THE investigation into how a Redhill-based helicopter crashed in London, killing two people, is expected to go on for months.
RotorMotion, the company which operated the helicopter involved in last Wednesday morning's crash in Vauxhall, suspended all flights for the rest of the week.
Pilot Captain Pete Barnes died when his Agusta 109 hit a crane in foggy conditions and crashed into the street below in a fireball. Pedestrian Matt Wood, 39, from Sutton, who was walking to work, died instantly.
Captain Barnes, 50, had worked for private charter company RotorMotion since it was formed at Redhill Aerodrome in 1997. The company's website said he was one of the most experienced Agusta 109 pilots in the country, with 9,000 hours' flying experience. Captain Barnes had also piloted air ambulances, and worked on a number of films including Bond movie Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan.
In a tribute on RotorMotion's website, managing director and chief pilot Philip Amadeus said: "I would just like to say here how much I am going to miss him, both as a person and a colleague.
"I have known him for 15 years and it was always a pleasure to be in his presence, as he was always such a cheerful and fun person to be with and nothing was ever too much for him if asked. As a pilot, I ranked him at the top of his profession and I would always refer to him whenever I needed advice."
Spokesman for the company, Paul Blezard, said: "He was a very key member of a very small and tight-knit team."
He said the company would carry on, but staff were too shocked and saddened to operate any flights in the days following the tragedy.
Mr Amadeus was in "constant dialogue" with the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), he added. The AAIB said the probe into why Captain Barnes crashed could take months.
He had taken off from Redhill Aerodrome in Kings Mill Lane, South Nutfield, at 7.35am but was unable to land at Elstree in Hertfordshire due to poor weather, and had diverted before crashing.
Tributes flooded the RotorMotion website from people who had met and worked with Captain Barnes.
Caroline Theobald from Bletchingley was staying in an apartment close to the crash site last Wednesday. She wrote: "I jumped to the window on hearing the helicopter and I waved. I heard him again circle around.
"I went to the window but this time didn't see him.
"We are very sorry and upset."
