In 2014 Leonardo gained EASA certification of a new laser based obstacle warning system to help protect helicopters from rotor strikes.
Leonardo Helicopter Obstacle Proximity LIDAR System (OPLS) Read Post »
RPAS (or Unmanned Air Vehicle / Systems [UAV/UAS]) are a hot topic internationally at the moment. The House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament, is to hold an inquiry into the civil use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in the European Union. Written evidence is sought by Friday 19 September 2014.
House of Lords Inquiry into Civil RPAS Read Post »
Wrong Deck Landings Occasionally, offshore helicopters do land on the wrong offshore installation. On 26 August 2014 the media picked up an such an event that occurred a few days earlier involving a Sikorsky S-92A. So is it a big deal? Well, yes and no! There are good reasons to avoid landing on a deck that is
Wrong Deck Landings Read Post »
Taranis The UK designed and built Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, the BAE Systems Taranis, first flew on 10 August 2013. Named after the Celtic god of thunder, this £185 million programme, involving BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation Systems (formerly Smiths), QinetiQ and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Powered by a modified Rolls-Royce Adour
On 18 August 2014 the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) upgraded the aviation colour code for the Baroarbunga volcano to ‘Orange’ which means that, ‘The volcano shows heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption’. UPDATE: On 23 August 2014, the morning after this article was published, it was raised to ‘Red’ (‘Eruption is forecast to
Volcanic Ash…Déjà Vu All Over Again?? Read Post »
Commanders: Flying or Monitoring? At a recent Royal Aeronautical Society Conference, one of the speakers, Colin Milne of BALPA, highlighted that in a number of past UK large helicopter accidents involving Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) or Loss of Control (LOC) the Commander was the Pilot Flying rather than the Pilot Monitoring. While there are circumstances where this
Commanders: Flying or Monitoring? Read Post »
An error programming the FMS on a flight to a zinc mine in the Northern Territory has been highlighted by the ATSB.
Embraer ERJ 170 FMS Error & Fatigue Read Post »
UK MAA to Integrate EMAR-21 into MRPs (Updated: RA 5800 Series Issued August 2016) The UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA) have issued a Regulatory Notice outlining its plans to integrate EMAR-21 (the European Military Airworthiness Requirement Part 21) into the MAA Regulatory Publications (MRP) Design and Modification Engineering (DME) 5000 series. When the MRPs were first issued in 2011, the 5000
UK MAA to Integrate EMAR-21 into MRPs Read Post »
Helicopter Ditching Limitations The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is proposing introducing Emergency Floatation System ditching limitations into Rotorcraft Flight Manuals (RFMs) and that these are then a limitation for operations. This is in broad alignment with a UK CAA Safety Directive effective 1 September 2014. On 30 May 2014 EASA issued a Proposed Airworthiness Directive (PAD) for public comment.
Helicopter Ditching Limitations Read Post »
Alaska B1900C Accident – Contributory ATC Errors The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified contributory ATC errors when they issued their probable cause of a fatal Beechcraft B1900C Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accident in instrument meteorological conditions at Aleknagik, Alaska on 8 March 2013. The aircraft, N116AX, was operated by Alaska Central Express (Ace) Air Cargo.
Alaska B1900C Accident – Contributory ATC Errors Read Post »
Two accident reports highlight a potential higher risk of CFIT at extreme latitudes. That risk is not to do with the geography but with database limitations of some TAWS.
Extreme Latitudes – Extra CFIT Risk Read Post »
A pioneer in offshore survival, Dr Joe Cross OBE, died in Aberdeenshire on 27 July 2014. Dr Cross started as a naval safety equipment fitter in 1953 before rising to be a commissioned Royal Navy Officer. However it was in 1975 that he became Managing Director of the Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology (RGIT) Survival Centre in Aberdeen. RGIT (the forerunner
Obituary: Offshore Survival Pioneer Dr Joe Cross OBE Read Post »
FAA Impose Fines After Maintenance Errors – Just Culture? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have proposed fining two helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) operators and one airline a total of $12.4 million for allegedly operating non-compliant aircraft after various maintenance errors. However does this encourage a just, open reporting culture? The Cases In each case it should be
FAA Impose Fines After Maintenance Errors – Just Culture? Read Post »
EASA Launch Helicopter Gearbox Lubrication Rule Making The first meeting was held last week of a new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Rule Making Team (RMT.0608) on helicopter gearbox lubrication. The Terms of Reference (ToR) and Group Composition (GC) are here. This activity follows European/US/Canadian dialogue after the loss of Cougar Sikorsky S-92A C-GZCH Flight 491 off Newfoundland,
EASA Launch Helicopter Gearbox Lubrication Rule Making Read Post »
UPDATE: This article has been reviewed and updated since the publication of OGP’s V1.1 reports adding details that our first edition highlighted were missing. Follow us on LinkedIn for our latest updates. The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) has published their annual safety performance review. Earlier 2012 data is here. The OGP members
OGP Safety Performance Indicators 2013 Read Post »
EASA Launch Rule Making Team on In-flight Recording for Light Aircraft The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has launched a Rule Making Team (RMT.0271 & 0272 [MDM.073 (a) & (b)]) on in-flight recording for light aircraft. The Terms of Reference (ToR) and Group Composition (GC) are here. By way of definition the ToRs state: …‘in-flight
EASA Launch Rule Making Team on In-flight Recording for Light Aircraft Read Post »
A minor landing gear incident on a CHC Sikorsky S-92A at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland has attracted press interest.
S-92A Nose Landing Gear Incident – Aberdeen 29 July 2014 Read Post »
