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Midair Helicopter Collision Leaves Four Dead in Australia
A helicopter collision occurring yesterday, Monday, January 2 at 4:00 a.m. GMT has left four people deceased and three injured near SeaWorld on the Gold Coast. The police have said that the investigation suggests that one helicopter was landing while the other was taking off and clipped one another less than 20 seconds after takeoff. (aeroxplorer.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.” – Commonly attributed to Captain Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh, British Aviation Insurance Group.
I have that caption and picture hanging on the wall .
I just dont understand why their arrival and departure paths were crossing so close to their pads? Complacency?
I lunched (for a couple of hours) at the outdoor restaurant nearto the helipad a few months ago. I am generally not a fan (excuse the pun) of rotating wing aircraft any time, but I was uncomfortable with the intensity of this operation. More intense operation inevitably results in increased potential for things to go wrong.
I observed similar intensity with helicopter trips to the Grand Canyon. I wouldn’t go and sincerely hope my loved ones wouldn’t either!
As the owner of the small airport I worked at decades ago said; Helicopters don't fly. They're so ugly, the ground repels them.
For an excellent overview from an aviation perspective, see Juan Browne's account here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2FBWa_yTtw (Gold Coast Helicopter Collision 2 Jan 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2FBWa_yTtw (Gold Coast Helicopter Collision 2 Jan 2023)