helicopter crash in London

[John Pruden]

at least two killed in collision with tower crane.

[Ivan Cloherty]

It was bound to happen, what with increased helicopter traffic to avoid ground traffic, high rise buildings and associated cranes on the increase, high jib cranes (much more versatile than the level jib) being used instead of the horizontal vertical cranes, the jibs left vertical overnight to reduce wind stresses, brings a downside of making them harder to spot and increases the height cover and probably some not lit as they should be. I am surprised that we have had so few incidents, but I guess near misses do not need to be reported. We all know even from the slow moving transport we are used to that when something looms out of the fog there is little reaction time, but having said that the helicopter will (or would have) ground radar fitted showing stationary objects, although it may not have shown which way the crane jib was laying

[Tony Wilding]

i thought they were supposed to follow the River, ? so many helicopters flying over London at low altitude, the crane driver stated many near misses befor the crash, this Pilot was very experienced, one of the best.

[happy daze john in oz]

I really do get sick of the media and the manner in which they set the headlines.
Here in Oz on our Net news,
'Crash heliicopter pilots are hightly skilled'
So just how many crashes do they have to have to be come skilled to this level?

[j.sabourn]

John , Headlines in papers in Scotland July 8th. 1988. Statement from Maggie Thatcher, our brave helicopter pilots have rescued Blah Blah Blah....... No helicopter could get anywhere near the inferno. I dont decry the heli pilots as most are very skilled and would put them on a par with the pilots of fast jets, as have to have fast responses. Like you it is the people who come out with utterly misleading quotes, as normal it is either the Media or in this case a politician which is nothing unusual. Cheers John Sabourn.

[John Pruden]

the papers this mornings story the tower crane driver slept in my ar.e he would not have gone up there in the fog. same as winds over 30 mph what they would do for a story?jp

[j.sabourn]

For a number of years now at sea any near misses and dangerous situations have to be reported, I am sure the aircraft industry has to follow suit on this. Which draws me back to the annual situation in the the Antarctic re the whaling fiasco. All those near misses over the past number of years which have by law to be reported, must have been ignored up until now. Mr Watson the Canadian master who boasted on TV about ramming into whalers, now has a warrant out for his arrest, the powers to be must have finally realized he was breaking the law, incidentally laws that they made and have failed over a number of years to enforce and these are the people who tell us what to do. Bob Brown the ex. Greens leader here in Australia has taken over as president of the association of whatever they call themselves. If he steps out of line I hope they throw the book at him. Cheers John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

I had experience in South Africa flying as an Observer with Helicopters in many situations, bad weather, coming down in the ocean, ship wrecks etc. etc. and rewriting and updating the Helicopter/Ship Operations Manual. So When I retired I was invited to join a helicopter Service covering pipelines from the Manchester to Glasgow terminals, to be an Observer looking for anyone working or digging near the Oil Pipe line. A daily flight.
I really fancied the job, did the training etc, then a week before the operations started, I got voices in my head, `Dont do it` repeatedly. I had to phone the Office and tell them I could not do it. They were not amused, they had to delay the job until another man was trained up.
.
Six months later the helicopter came down and crashed alongside the M6 Motorway near Preston and the Pilot and Observer were both killed.
.
Sometimes it pays to listen to voices in your head.
Brian.
.
Aerodynamically a helicopter cannot fly, BUT the helicopter doesnt know this , so it does.

[j.sabourn]

Paraffin Budgies used to be their nickname in the North Sea. Cheers John Sabourn

[Lou Barron]

A fewyears ago my eldest son while working for the Conservation Dept was in a helicopter crash on the Remarkable Mountains both him and the pilot was very lucky that theyboth was not killed but it put them in hospital for a few months even now my son as trouble with his back .The pilot was one of the most experienced pilots in the country