Helicopters

Rotary Wing / Rotorcraft

Elbit Enhanced Flight Vision Systems

Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

Elbit Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) for Helicopters and regional Aircraft Elbit Systems presented to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 8th Rotorcraft Symposium today.  The paper is downloadable and a prior video is available to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XMm-AAdo5zc UPDATE 5 July 2016: Certification of the SkyLens system on the ATR turboprop family is expected in 2017: EASA […]

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James Reason’s 12 Principles of Error Management

Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Business Aviation, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Military / Defence, Mining / Resource Sector, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Resilience, Safety Culture, Safety Management

James Reason’s 12 Principles of Error Management James Reason, Professor Emeritus, University of Manchester, set out 12 systemic human factors centric principles of error management in his book Managing Maintenance Error: A Practical Guide (co-written with Alan Hobbs and published in 2003). These principles are valid beyond aviation maintenance and are well worth re-visiting: Human error is both universal

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Operational Suitability Data

Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Regulation, Safety Management

Operational Suitability Data The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a useful summary on the concept of OSD: The principle of Operational Suitability Data (OSD) is that the aircraft manufacturers are required to establish certain data that is considered important for safe operation of the aircraft type. This data will be approved by the

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UK OHSAG Oct 2014 Minutes

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Logistics, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Resilience, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

UK Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) Oct 2014 Minutes The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published the minutes of the latest, 28 Oct 2014, meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG). The OHSAG was formed as a result of the ‘Civil Aviation Authority Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in Support of

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UK CAA Release CRM Videos

Business Aviation, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

UK CAA Release Crew Resource Management Videos In an initiative to improve Crew Resource Management (CRM) in the industry the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released a series of open-access training videos.  The CAA comment that: The three case-study videos have been developed to highlight some of the main human factors concerns currently facing the aviation industry,

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UK MAA NPA for RPAS

Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Military / Defence, Regulation, Safety Management, Unmanned (Drone / RPAS / UAS / UAV)

UK Military Aviation Authority Notice of Proposed Amendment on Remotely Piloted Air Systems The UK MAA has issued an NPA as part of the consultation on a change to the MAA Regulatory Publications (MRPs) to cover the better integration of RPAS.  The MAA introduce the NPA as follows: The aim of the review of RPAS regulations

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EASA HUMS Research Developments

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Resilience, Safety Management

EASA HUMS / VHM Research Developments The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been funding some innovative research into Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) / Vibration Health Monitoring (VHM). EASA.2012.OP.13 VHM Recently, Cranfield University‘s Matt Greaves presented to the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) annual conference on one EASA research project (EASA.2012.OP.13 VHM).  His paper

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HeliOffshore Launch

Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, News, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Resilience, Safety Culture, Safety Management

HeliOffshore Launch HeliOffshore, whose foundation we discussed in June, was launched today in London. HeliOffshore have issued the following press release: Oct. 21, 2014 – London – Five major helicopter operators today officially announced a new industry association – HeliOffshore – for  The new association was introduced at a launch event at its offices in London.

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Insights from Bristow CEO at Helitech

Helicopters, Logistics, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy

Insights from Bristow CEO Jonathan Baliff at Helitech On 14t October 2014 at Helitech in Amsterdam, Jonathan Baliff, discussed an objective of reducing the range of types in the company fleet and an approach of increasing risk sharing with more availability focused contracts with the helicopter manufacturers: We will purchase our aircraft in larger numbers, so we

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EHEST: New Publications on Technology & SMS

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

European Helicopter Safety Team (EHEST) Issues New Publications on Technology & SMS EHEST have released two new publications, one on accident reducing technologies and the other on SMS for non-complex operators: The Potential of Technologies to Mitigate Helicopter Accident Factors – An EHEST Study EHEST created a Specialist Team Technology (ST Technology) to assess the potential of

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New Helicopter Cargo Loading System

Design & Certification, Helicopters, Logistics, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy

New Helicopter Cargo Loading System Dutch engineering company VRR is working with AgustaWestland to design a helicopter Cabin Cargo Container and Restraint System for the AW139 helicopter, anticipating it will be of interest in the offshore oil and gas industry for transport of spares and equipment.  Certainly with a large drillship costing $500k per day to

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How To Destroy Your Organisation’s Safety Culture

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Mining / Resource Sector, Safety Culture, Safety Management

How To Destroy Your Organisation’s Safety Culture The term ‘safety culture’ was initially used in the report on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.  Building a strong, positive safety culture takes deliberate, concerted and continual effort.  Destroying a safety culture is a lot easier… Bad Safety Leadership The following is the text of a real e-mail, spotted pinned to the wall of the

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PDG Helicopters Win UK & Eire Lighthouse Support Contract

Helicopters, Logistics, Mining / Resource Sector, Offshore, Safety Management

PDG Helicopters Win UK & Eire Lighthouse Support Contract The three lighthouse authorities in the UK and Eire have joined together to award a contract for helicopter support.  The three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) awarded the £13mn contract to Inverness, Scotland based, PDG Helicopters. PDG will use two new Airbus Helicopters EC135s on the contract which runs from 1 December 2015

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Passive Fire-Retarding Helideck Designs

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Helicopters, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

Passive Fire-Retarding Helideck Designs A number of helideck manufacturers offer aluminium helideck designs with a passive fire-retarding capability.  Typically this is achieved by draining fuel through holes in the deck surface, into cavities filled with aluminium mesh.  This starves the fire of oxygen and dissipates heat, extinguishing the flames and draining away unburnt fuel for

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Fatal $16 Million Maintenance Errors

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management

Fatal $16 Million Maintenance Errors (Sundance Helicopters AS350B2 N37SH) A jury in Las Vegas awarded $16 million to the families of 4 passengers killed in a December 2011 helicopter sightseeing accident, caused by a series of maintenance errors.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made safety recommendations on maintenance human factors and fatigue after this accident. The

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VVIP AW101

Business Aviation, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Logistics, Military / Defence, Special Mission Aircraft

Very Very Important Person (VVIP) AW101 There are a number of nations introducing the AgustaWestland AW101 into VVIP service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfm3XM82SuQ&feature=player_detailpage In the VVIP role the large AW101 cabin has the flexibility to be fitted out in a wide range of configurations. One easy way to visualise potential cabin layout options is now offered by 3D printing techniques.  The

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US BSEE Helideck A-NPR / Bell 430 Tail Strike

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Management

US BSEE Helideck A-NPR / Bell 430 Tail Strike The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued an Advance Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking on Helideck and Aviation Fuel Safety for Fixed Offshore Facilities on 24 September 2014.  BSEE explain: Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has broad authority regarding helicopter-related safety issues and onshore and offshore

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Medevac Misadventure – Inquest in the Yukon

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Mining / Resource Sector, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Medevac Misadventure – Inquest in the Yukon The Coroner for Canada’s Yukon Territory has recommended a review of procedures for medical evacuations (medevacs) following the death on board an air ambulance of a 31 year-old woman from Carmacks in November 2013, CBC has reported. In particular the wrong IV tubing was taken on the aircraft as different

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UK Military Aviation Authority

Aerossurance Wins MAA HUMS Maintenance Credit Contract

Design & Certification, Helicopters, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

HUMS Maintenance Credit Contract Awarded to Aerossurance by the Military Aviation Authority Aberdeen based aviation consultancy Aerossurance has won a competitively tendered contract for a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) maintenance credit project from the UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA). Part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the MAA is an independent and autonomous organization responsible for the

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North Sea Offshore Standardised Clothing Policy

Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

North Sea Offshore Standardised Clothing Policy As anticipated previously by Aerossurance, a new standardised clothing policy is being introduced for helicopter travel to offshore installations in UK waters.  It defines what should and should not be worn under survival suits. The policy is effective from Wednesday, 1st October 2014, in-line with the changeover to the winter season. UPDATE

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Site of the G-CRST helicopter accident

Fatal Helicopter / Crane Collision – London Jan 2013

Accidents & Incidents, Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Business Aviation, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management

Fatal Helicopter / Crane Collision – London Jan 2013 While manoeuvring over the River Thames, an AgustaWestland A109E helicopter, G-CRST, operated by charter company Rotormotion, collided at 700ft amsl with a crane in Vauxhall, Central London.  The crane was atop the 50 storey St George Wharf Tower.  The helicopter pilot and a passer-by died.  The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB)

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Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group & OGUK Helicopter Briefing

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published the minutes of the latest, 14 August 2014, meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG).  The OHSAG was formed as a result of the ‘Civil Aviation Authority Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in Support of the Exploitation of Oil

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