GM Ignition Switch Debacle – Safety Lessons General Motors has faced intense criticism, large fines, on-going court cases and big rectification costs after mishandling a dangerous design fault in millions of vehicles. So are there safety lessons for other organisations? Aerossurance thinks so. Some have commented that this is a case of corporate complacency while others, similar to Edward […]
GM Ignition Switch Debacle – Safety Lessons Read Post »
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
Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group & OGUK Helicopter Briefing Read Post »
Business Jet Collides With ‘Uncharted’ Obstacle During Go-Around Five people died when a business jet collided with what the NTSB originally stated was an un-charted 72 ft concrete powerline pole, built 0.25 miles from the departure end of the runway, during a nighttime go-around. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have issued a factual update
Business Jet Collides With ‘Uncharted’ Obstacle During Go-Around Read Post »
A video commissioned by Transport Canada highlights key lessons for working safely around helicopters and longline loads.
Keep Your Eyes on the Hook! Underslung External Load Safety Read Post »
NTSB Recommendations on Offshore Methane Gas Venting The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have issued a series of recommendations following two accidents were single engined offshore helicopters ditched after the suspected ingestion of vented methane gas caused a full or partial engine power loss near an offshore platform. Vented combustible gas can cause surging, a compressor
NTSB Recommendations on Offshore Methane Gas Venting Read Post »
Bristow Invests £3.2mn in Tool Control Energy Voice reports that Bristow Group has introduced the latest Snap-on Industrial Automated Tool Control (ATC) system to its maintenance operations as part of the company’s commitment to safety by reducing the risk of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) being introduced during maintenance. Jeremy Cresswell reports: The ATC Box is fitted with
Bristow Invests £3.2mn in Tool Control Read Post »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
19 July 1989: Sioux City On 19 July 1989, United Airlines Flight 232, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 N1819U, en-route from Denver to Chicago, suffered an uncontained failure of the number 2 General Electric CF6 engine’s fan disc. This resulted in crippling damage to the aircraft’s hydraulics and flight controls. The crew under Captain Al Haynes managed to control the
19 July 1989: Sioux City Read Post »
Hong Kong Harbour AW139 Ditching – HKCAD Report Issued The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) have issued their report into the ditching of AgustaWestland AW139, B-MHJ, operated by Macau based East Asia Airlines Limited (trading as SkyShuttle), in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on 3 July 2010. From the synopsis: The helicopter took off from Sheung
Hong Kong Harbour AW139 Ditching – HKCAD Report Issued Read Post »
