anybody got news re: the final autopsy report.Latest speculation is that he died of a heart attack, apparently he had one couple of years back...
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glimmer man....
One thing to try and get to the bottom of the investigation, but leave the probablities aside. Granted this is still all rumour, but we have seen previously how accident investigations have been mishandled too, not that I think this is the case here.
Eyewitness accounts or even video footage is usually very usefull in compiling an accident report, something to help prevent accidents from reacurring, the main focus thereof. To see the levels of the investigation you are now dropping to is noteworthy...but usually these areas of speculation are delved into after no probable cause are found.
Noteworthy too to notice who is moving speculation away from the eyewitnessed second heli, paralax et al!
Any statement from the SAAF/government yet regarding that other heli? I know that if I would've been so close to another a/c on my solo nav flights anywhere, may have given me a heart-attack too, in all seriousness!
Why do certain fools feel they should do a personal cover-up and discredit or misdirect the attention of the investigation here on a rumour network, while eyewitness accounts is NO rumour!!!!!!!!!
One thing to try and get to the bottom of the investigation, but leave the probablities aside. Granted this is still all rumour, but we have seen previously how accident investigations have been mishandled too, not that I think this is the case here.
Eyewitness accounts or even video footage is usually very usefull in compiling an accident report, something to help prevent accidents from reacurring, the main focus thereof. To see the levels of the investigation you are now dropping to is noteworthy...but usually these areas of speculation are delved into after no probable cause are found.
Noteworthy too to notice who is moving speculation away from the eyewitnessed second heli, paralax et al!
Any statement from the SAAF/government yet regarding that other heli? I know that if I would've been so close to another a/c on my solo nav flights anywhere, may have given me a heart-attack too, in all seriousness!
Why do certain fools feel they should do a personal cover-up and discredit or misdirect the attention of the investigation here on a rumour network, while eyewitness accounts is NO rumour!!!!!!!!!
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I dont think that GA's postings is covering anything up. The eyewitness accounts vary anything from an Oryx hovering 3km away to another R22 flying behind the crashed heli to the 1st R22 doing aerobatics....Eyewitness accounts are not always something to bank on.
Heart attack may be a logical "cause' of the accident.All we can do is to stay put and wait for a autopsy- or the prelim report from CAA.
Heart attack may be a logical "cause' of the accident.All we can do is to stay put and wait for a autopsy- or the prelim report from CAA.
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Co-Jam....
Refer to the eyewitness reports. Again! The aerobatics and R22 reports have been created here and your 18th post is merely an extension on that mentioned topic of my previous post here. Any airprox rumour could be cleared by yes, waiting for the ATC tapes, and if there are none....
Next time, feel free contribute something, please!
Refer to the eyewitness reports. Again! The aerobatics and R22 reports have been created here and your 18th post is merely an extension on that mentioned topic of my previous post here. Any airprox rumour could be cleared by yes, waiting for the ATC tapes, and if there are none....
Next time, feel free contribute something, please!