Clutha FAI will see simulation of fatal flight
A preliminary hearing at Hampden Park, heard the inquiry into the crash in November 2013, where 10 people died, will be 'lengthy and complex'
The inquiry into the Clutha helicopter tragedy will see a simulation of the fatal flight, a court heard yesterday. At the first preliminary hearing at Hampden Park, Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull said he anticipated the inquiry will be "lengthy and complex".
At the outset of the hearing, the names of those who tragically died were read out.
The helicopter crew who were killed in the crash were pilot David Traill, PC Tony Collins and PC Kirsty Nelis.
Seven customers in the Clutha pub also died. They were John McGarrigle, Mark O'Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker.
In his opening remarks, Sheriff Principal Turnbull said: "The names that were read are those of the 10 people who died as a consequence of the events of November 29, 2013, when a helicopter then carrying out operations on behalf of Police Scotland crashed into the Clutha Bar on Stockwell Street."
It is thought the inquiry could last around six months and Sheriff Principal Turnbull said the purpose of it was to establish the circumstances of the deaths and consider what steps, if any, might be taken to prevent other deaths in similar circumstances.
Yesterday was the first of three preliminary hearings before the inquiry begins in April, next year.
Roddy Dunlop QC, representing aeronautics company Airbus, told the hearing there was a compilation of footage that would be available for the inquiry.
He said: “I have seen and have shown to the Crown a video simulation which has been compiled by Airbus which attempts to provide a graphic depiction of the flight and events in the cockpit during the flight, that has been put together from the data available post crash from, for example, the non-volatile memory which was able to be interrogated post crash.
“In my submission, that will be of some assistance to your lordship and indeed to participants in understanding what was happening in the course of the fatal flight.”
He said it is currently incomplete and added: “It’s thought helpful to put a voice over which has not yet been added.”
Mr Dunlop said when it is in a final state it will be made available to the other participants in the inquiry who can “for whatever they think it’s worth, or indeed to challenge it”.
Procurator fiscal depute Sean Smith QC said he was looking into the feasibility of a 3d interactive model of a helicopter.
He said: “It may assist the court so that one can see at a glance what’s being referred to.”
The hearing was told that 100 productions and more than 1,700 witness statements have already been made available by the Crown to the representatives.
Mr Smith was asked to estimate how long the inquiry would take and said that after speaking to others involved, “would say six months”.
Sheriff Principal Turnbull asked for certain documents to be lodged at Glasgow Sheriff Court by a deadline, including what is likely to be disputed at the FAI and continued the hearing until the next date in December.