Don't mean to hijack this thread, but since the people who should know will be reading this thread--

I have heard that the rotors of a helicopter can create a powerful static electricity charge. First, is this true? If so, what conditions most favor (or conversely, minimize) static charge from building up? In everyday experience, dry winter air is associated with getting shocked by doorknobs and such, but maybe it's different with helicopters? Just totally guessing, but maybe humid or rainy weather creates more static when those blades are slicing through the air?

Now, assuming that static can be a hazard and does build up, any advice to people getting rescued? For example, I'm thinking of the hundreds of people who were airlifted after Katrina. I never heard of anyone getting shocked, so maybe static is not generally a problem. But, for argument's sake, when that basket is being lowered, should I make sure to let it ground itself before making any attempt to touch it?

Hmm, come to think of it, thinking about various rescue videos I have seen on these TV shows, in many cases, the basket/harness is not lowered all the way to the ground first. Usually it's a few feet off the ground, swinging near the person getting rescued, and then the person grabs it and then it gets lowered further so the person can climb in or put the harness on. So, based on those few situations I have seen, there didn't seem to be any attempt to ground any built up static, but then again, the video does not show the entire extraction process. Again, I'm just totally using my imagination here, but I suppose the basket could've been grounded first, maybe away from the victim, and then the aircraft is positioned to attempt the rescue. Well, as you can see, sometimes I think too much about certain topics. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Think of this question as a Mythbusters topic. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />