The RYA, yes, no, maybe, but - their recent comments on Pyrotechnics

[PilotWolf]

All my experience is with fixed wing, Over land in daylight, wind direction is fairly easy to see by watching smoke, effect on trees bushes, long grass etc. as well as speed over ground. A mate who instructs on helicopters told me (IIRC) they are unstable at low speed and hover so best to keep nose into wind which gives it some forward speed through the air whilst stationary over the ground.

I think that's what I was trying to explain. Ou can be stationary but wind will give lift as if you were actually moving forward. Hence landing into wnd and hovering into wind to gain the extra lift.

I have a feeling SAR hover about 30 degrees off of the wind so the pilot can see the casualty. That maybe just an imagination though.

W.

 

[petem]

As someone who keeps their boat in the Med and only ever ventures out in daylight in good weather, my gut feel is to carry a couple of red smokes only and maybe one of the new 'laser flare jobs'. Smokes don't carry the risk of fire / burning and could be useful to alert the 'man on the cliff' in the event of a total electronics failure (we do have a portable VHF and PLB so this is belt and braces).

Thoughts?