So I'm standing there getting chewed out by Transport Canada

[sigh]

\ That said, there remains a tiny fraction of responsibility of people around airports to recognize that air could be moving, and to account for it (tie planes down, control lock on, leave your shiny car in the parking lot, and shield your kids eyes. If you go to the game, the puck or ball might be coming at you, the airport environment is not that different. There's a balance - but the majority of it falls to the pilot.

I would somewhat agree with this statement... if it were not at an airshow where hundreds of clueless public were standing around, looking at classic cars at the show n' shine display on the closed taxiway.

\ I believe that five aircraft were left damaged, three no longer flyable. Yes, the planes should have been at the very least chocked. The marshaller should have known much better, but the helicopter pilot, as trusting as he was, caused the damage. He knows how much air he's moving. An unfortunate event all the way around. I have no idea who had to pay for what, but morally, this was not just one person's responsibility....

This is the real problem, the original poster DOESN'T know how much air he's moving, and neither did the pilot in your example. Both of these pilots I'm sure are good, honest, warmhearted people, never intending to inconvenience anyone, harm anyone, or damage other's property.

In your example, it is not common practice for aircraft who just pulled up on a ramp for offloading/loading/waiting for passengers/waiting for fuel... to be tied down. Chocked maybe, set the park brake, sure, but when you chock a plane and a crazy unexpected wind hits it from the side, it has a higher tendency to simply tip on it's wing or flip right over instead of acting like a weather vane.

I was at a COPA for kids event a few years ago where there were 7 planes parked all over the ramp, loading and unloading children in a very controlled manner, when a 212 came in and started lifting planes off the ground. Was it the 7 fixed wing pilots fault for using the ramp in the manner it is intended, or the one helicopter pilots fault for not wanting to walk more than 50 feet?

I firmly believe most helicopter pilots from the time they are a student to the time they are an instructor, simply do not understand the effects they have on anything less stable than flat concrete, and if at one pointthey did, they become complacent over time regarding the tornado of destruction they leave in their path.

[Tom H]

Haven't been on here for a long while but this thread prompted me to.

I had the pleasure of the original poster attending a number of events that I hosted in another life and in each case directions were followed to the letter and there was never anything close to an issue. If I ever get back to doing events I would be pleased to have the OP once again.

In each case the OP followed the printed directions for the event and the people in charge of directing the aircraft to the letter.

Now in this case there was a mistake, the OP has fessed up, accepted responsibility and things are in the past...but in my 2 bits worth.

- If you are running an event it is your responsibility as organizer to make sure those marshalling aircraft have all the information and training needed to do the job properly. I very often used written directions and made sure all those in positions of responsibility had communication to reach those in charge and the authorities as needed. We also normally had an event meeting for staff and volunteers 1 week out as well as a final on the day for key positions.

- The problems I did have were limited and fortunately never serious to my recollection, but when I did have them it was never with any of the heli guys

My point to posting was three fold
1) To show the OP is stand up and has a record of being so in my experience.

2) Event organizers: staff and volunteers need clear direction as well as access to communication and if charged with marshalling or parking aircraft it is even more important and it is up to those in charge to make sure they know exactly what's going on and what is expected which includes...if you don't know ask, there is no such thing as a stupid question.

3) Seemed to me heli guys were getting a little leaned on in this thread and my history with them in general over many events was always good.

As another poster said...we all make mistakes, as a pilot and event organizer (as well as a human being) I've made more than my share so from time to time I think we need to remember we all make mistakes.

My opinion anyway.

Gonna crawl back under my rock now