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 »
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 »
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 »
A Canadian R44 breaks up in flight after erratic flying by an inebriated pilot. An unusual accident with important lessons on pilot supervision, flight following and emergency location.
R44 Oil & Gas Accident – Alcohol, Flight Following, ELTs Read Post »
Technology Friend or Foe – Automation in Offshore Helicopter Operations In London 3-4 July 2014 the Royal Aeronautical Society held a landmark conference on the introduction of automation to offshore helicopters titled: Technology: Friend or Foe? This RAeS conference was triggered by: a CFIT accident on approach to Sumburgh airport in August 2013 (AS332L2 G-WNSB), the issue, a few
Technology Friend or Foe – Automation in Offshore Helicopter Operations Read Post »
AW189 Progress Bristow expect to commence revenue flying in Norwich with the AgustaWestland AW189 during July 2014 according to Bristow VP Operations and Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Limited, Mike Imlach, quoted by Aviation Week & Space Technology. UPDATE: Later on the 17 July 2014, Bristow issued the following press statement: Bristow announced today that it has
During a patient transfer in Australia, HEMS BK117B2 dropped 4,000 ft after a loss of control in the cruise.
Retreating Blade Stall Incident: HEMS BK117B2 VH-VSA Read Post »
AW139 Global Fleet Passes 1 Million Hour Milestone AgustaWestland has announced that its popular medium helicopter, the AW139, has now achieved 1 million hours of service experience since it entered service in 2003. The AW139 fleet leader has now flown more than 9,300 hours, so another milestone is likely to be passed this autumn. AW reports that 650
AW139 Global Fleet Passes 1 Million Hour Milestone Read Post »
B206B Freewheel Accidents in Sweden & Canada Bell 206B registration SE-HOM, operated by Fiskflyg, was engaged in a periodic Operator Proficiency Check in the vicinity of Porjus in Sweden on 8 November 2012, when an accident occurred. The Swedish Accident Investigation Board (Statens Haverikommission [SHK]) published their final report on 3 July 2014. They reported: Shortly after touchdown
B206B Freewheel Accidents in Sweden & Canada Read Post »
The published at 00.01 am on Tuesday 8 July 2014. In its conclusions the committee say: Helicopter transfer across the North Sea has inherent risks but remains the most practical mode of transport for the offshore oil and gas industry. Five accidents since 2009 have led to a loss of confidence from the offshore work
House of Commons Transport Committee Offshore Helicopter Safety Report Read Post »
Increasing SAR Use by the Oil & Gas Industry The oil and gas industry is increasingly contracting commercial Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopters to support offshore exploration work and support offshore safety cases. For example, commercial operator Bristow has provided a SAR service in the UK since 1971 (for both government and oil and gas customers) that
Increasing SAR Use by the Oil & Gas Industry Read Post »
A patient ” jumped out of an emergency exit/window at a height of 2,000 feet”.
Offshore Passenger Fatality 2 July 2014: CHC Medevac Norway Read Post »
OPITO Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS) Initial Deployment Training Standard OPITO has issued a standard for Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS) Initial Deployment Training, to support the initial introduction of Category A Emergency Breathing System (EBS) following the a UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Review, which resulted in the CAP1145 report. To successfully complete this 1.5 hour ‘dry’ training,
While supporting reindeer herding this EC120 started to do an USL/HESLO task, but the load dragged along the ground…
EC120 Underslung Load Accident 26 September 2013 – Report Read Post »
Four 2014 Helicopter Accidents (Australia, Norway & Alaska) Alaska (1): R44 N392GP On 28 May 2014, piston engined Robinson R44 helicopter N392GP, operated by survey company Global Positioning Services Inc, crashed while conducting underslung (HESLO) load training at Chugiak, Alaska. The pilot was the sole person on-board and died in the accident. The National Transportation
Four 2014 Helicopter Accidents (Australia, Norway & Alaska) Read Post »
Misjudgement during abrupt helicopter manoeuvring (AS350B3 LN-OVO) The Accident Investigation Board Norway (the Statens Havarikommisjon for Transport) has issued its report into an accident that occurred to Airbus Helicopters AS350B3, LN-OVO, operated by Fonnafly AS, on 27 April 2013. Their report is in Norwegian only. The helicopter was being used to transport personnel participating in the Røldal
Misjudgement during abrupt helicopter maneuvering Read Post »
In 2014 Airbus Helicopters released a remarkable 15 minute video that describes the lessons from an Inadvertent IMC incident during a HEMS flight in the US and shows the value of FDM.
That Others May Live – Inadvertent IMC & The Value of Flight Data Monitoring Read Post »
Unfit for Flight or Unfit for Publication? This week US newspaper USA Today has featured a 3 part ‘exposé’ on general aviation and its safety record by Tom Frank that claimed ‘Lies and coverups mask roots of small-aircraft crashes’: Unfit for Flight: Hidden defects linked to small-aircraft crashes over five decades Unchecked carnage: NTSB probes don’t
Unfit for Flight or Unfit for Publication? Read Post »
‘Heir Force One’ – Second Helicopter for the Royal Family The British tabloids have finally caught up with regular users of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) G-INFO Database and spotted that the Royal Family is leasing a second helicopter (AgustaWestland A109S G-XXEC). The aircraft, to be based at RAF Odiham, joins Sikorsky S-76C++ G-XXEB, itself chartered in 2009 to
‘Heir Force One’ – Second Helicopter for the Royal Family Read Post »
