1. Track of #KobeBryant’s S-76B as it heads North West. Altitude slowly climbs to above 1000ft. Speed reduces to ~45kts as S-76 slows down and orbits (this is a standard manoeuvre if you’re approaching bad weather). Orbit looks in vicinity of Burbank.
2. Options on bad weather — slow down, go down, and, if needed land on. Or IMC abort. Transfer to instruments, full power, climb to altitude (above Safety Altitude - highest point of high ground in the area), talk to ATC and look for a cloud break.
3. A few points on weather minima for Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
VFR — 3 miles visibility, 500ft vertically clear of cloud and 1 mile horizontally.
SVFR — Under Special VFR, 1 mile visibility, and clear of cloud in sight of surface.
VFR — 3 miles visibility, 500ft vertically clear of cloud and 1 mile horizontally.
SVFR — Under Special VFR, 1 mile visibility, and clear of cloud in sight of surface.
4. @gmb w/ @piersmorgan @susannareid100 tomorrow at 7am UK time - more analysis on the #KobeBryant tragedy. The weather was poor, and the aircraft track indicates the pilot was trying to navigate around it. No black boxes in helicopters. The same variant is used by the Queen.
5. Update #KobeByrant| The LA PD has said the weather conditions on Sunday morning did not meet its minimum standards for flying. Cautious note: while Visual Flight Rules weather criteria will be the same, the role of the LA PD is very different & may entail different limits.
6. Update: #KobeBryant| A law enforcement source has told @CNN the FBI is responding to the crash scene in Calabasas.
Assets from the FBI’s evidence response team in LA are on site assisting local authorities in processing the scene, the source said. The NTSB are the lead.
Assets from the FBI’s evidence response team in LA are on site assisting local authorities in processing the scene, the source said. The NTSB are the lead.
