THE pilot of a helicopter that crashed onto the roof of a pub was a “stickler for procedure,” a former colleague has told an inquiry.

Constable Niall McLaren was giving evidence on Tuesday at a probe into the Clutha tragedy, which claimed the lives of 10 people – including four from Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

David Traill, 51, from Lochwinnoch, and 43-year-old policeman Tony Collins, from Clarkston, were on board the helicopter when it crashed on November 29, 2013, leaving them fatally injured.

Colin Gibson, 33, from Neilston, and 48-year-old Paisley man Gary Arthur were among the customers who were killed inside the Glasgow pub.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry into the disaster resumed at Hampden Park yesterday, with PC McLaren, of the Police Air Support Unit, speaking of his time as an air observer from 2007 until June last year.

The Gazette: Top: left to right) David Traill; PC Kirsty Nelis; PC Tony Collins; Gary Arthur; Samuel McGhee (Bottom: left to right) Colin Gibson; Robert Jenkins; Mark O'Prey; John McGarrigle; Joe CuskerTop: left to right) David Traill; PC Kirsty Nelis; PC Tony Collins; Gary Arthur; Samuel McGhee (Bottom: left to right) Colin Gibson; Robert Jenkins; Mark O'Prey; John McGarrigle; Joe Cusker

He confirmed he had flown with Mr Traill on some occasions.

Donald Findlay QC, representing the family of one of the customers killed inside the Clutha, asked if Mr Traill had been a “stickler for procedure.”

PC McLaren replied: “Yes.”

Mr Findlay then asked: “You would not expect him to be gung-ho or ignore warnings?”

The witness replied: “Not at all.”

The inquiry has previously established a number of low fuel warnings were highlighted in the helicopter during its flight from Bothwell, in South Lanarkshire, back to base in Glasgow.

PC McLaren said he had only ever encountered such a warning once before and it was “30 seconds before landing,” with procedure dictating a maximum 10-minute window for a pilot to land after such a warning.

The purpose of the FAI is to determine the cause of the deaths, establish whether they could have been prevented and enable the sheriff to make recommendations that could prevent fatalities in similar circumstances.

The inquiry, before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull, continues.