Hat tip to Sulako, the blogger behind Sulako’s Blog, who has recently posted this amazing video of Australia’s helicopter cowboys. Apparently, they lose an average of TEN helicopters per year to crashes from which not all pilots walk away from. However, commenter Steve at the Pub added that:
The nature of that documentary, & the terminology used is of a "Gee Whiz" nature, designed to impress & wow an audience of urban foreigners.
Ten crashes a year? Never counted, could be right. Crashes are not unavoidable, & most pilots never have one.
The height is actually one of the nastier things about crashes. Tree/animal strike DOES occur, as does losing track of wind direction. An engine failure at that height & attitude means the pilot has no options for safe landing.
They are operating in a high density altitude, in hot conditions. Dusty too, which can hamper visibility.
ALL those machines are insured. Insurance for them is expensive.
He also noted that the white helicopter in that clip has recently crashed and the pilot did not survive.
Nevertheless, I guess this is best and the most effective way to do a roundup in remoter parts of the outback.