NMAC IN SFAR-71 AIRSPACE.

Narrative

I WAS NOTIFIED BY MR A ON OCT/XX/94 THAT HE HAD TO FLY BELOW 1500 FT AGL WHILE ON A TOUR DUE TO WINDS; REDUCED VISIBILITY AND ACFT AVOIDANCE. THIS DSCNT; AS DESCRIBED; WAS A COMPLETELY SAFE MANEUVER; HOWEVER; HE DID FLY BELOW THE MINIMUM ALT WHICH THE NEW SFAR-71 REQUIRES. MR A IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PLT WHO HAD THE SAFETY OF HIS PAX IN MIND. I HAVE REITERATED TO MR A TO FLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SFAR- 71 AT ALL TIMES UNLESS A DEV IS NECESSARY FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES BOTH REPORTS INVOLVE THE SAME TYPE OF SIT. THERE WAS A MIST AND VOLCANO ACTIVITY SO VISIBILITY WAS POOR. PLT HEARD ANOTHER PLT GIVING POS RPT IN SAME AREA BUT COULD NOT SEE HIM. THE DSCNT WAS PRECAUTIONARY TO AVOID AN NMAC. THE PALI WINDS BLOW OVER THE TOP OF THE VOLCANO AND THE HELIS ARE PLACED IN A GREAT DEAL OF TURB AT SFR ALT REQUIRED. WHEN DOWN LOW; THEY DO NOT GET INTO THIS TURB AND POOR VISIBILITY. RPTR STATES THE NTSB HAS COME OUT WITH A LETTER STATING THE SFAR-71 REQUIREMENTS CREATE AN UNSAFE SIT.