What the HEC?! – Human External Cargo Winching (or hoisting), used for Search & Rescue (SAR) or for personnel transfer to and from otherwise difficult to access locations, is the most widely known form of what is known as Human External Cargo. Some operators however transfer personnel by harnesses on long-lines. Here Southern California Edison […]
What the HEC?! – Human External Cargo Read Post »
Crashworthiness and a Fiery Frisco US HEMS Accident (Airbus Helicopters AS350B3e, N390LG of Air Methods) Shortly after take-off from a hospital in Frisco, Colorado, on 2 July 2015, Airbus Helicopters AS350B3e helicopter, N390LG, operated by Air Methods as ‘Flight for Life’, crashed in a parking lot 120m away. This was a daytime, Visual Meteorological Condition (VMC), Part 135
Crashworthiness and a Fiery Frisco US HEMS Accident Read Post »
UK CAA Helideck Developments The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are considering changing how offshore helidecks are approved and assessing the fire-fighting provision on Normally Unattended Installations (NUIs). The former activity is subject to a public consultation and that latter is being examined by a Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) working group. Helideck Qualified
UK CAA Helideck Developments Read Post »
Helicopter Underslung Load: TV Transmitter HESLO In 2014, RF communication infrastructure specialists, The Bridge Network North (now merged into Virtua), undertook a major engineering project at Arqiva’s Croydon TV Transmitter in South London, UK. Arqiva operate much of the UK TV and radio broadcast infrastructure. The project included the replacement of the 10 tonne, 16m, top antenna
Helicopter Underslung Load: TV Transmitter Read Post »
CHC FY2015 Results & Restructuring On 29 June 2015 CHC Group (NYSE: HELI), the parent company of CHC Helicopter, reported on Fiscal Year 2015 (to end April 2015). The headlines are: Full-year revenue down 3% to $1.7 billion with a net loss of $795 million (compared to $1.78 billion and a net loss of $171 million in
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Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf of Mexico 2014 The Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) has been publishing data on the Gulf of Mexico (‘GOM’) offshore helicopter fleet and its safety since 1995. Helicopter Operations: GOM Fleet Data They report that flying activity has remained “relatively constant” for the last several years, with just under 300k flying
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Bristow Celebrates 60 Years On 24 June 2015 Bristow celebrated being 60 years old. That was the anniversary of the incorporation of Bristow Helicopters Limited in 1955 by its founder Alan Bristow. The company has picked out some highlights of the company history: Alan Bristow formed Bristow Helicopters in 1955 after securing a contract to supply helicopter crews for
Scottish Court Orders Release of Sumburgh Helicopter CVFDR A Scottish Court has ordered that the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) release the combined Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorder (CVFDR) from a fatal 2013 AS332L2 Super Puma offshore helicopter accident at Sumburgh to prosecutors, who will use the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to “provide an expert opinion on
Scottish Court Orders Release of Sumburgh Helicopter CVFDR Read Post »
UK Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) April 2015 Minutes The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has just published the minutes of the 28 April 2015 meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG), the second of the year. The OHSAG was formed as a result of the ‘Civil Aviation Authority Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in
UK OHSAG April 2015 Minutes Read Post »
EASA North Sea Offshore Helicopter Operations Review Today the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) open the sealed bids for a new research study, EASA.2015.HVP.01, entitled: Helicopter North Sea Operations Management Current Practices Safety Review EASA say: Apart from analysis of past accidents and incidents, the need of more detailed and systematic analysis of the practices
EASA North Sea Offshore Helicopter Operations Review Read Post »
FSF Launches Offshore Helicopter Operations Standard (BARSOHO) The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has launched an offshore version of their award-winning Basic Aviation Risk Standard. Aerossurance is proud to have worked on the development of this standard (available to download on the FSF website). In their press release they say: The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) announced
FSF Launches Offshore Helicopter Standard (BARSOHO) Read Post »
Oil & Gas UK Aviation Seminar 2015 Oil and Gas UK hold their annual aviation seminar in Aberdeen on 2 June. Aerossurance covered last year’s event, which focused on rebuilding confidence and we will be attending again this year. For this year they pose the question: What progress has been made since last year’s Aviation Seminar to
Oil & Gas UK Aviation Seminar 2015 Read Post »
Antarctic Helicopter Accidents The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has just issued a report into an accident involving an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 VH-HRQ of Helicopter Resources, supporting polar exploration in Antarctica on 1 December 2013. We look at that and also Antarctic accidents involving 1 French and 3 German helicopters. Australian Accident – History of the Flight The helicopter was
Antarctic Helicopter Accidents Read Post »
Wide commitment to safety through collaboration was evident at HeliOffshore’s first conference, attended by over 150 people from across the offshore sector.
HeliOffshore Inaugural Conference 2015 Read Post »
Ready Salted ATR72 and WP-3D The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) have reported on a serious incident involving Aer Arann (later Stobart Air) ATR72-212A, EI-REL on 2 January 2014. The findings are highly relevant not only to fixed wing aircraft operating at moderate altitudes over the sea but also offshore helicopter operators. The ATR72… ….carried out a
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Helideck, Helicopter and Other Specialist Training Facilities Safety training specialists Falck Nutec (now RelyOn Nutec) have installed an ex-Royal Navy AgustaWestland Lynx HAS3 at their Aberdeen training facility on their helideck training mock-up. This aids the training of Helideck Landing Officers (HLOs) and Helideck Assistants (HDAs) on their OPITIO approved training courses. This replaced a rather more
Helideck, Helicopter and Other Specialist Training Facilities Read Post »
UK CAA to Review IFR Ops Outside of Controlled Airspace The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced it plans an enhanced review of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying outside of controlled airspace. This is in response to a UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) recommendation in their final report on a serious incident involving a chartered executive Sikorsky S-76C++ G-WIWI in
UK CAA to Review IFR Ops Outside of Controlled Airspace Read Post »
US Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) “Delays & Oversight Challenges” – Inspector General Report We recently published an article on two March 2015 night-time US HEMS accidents. This month the US Department of Transportation’s Inspector General has released a report entitled: Delays in Meeting Statutory Requirements and Oversight Challenges Reduce FAA’s Opportunities To Enhance HEMS Safety The Office
US HEMS “Delays & Oversight Challenges” – IG Report Read Post »
1950’s Aerial Firefighting and Smokey Bear A look at aerial firefighting 60+ years ago: However, as per the background poster: If you really feel the need to sing along to Smokey Bear we are happy to oblige: https://youtu.be/sfgWbhPYFGI But while in the song it is Smokey THE Bear (to scan better), the Smokey Bear Act of 1952 (16 U.S.C.
1950’s Aerial Firefighting and Smokey Bear Read Post »
More US Night Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Accidents At the beginning of March 2015 we published an article on the aftermath of a 2003 fatal night-time US HEMS accident: Life Flight 6 – US HEMS Post Accident Review. During March 2015 there were two more fatal night-time medical helicopter accidents in the US. Air Methods EC130B4 6
More US Night HEMS Accidents Read Post »
North Sea Helicopter Safety – Step Change in Safety Event The offshore industry safety initiative, Step Change in Safety, held a workforce engagement seminar on Helicopter Safety in Aberdeen in early March. The presentations are all available to download (click on the presenter’s name below): HSSG Update – Mark Abbey This presentation on behalf of
North Sea Helicopter Safety – Step Change in Safety Event Read Post »
International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) Update – March 2015 At the HAI Heli-Exp0 2015 in Orlando, Aerossurance attended the IHST Regional Partners Panel as one of the European representatives. The session featured presentations from different national and regional teams supporting the IHST: Introduction IHST Regional Partner Panel Introductory Slides India Rotary Wing Society of India: The RWSI
IHST Update – March 2015 Read Post »
New Airbus Helicopters Designations: A Guide At the same time as revealing their new X4 medium was to be called the H160, Airbus Helicopters unveiled new marketing designations for most of their models at the HAI Heli-Expo in Orlando, March 2015. The rebranding primarily affects the more modern production aircraft (with the exception of military only production types).
New Airbus Helicopters Designations: A Guide Read Post »
Heli-Expo 2015 ‘Super Medium’ Photo Report Amongst the news from the HAI Heli-Expo in Orlando on the new super-medium category of helicopters: Bell 525 The Bell Helicopter stand featured a mock-up of the 525 Relentless. Bell signed a letter of intent for 20 with Waypoint Leasing. Waypoint’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Washecka said: We are pleased to sign this
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