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Island Express Helicopters, which owned the
Sikorsky S-76B that crashed, was only certified to operate under
visual flight rules, which mean pilots must be able to clearly
see outside the aircraft in daylight, Kurt Deetz, a pilot and
former safety manager at the company, told the New York Times.
The aircraft is equipped for instrument flying, however, the
report said.
"There is only one way you can be in the clouds, on an I.F.R.
flight plan or by accident," Deetz told the newspaper, referring
to instrument flight rules.
The helicopter's pilot, Ara Zobayan, was licensed for instrument
flying, most likely had little experience in doing so given the
company's operating limitations, Deetz told Forbes separately.
The twin-engine helicopter slammed into a hillside in Calabasas,
California, amid visibility-limiting clouds and fog.
Air traffic controllers had given Zobayan "special visual flight
rules," or clearance to fly in the less-than-optimal weather
around the Burbank airport.
The pilot had reported that visibility was sufficient for visual
flight, the Times said, adding that the weather appeared to have
worsened as the flight continued.
In a separate statement, Island Express Helicopters said it was
suspending all services.
"The shock of the accident affected all staff, and management
decided that service would be suspended until such time as it
was deemed appropriate for staff and customers," the charter
company said.
The death of Bryant, 41, an 18-time NBA all-star and one of the
most admired athletes around the globe, sent shockwaves through
the sports and entertainment worlds.
(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Gerry
Doyle)
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