The rules also state right at the top:
In your example, this is supposed to mean that if there are no or barely any pilots available, that whichever staff member is on can decide for themselves how they want to handle the issue. If it was me on at the time, I would say how many pilot slots are available and encourage people to take them. Until then, I would let non pilots fly to ao and respawn their choppers.
I hope other staff would do the same/similar.