Close Passes to New York High Rise
Thread Starter
Close Passes to New York High Rise
For any rotorheads who have a LinkedIn account (sorry, I can't post the video here - it won't let me), any thoughts onthis? Second pass in particular looks exceptionally close!
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fred-...member_desktop
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fred-...member_desktop
Last edited by Chock Puller; 7th Jan 2023 at 16:10. Reason: Clarity.
If you read the comments underneath the video the same question was asked and the pilot, Fred North, replies: "It is a question of lens choice here ..we needed to get the whole in focus plate form on a wide lens vs a long lens with a blurry background …
It is close for a couple of seconds but we are parallel to the edge plate form so no danger there …before doing it so close we rehearse several times further away and slowly work out way into it "
If you click on his name to check his profile on LinkedIn you can read that he is a very experienced film/motion picture helicopter pilot that did this flight, he has 20,000 + hours of helicopter time all around the world.
Fully licensed in the USA , Europe (JAR license in 65 countries)
Expert on long lining camera under helicopter (Sling load camera work ).
Perfect safety record .
Expert on aerial filming and aerial coordination.
So he is not just a person doing this to show off, it is for his job!
I'm sure if you have any other questions he will be more than happy to reply to you on LinkedIn.
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Here is a link to Fred North’s website, started out filming events like the Paris to Dakar Rally.
https://www.fred-north.com/
He certainly has had an interesting career and I’m sure there are some people on here that have worked with him.
https://www.fred-north.com/
He certainly has had an interesting career and I’m sure there are some people on here that have worked with him.
There was another piece of footage of him flying through parkland and flying super close to a small tree shared on Rotorheads not so long ago. I am not a pilot, so that makes at least 2 reasons I wouldn't be doing this. Clearly a person in the back of the helicopter taking that video (so one more on board if it all turns to custard), and vehicles apparently still travelling on the road far below which are probably not part of the 'set'.
WHY, from my take it appears to be a promotional video that was done likely for the building owners to help with sales. Explain to this group what has your shorts in a knot about this video.
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I am therefore curious to get the opinions of seasoned helicopter pilots other than the person in question as to what sort of risk assessment is done to determine whether such operations can be undertaken, what sort of waivers are required to do them, and what precautions are taken (i.e. clearing the streets below) to mitigate risk to bystanders below.
Last edited by Chock Puller; 7th Jan 2023 at 16:06. Reason: Clarity.
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Is it possible to get special permission for film flying? Remembering the Terminator 2 Helicopter through the tunnel shot which was performed for real. Could have been Gorilla filming?
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Why so defensive? My curiosity about this video stems from knowing that when helicopters hit buildings/structures in cities they fall to the streets below and kill/injure people. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_helicopter_crash I am therefore curious to get the opinions of seasoned helicopter pilots other than the person in question as to what sort of risk assessment is done to determine whether such operations can be undertaken, what sort of waivers are required to do them, and what precautions are taken (i.e. clearing the streets below) to mitigate risk to bystanders below.
I am therefore curious to get the opinions of seasoned helicopter pilots other than the person in question as to what sort of risk assessment is done to determine whether such operations can be undertaken, what sort of waivers are required to do them, and what precautions are taken (i.e. clearing the streets below) to mitigate risk to bystanders below.
I'm sure they will have dotted all the i's & crossed all the t's and if you have 20000 hrs with a perfect safety record doing this kind of work you know what you are doing.
Still don't understand why you don't ask him these questions unless you have another agenda.
Ewan, how much time have you spent flying helicopters?
I can't remember if you are JAFWF or an honorable Rotary wing aviator.
I can't remember if you are JAFWF or an honorable Rotary wing aviator.
Thread Starter
Very low time PPL(H), but per my comment above, I am not posting because I think I know what I am talking about. I am posting because I am genuinely curious to know what checks and balances are put in place for this kind of work.
Ewan,
Every flight of a helicopter has risks....risks we all accept and find ways to deal with.
Sometimes it is just plain commonsense, sometimes it comes from experience, sometimes from training, sometimes from education , and sometimes by legal requirement....but we find a way to minimize those risks as best possible.
There is no zero risk flight.....none.
To follow your logic every time a helicopter lands on a roof top helicopter-pad, all traffic on the street below would have to be cleared.....do you expect that to be done for every such evolution....landing and departing?
The video shows an expert, very qualified and respected professional helicopter pilot going about his trade. His reputation, skill, experience, licenses, and very notable accident free record speaks for itself.
Every flight of a helicopter has risks....risks we all accept and find ways to deal with.
Sometimes it is just plain commonsense, sometimes it comes from experience, sometimes from training, sometimes from education , and sometimes by legal requirement....but we find a way to minimize those risks as best possible.
There is no zero risk flight.....none.
To follow your logic every time a helicopter lands on a roof top helicopter-pad, all traffic on the street below would have to be cleared.....do you expect that to be done for every such evolution....landing and departing?
The video shows an expert, very qualified and respected professional helicopter pilot going about his trade. His reputation, skill, experience, licenses, and very notable accident free record speaks for itself.
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Off topic but I believe this was practising for the MTV Video Music Awards 2020 live performance of The Weeknd. Can't post a link to the video clip as this is my first post here but search for The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Live on the 2020 MTV VMAs) on Youtube.
Bearing in mind that my Ops were in Oz, and the OP references a clip from the USA, any low level or city work we would have a sterile area suitable for either an engine off (if single engine helicopter) or a load jettison if twin engine. Road closure usually sufficed, at the client’s expense of course.
Film work included 50ft high run down LaTrobe Street, Melbourne, chasing a Ferrari: total road closure. US sleeping tablet advert tracking in at dusk to a high rise apartment, very similar to the OP query, used a twin with SE capability.
Lifting the capping spire to a Melbourne cathedral, complete street closure as an ‘expert’ from Roads decreed we couldn’t pick up from an adjacent car park but had to pick up from St Kilda Road and fly across the river to the Cathedral, multiple road closures for that one!
CASA approval was generally covered under a blanket dispensation which covered filming, photography and sling loads, but some required further dispo’s such as Bungee Jumping, but that wasn’t over a built up area 🙊😇. Ops Manual supplements were required for the dispensation, obviously.
I can only surmise the OP example should have incurred similar street closures below, which obviously would be out of sight in the vision we see.
Film work included 50ft high run down LaTrobe Street, Melbourne, chasing a Ferrari: total road closure. US sleeping tablet advert tracking in at dusk to a high rise apartment, very similar to the OP query, used a twin with SE capability.
Lifting the capping spire to a Melbourne cathedral, complete street closure as an ‘expert’ from Roads decreed we couldn’t pick up from an adjacent car park but had to pick up from St Kilda Road and fly across the river to the Cathedral, multiple road closures for that one!
CASA approval was generally covered under a blanket dispensation which covered filming, photography and sling loads, but some required further dispo’s such as Bungee Jumping, but that wasn’t over a built up area 🙊😇. Ops Manual supplements were required for the dispensation, obviously.
I can only surmise the OP example should have incurred similar street closures below, which obviously would be out of sight in the vision we see.
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Here you go:
Without getting heavily into it. Yes there are special permissions obtained. we operate under an FAA approved Movie Manual and waiver. Typically for shots in down town areas, there are many permits to be obtained, street closures, FAA oversight, SAG oversight, site visits start months in advance and measurements are taken, scenarios are drawn up and practiced in safe environment all before showing up on set. Once on set, there are "tailboard briefings' carried out, dry runs, safety people etc. There will typically be at least 3 or 4 helicopter pilots on scene with radios watching from different angles, and the outcome of all maneuvers is never seriously in doubt.
So yes, this is not the kind of work just anyone gets into. Long gone are the days of the Dorcey Wingo incident. (Google is your friend if you are so inclined.
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