THE PILOT who died with nine others after the police helicopter he was in control of crashed into the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow completed a "very accomplished" emergencies simulation 17 months earlier, an inquest has heard.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch probe found that pilot David Traill, 51, one of the ten that died in the tragedy six years ago did not follow emergency protocol and flew on despite low fuel warnings.

A fatal accident inquiry which has entered its 14th day at Hampden heard that Mr Traill had carried out an operator proficencies check which found that "all emergencies were completed to a very high standard".

Glasgow Times:

The checks were overseen by Alexander Stobo, 44, now director of operations for Babcock Critical Services, who was then head of flight operations for the helicopter operators Bond Air Services.

He was asked by Gordon Lamont for the Crown: "Is that as good as it gets?"

He replied: "It is a very high standard."

Mr Stobo was being questioned as the inquiry tries to find answers as to why Police Scotland helicopter G-SPAO crashed through the roof of the Clutha Vaults on November 29, 2013.

Ten people were killed - including three helicopter crew - and 31 people were injured.

Mr Lamont produced a report into Mr Traill's proficiency check from June 19, 2012, which further concluded: "Good overall sortie, let down by a few points. Be aware of the difference between clearances to heights and FLs (flight levels)."

The inquiry previously heard from Air Accident Investigation Branch senior inspector Marcus Cook that five separate low fuel warnings would have gone off in the doomed Eurocopter EC135 helicopter which crashed into the pub and some of the warnings would have been made intermittently.

In October 2015 a report from the Air Accident Investigations Branch revealed pilot error.

The inquiry was previously told by Mr Cook that the pilot would have been expected to make a PAN call - which would have indicated he had a fuel issue - "long before the final stages of the flight".

Asked if there there were situation where pilots might be reluctant to announce that a PAN or mayday call had been made, Mr Stobo said: "I believe we now have a culture where reporting is open and honest and group learning is gathered."

When asked if after the accident, procedures were put in place check whether aircraft were landing when fuel levels should have given rise to PAN or Mayday calls, Mr Stobo said: "We have an electronic flight monitoring system that has triggers that will alert us if fuel levels on the aircraft go below 90kg."

He said the accident was not the trigger for the introduction of the system.

An AAIB special report found both engines “flamed out”.

One of the fuel tanks was empty, while a second contained 0.4 litres. A third contained 75 litres, but transfer pumps to take this fuel to the other two engine tanks were switched off.

The probe also found fuel transfer pumps were turned off and a controlled landing was not achieved for “unknown reasons”.

And it recommended all police helicopters be equipped with black box flight recording equipment.

Pilot David Traill, 51; PC Tony Collins, 43; and PC Kirsty Nelis, 36, died along with seven customers who were in the bar, Gary Arthur, 48; Joe Cusker, 59; Colin Gibson, 33; Robert Jenkins, 61; John McGarrigle, 58; Samuel McGhee, 56; and Mark O'Prey, 44.

The inquiry before Principal Sheriff Craig Turnbull continues.