apparently that helo was rated for 0/0 height/vis and I assume the pilot had a "Special Instrument Card" allowing him to take off in 0/0. Other than extreme operational requirements (as in we are in a war and men are dying so you need to launch), there is absolutely ZERO NEED to take off in those conditions.
Apparently the LA County Sheriff’s helicopters were all grounded at the time of the crash because of weather conditions.
We had an air squad temporarily (1 year) assigned to us in the east end of L.A. County. We used to give the pilots crap when the news copters were up and they were not flying, preferring to wait up to a couple hours for visibility. It didn't happen often but I thought their perspective was interesting compared to what they would do during brush fires and night rescues with NVG.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
