Regardless of what VR has to say as he so well put it in reference to moi.
I will say the following;
VR, I just hired your company to move an a/c unit to the top of a six story building.
You are the pilot flying your brand new K-Max, the load is dropped for whatever reason.
I will expect your company to replace the unit or reimburse me.
If you refuse to pay for whatever reason and it better not be for refusing to pay for extra insurance, I will take you to court and win.
You and your company are suppossed to be the experts, that why I hired you.
So, it is up to you to cover your ass, not me.
I never said that extra insurance was not available to operators that were offering so much per lb, for dropped loads.
I did one helluva alot of slinging in my flying days and never dropped a load that I did'nt want to.
The pilot is responsible to sling any item from A to B, if an item should be dropped, it is NOT the responsibility of the client for negligence on behalf of the company or pilot.
SO, WHY THE HELL SHOULD THE CLIENT HAVE TO PAY FOR STUPIDITY.
Should any of the items be carried internally and the helicopter crashes,
you would be covered under the helicopetrs liability insurance, the same as the pax.
I actually don't know why I am telling you all this, you could of found all this out by contacting Helicopter Association Canada.
Under normal operating conditions, i.e. camp moves, drill moves that are not on a continuos basis, insurance for whatever is carried (Slung) should be included in the hourly or daily rate.
Ask any lawyer, who is considered the expert, when in court contesting a dropped load of value.
Cheers, Don