View Full Version : Helicopter stunt goes wrong
I don't know how many of you go in Jetblast but have a look at the following link re I'm A Celebraty.
http://www.pprune.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=200260
killahertz
29th Nov 2005, 17:32
take a look at this accident report.similar incident from a 61 dropping off some navy divers into a river in dublin for some show.
that stunt in oz looked like an accident waiting to happen.
kh
http://www.aaiu.ie/upload/general/3590-0.pdf
sling
29th Nov 2005, 17:32
Who was the operator?
Screwed™
29th Nov 2005, 18:29
This guy; http://tinyurl.com/7nffp
Saw him on a OZ TV travel show, get this, doing CHARTER diver drops with FULL SCUBA gear on! WTF? Hello CASA?????? Anyone home???
How the hell does he get approvals to do that ****e? He's gunna kill someone, what am I saying? He just nearly did. Word is Kimberly is suing.:ok:
Gordy
29th Nov 2005, 20:32
How about this for fun.
Firediving (http://www.firediving.com/)
As much as I would hate to upset any keen and thrusting health and safety rep types! If a mature and sane adult volunteers to accept various unknown, potentially dangerous, tasks for a substantial cash payment (and possibly a revitalised career!) why not let them do it without complaint?
Secondly, if I was stupid enough to get myself into that situation, given the choice of eating grubs and spiders or jumping out of that helicopter over the water, I would pick the helo jump!
Saying all that, I would be asking a fair few questions if I was told to fly the machine that people were jumping out of!
TeeS
deeper
29th Nov 2005, 21:43
I see a reply saying that the pilot has done 3000 similar jumps has been deleted????????????
WHERE WOULD HE HAVE DONE THOSE?
:confused: :confused:
zhishengji751
30th Nov 2005, 00:16
The Jetblast thread has the 3000 jump post...
It was sourced from the BBC story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4481418.stm
The 3000 'similar' jumps might be a comparison to the charter flights the company carries out as posted above. :confused:
aeromys
30th Nov 2005, 00:26
That Firediving site was a laugh, best spoof site I've seen in ages. :=
Steve76
30th Nov 2005, 00:47
So I guess none of you have ever seen Fear Factor?
Helicopters feature every week in that show.
Why do you lot have to make such a big issue out of a bloke making a living? Talking up CASA and all that ****. Your comments express your complete ignorance to the working world of rotary aviation.
Thank goodness heli-skydiving, heli-Bungy, heli-fishing, heli-hiking and heli-skiing got a good foothold before you lot made an impression in this industry...
Trust the Irish to toss 7 blokes out at 30ft and 31kts.. :p
I'm still laughing...
Freewheel
30th Nov 2005, 00:48
Some research will show that the operator has approval for no belts, and for divers with full gear to jump from relatively low heights. Need to have a dive ticket first and there's a structured program including briefings. Haven't been able to get the footage but I'd be amazed if a briefing didn't occur. The operator has his particular style, but did everything he said he would.
CASA are aware of this operator's activity - rumoured to include an FOI covertly undertaking the course and finding no departure from approvals.
If you are a diver, I'd suggest a bit of experience, otherwise strongly recommended, worth every cent.
Screwed™
30th Nov 2005, 03:26
the operator has approval for no belts, and for divers with full gear to jump from relatively low heights. ..this is all on, I assume, charter ops? :confused:
Who's his FOI? Crusty the Clown?
Coconutty
30th Nov 2005, 09:15
I'm sure the fully kitted diver jumping from relatively low heights is a tried and tested operation, and there are very few incidents, but wouldn't they come into the hover first before jumping ?
They don't have to jump out while in forward flight do they - trying to judge when to go, and hit a target in the water ?
Anyone see it - and can hazard a guess as to what speed they were at when she jumped - 20 / 30 kts ????
The video clip is still available on the shows web site :
Video (http://www.itv-celebrity.com/Video.aspx)
:uhoh:
( Edited to add the video link )
C.King
30th Nov 2005, 13:18
Whilst I normally avoid partaking in threads, and normally restrict myself to enjoying the posts of others, I feel I must comment.
I watched this stunt with horror, and was waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Whilst I accept that despatching SAR divers from the hover is a tried and tested evolution, you must consider the following:
1). SAR divers undertake a full training progamme, starting with static jumps from a low platform, gradually increasing the height as confidence and skill increases.
2). This policy continues when despatching from a/c, with the height being increased in stages.
3). The normal height and speed for a fully qualified SAR diver to exit the a/c is 20 ft and 5 kts Groundspeed. (up to 40 ft is trained for, but this is to allow a 20ft jump with a 20 ft swell).
4) Regarding the premise that she was a big girl and adults should be able to make their own decisions. Surely the whole point about risk assessments is that they must be made by those who are qualified by training or experience to do so. The fact that this 'challenge' was presented to this 'civilian' as being part of the show, she would have reasonably expected that it was a safe exercise.
My own thoughts (with considerable experience of these evolutions) are that whilst the height looked okay, the aircraft appeared to be travelling way too fast. Most qualified SAR divers would have refused to jump. Unfortunately this poor girl had neither the experience nor confidence to make this decision.
Jeez guys!
No one forced anyone to do anything...Didn't you guys ever fall out of a tree as a kid....
Life's life, and if people want to jump in and have some fun, let them be....
Broken ribs or a busted arm are small price to pay for the warstory, when your sitting around the fire with the grandkids in years to come
No ones asking that you participate as pilot or jumper, so lighten up...
170'
IntheTin
30th Nov 2005, 14:47
Looked like a great laugh. I would have loved to have done it.
Letsby Avenue
30th Nov 2005, 15:35
Have to agree with C.King - Said to my other half before she jumped - Way too fast.:rolleyes:
Screwed™
30th Nov 2005, 19:08
I have no problems with diver drops, I’ve done them myself. They have a small, (debateable) place in rescue techniques but for highly trained personnel only. But this crap ain’t that. Yep, he was probably too fast as well, I don’t care about that either, just his poor technique and he ended up hurting someone. What I do care about is that he’s conducting these ops as his business under Charter category with the blessing of CASA. Allegedly:
Flight below 500ft on charter ops.
Flight with unrestrained passengers.
Flight with unrestrained 2000psi air cylinders in the cabin.
And looking at his web site pictures, flight over water charter ops without floats.
That’s what I have a problem with.
Every things fine until someone gets hurt, and this activity has high potential for the great unwashed public to do so.
Freewheel
30th Nov 2005, 22:03
I've been contemplating this scenario and it occurred to me that the regular operations of this company (at least when I undertook it) are as a course, ie training. As training among the activity defined as Airwork, the charter requirements may not apply.
If this is the case, no seat belts, tanks, lack of floats amd disembarking in flight make much more sense.
This is merely supposition, does anybody actually know? While I've done the course, I can't write with authority about the regulatory background. I'd rather not get into a debate about whether it's actually charter or not, merely whether this is approved as such.
When I did it there was a serious hard@ss controlling eggress. I for one wasn't going to jump without this guy telling me I could. I've got a problem running the video, was she controlled this way?
Coconutty
1st Dec 2005, 12:34
Freewheel :
Not sure if he was a "serious hard ass" or not - there was a guy in the back with her - couldn't tell how serious he was behind those dark shades, but at least HE was wearing his belt so he wasn't gonna fall anywhere !
I don't think the viewers were supposed to notice him at all though - he was wearing a pair of rather fetching cammo trousers ;) ..... oh no - sorry - they're in the style of the Company colour scheme - just like the helicopter - maybe the Company are trying to hide :eek:
170' : No one forced anyone to do anything...
Not strictly accurate - OK she wasn't forced to jump, or pushed out, but you have to take into account the peer pressure and fact that if she didn't try, then she and all her jungle buddies wouldn't get the reward of however many evening meals ...
Looking at a previous "Bush Tucker Trial" ( not that I admit to watching the programme of course ) - I personally wouldn't choose to eat a meal of Witchety grub, Kangaroo Testicles and Fish eyes, BUT if doing so would get me and my very hungry mates fed some proper grub later that day I might go for it - it would be like going back in time and trying the 1st wife's cooking all over again :yuk:
Life's life, and if people want to jump in and have some fun, let them be....
Didn't look to me like she was having much fun :uhoh:
'Didn't look to me like she was having much fun'
If I remember correctly, she did come away from the first attempt shouting about how great it had been and wanted to go again!
TeeS
Coconutty
2nd Dec 2005, 08:59
TeeS :
Point taken - I was referring to how "happy" she looked after it went wrong -
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Pain.jpg
... She may well have enjoyed the 1st jump and had "fun" - it still doesn't make it safe though.
I guess you have to balance the risk against the fun / entertainment value - and I wouldn't imagine she was in a position to properly assess that herself.