Media Helicopters,when to film,when to help?
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In my opinion....EVERYBODY no matter who or what or where has a moral obligation to help as best they can within some sensible safe boundaries (not always legal ones).
If I was a TV chopper pilot and a family needed picking off a roof I would ditch the TV crew safely and go get them. **** THE STORY....... the later one would make up for it anyway.
J
If I was a TV chopper pilot and a family needed picking off a roof I would ditch the TV crew safely and go get them. **** THE STORY....... the later one would make up for it anyway.
J
Had the same thought.
Can we assume that someone rescued them - didn't see that confirmed on the news.
Guy in the trees was in a spot of bother also.
SE Qld is poised for a disaster!
Dr
Can we assume that someone rescued them - didn't see that confirmed on the news.
Guy in the trees was in a spot of bother also.
SE Qld is poised for a disaster!
Dr
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If I was a TV chopper pilot and a family needed picking off a roof I would ditch the TV crew safely and go get them.
Media are nothing short of parasites..........
Thread Starter
I think the answer is no, I pray I'm wrong.
Its hard to tell what the timeline was. But I would have dumped everyone except the strongest passenger ASAP and if no rescue chopper was nearby had a go. It was obvious time was running out.
I wasn't there of course...but there is a lot of footage of them in trouble.
The guy in the tree was impossible but people on roofs with houses crumbling underneath and that family on the car needed help, not filming.
Its hard to tell what the timeline was. But I would have dumped everyone except the strongest passenger ASAP and if no rescue chopper was nearby had a go. It was obvious time was running out.
I wasn't there of course...but there is a lot of footage of them in trouble.
The guy in the tree was impossible but people on roofs with houses crumbling underneath and that family on the car needed help, not filming.
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Jaba, that is because you are a pilot and hence retain some moral ethic.
Media are nothing short of parasites..........
Media are nothing short of parasites..........
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Gobbledock......thats a good point, but are the PIC's not pilots with a moral concience too? Or have they been controlled by the dark side too long? 
Inspector Douglas McDonald says three people were trapped in a car, but a woman and child could not be saved.
"Only one of those persons was able to be rescued before the vehicle and the other persons were swept away," he said.
"Only one of those persons was able to be rescued before the vehicle and the other persons were swept away," he said.
Dr
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SE Qld is poised for a disaster
Give me 74 floods x 5 and I will still be clear by 30 metres!
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I agree & hope those on the footage are safe and sound. Any self respecting pilot would feel the pull to help in these circumstances. I drove through both Dalby and Toowoomba yesterday. Made it through Dalby before the water hit again but the roads were already being ripped apart by rain & trucks. Pulled into Toowoomba in the middle of the torrential downpour and the outlook was already not looking promising for the area. I am amazed at the amount of drivers on the road with no sense, screaming down the Dividing Range Pass through crater-like potholes in white out conditions, trucks included. Saw one car end up on its roof...Scary stuff. Keep safe and dry everyone!
Because I've worked with Media Choppers in the past, I can tell you these details...
Cheers, KP
- The chopper is usually mostly full of live broadcast equipment, normally useful for pilot, reporter in other front seat, and camera man in back - thats it. No room for others for ride.
- The pilot would be hesitant about risking chopper safety, but would always let EMS crew nearby by marine or rescue channel radio) (which they monitor for news goss) of situation so they can rescue these people.
- If pilot dumped crew, the situation of lowering skid onto roof for passengers to climb in could get ugly, as they may touch controls, or not open doors, and may cause trouble with chopper hopping in, causing fatal error, as pilot is trying to hover and rescue in non-trained circumstances. Even if took a rescue crewman, there would only be room for 1, maybe 2 if lucky, but could be done.
- I've heard it be done many a time, especially in fires, but insurance and employer would crucify pilot if they ever found out normally.
- Safer for media pilot to hover nearby and monitor situation staying in constant radio contact with rescuers as to alert for conditions and what they will expect. Good eye in sky actually because rescue crews don't see what media see.
- Media choppers don't have winch or grab hard attach points inside, so unless they land and can feed people in themselves, then it becomes a serious danger to pilot as people not trained and stressed in back will move around mostly.
Cheers, KP
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A line I heard on "Rescue 999" from a paramedic, "I'd hate to be a pilot for 999, they get no respect or recognition for the job they do!"
There are a few people on here will know that feeling. Outside of the aviation industry people only see the medical/rescue crews, not the pilots.
If something happens while the medical/rescue crews are doing their bit its usually "oh well you did the best you could". If a pilot cant land or get in to let the ancillary crew do its job its usually "Why didn't you try harder? Why can't it be done? Whats wrong?" Followed by any number of useless laymen suggestions like, "It's a helicopter! It's got GPS; it can just hover down into 0/0 fog!"
So I can totally understand where Kulwin Park is coming from. It'd be good if they showed that side and at least try to explain the details.
There are a few people on here will know that feeling. Outside of the aviation industry people only see the medical/rescue crews, not the pilots.
If something happens while the medical/rescue crews are doing their bit its usually "oh well you did the best you could". If a pilot cant land or get in to let the ancillary crew do its job its usually "Why didn't you try harder? Why can't it be done? Whats wrong?" Followed by any number of useless laymen suggestions like, "It's a helicopter! It's got GPS; it can just hover down into 0/0 fog!"
So I can totally understand where Kulwin Park is coming from. It'd be good if they showed that side and at least try to explain the details.
Sprucegoose
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I too was stunned this morning to see the footage of the family in the car being cirlcled.
Now I am not a chopper pilot but understand the ramifications of safety training, currency, etc...
What happened in SE Queensland yesterday was by no means a normal occurence, what about a mercy flight? Declare it and then it is up to the pilot to determine what he and the aircraft are capable of doing. Things like number of seats, etc become irrelevant in such situations. If there are no other resources available, you do what you can without risking more lives.
Now I am not a chopper pilot but understand the ramifications of safety training, currency, etc...
What happened in SE Queensland yesterday was by no means a normal occurence, what about a mercy flight? Declare it and then it is up to the pilot to determine what he and the aircraft are capable of doing. Things like number of seats, etc become irrelevant in such situations. If there are no other resources available, you do what you can without risking more lives.
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What could they do though? No winch with a rope, no trained personnel to let down, what could they do to help except report the position to the local ES? Surely it's the same rule as on a boat if there's a man overboard; sight the man, keep sight of him, keep pointing, notify the skipper (except with a chopper you can't just pull up beside them). If you do drop someone from the chopper do the people on the ground know what to do or will they panic and jeapardise the aircraft and the rescue/reporting effort?
If you jump in to help, how do you get out again? How will the boat/chopper find you? You just become another casualty. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing.
If you jump in to help, how do you get out again? How will the boat/chopper find you? You just become another casualty. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing.
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The helicopter pilot was interviewed on 7 news. It showed how professional he is and everything he did working together with emergency services and swift water rescue. Of note his despair for the welfare of the family was evident. The media chopper spotted the car and provided valuable assistance.
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basic rescue rule
What Worrals said in summary.
First rule of rescue's: Don't become a victim.
sometimes it is really hard to not get physically involved but it is the correct thing to do.
First rule of rescue's: Don't become a victim.
sometimes it is really hard to not get physically involved but it is the correct thing to do.
Media choppers don't have winch or grab hard attach points inside, so unless they land and can feed people in themselves, then it becomes a serious danger to pilot as people not trained and stressed in back will move around mostly.
My heli experience is only mustering though i did attempt a hovering pick up of a worker once by default. The inventive young fellow decided to do the rambo on me and ran at the still hovering machine and jumped on the forward point of the skid so-as to swing himself on board - exciting it were...
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