He was killed when the helicopter he was flying hit a crane 770ft above the ground on The Tower in Vauxhall and plunged to the ground.
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The crash also killed 39-year-old Matthew Wood who was walking to work along Wandsworth Road.
Lord Milford Haven had planned to fly his own helicopter to the shoot from his own home in Liphook, Hampshire, picking up two guests – including Chinese businessman Sir David Tang – from Battersea heliport on the way.
But she went on: “He said before the flight that he wasn’t particularly looking forward to it. The forecast wasn’t very good”.
The pilot of a helicopter which crashed in south west London had been anxious about flying the craft due to freezing fog, an inquest has heard.
Asked by coroner Andrew Harris about his statement, in which he said Mr Barnes had been getting messages directly from the “punters” and the “company”, Mr Tinkler-Rose said: “Yes”.
She replied: “Within limits”.
On the day he crashed he had been forced to change course to Battersea heliport on his way to pick up restaurant tycoon Richard Caring because of severe fog.
Ms Dixon told the jury of eight women and three men at Southwark Coroner’s Court that her partner had a “good relationship” with Mr Caring because he included the pilot in leisure activities following flights.
Mr Barnes’s vast experience allowed him to safely take risks that less experienced pilots would not, Mr Tinkler-Rose said.
Ms Dixon told the hearing that Mr Barnes had been a pilot for 24 years, and had worked in a freelance capacity since 1997.
After discussing the weather that morning Mr Tinkler-Rose said he had advised Mr Barnes to “bin” the flight.
When Lord Milford Haven asked if he had been able to land at Elstree, Mr Barnes told him: “No hole [in the fog] hdg [heading] back to red [Redhill]”.
An earlier inquest, opened shortly after the crash, heard Mr Barnes had flown in several films including Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan and the James Bond film Die Another Day. “As a pilot myself I know of the difficulties of flying and I would not pressurise somebody into flying in risky conditions”. “When we finished the conversation I was pretty much under the impression that he wasn’t going to fly”.
Pete Barnes, 50, was described as a “guru ” and “probably the most experienced pilot in the industry”.
The inquest heard evidence from RotorMotion operations assistant Declan Lehane, who said Mr Barnes had expressed doubts about whether the journey would be possible as they drank tea on the morning of the flight. He said: “I’m coming anyway”.
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The inquest was adjourned until tomorrow.
