Deployable Flight Data Recorders The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has come out in favour of deployable Flight Data Recorders (FDRs), i.e. a means to deploy a floating capsule containing an FDR from an aircraft with its own Emergency Locator Transmitter. This would then preserve the flight data and provide an automatic ELT independent of the aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is […]
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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
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A new organisational structure for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been announced and can be found here. This reorganisation follows a decision of the Management Board in May 2014, and follows an extensive consultation, known as the Article 62 review. In the introduction to the paper to the Management Board, a governance body chaired
New EASA Structure Read Post »
Military Mid Air Collisions One recent accident in Germany and the release of a Service Inquiry into a UK Mid Air Collision (MAC) highlight the importance of managing MAC risk. The UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA) consider MAC to be one of the highest risk hazards in military aviation (as discussed in para 5a of their
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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,
Sir Robert Francis QC is to chair an independent review into creating an open and honest reporting culture in the National Health Service (NHS). It has been announced that the review will: …provide independent advice and recommendations to ensure that: NHS workers can raise concerns in the public interest with confidence that they will not
‘Freedom to speak up?’ in the NHS: independent review Read Post »
There are a host of human factors, automation, crashworthiness, survivability and emergency response lessons from this 2013 accident.
Asiana B777 Accident at SFO 6 July 2013 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
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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 »
Focus on Gust Locks After US G-IV accident On 12 May 2014, 7 people died when Gulfstream G-IV business aircraft N121JM was destroyed at Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts, after a rejected takeoff and runway excursion. Among the dead was Lewis Katz, co-owner of the US’s third-oldest daily newspaper. the Philadelphia Inquirer, who had been attending a charity event with his
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Airbus Report: Commercial Aviation Accidents 1958-2013 – A Statistical Analysis Airbus have published an analysis report on accidents to western-built commercial air transport jets since 1958. Airbus identify 4 generations of aircraft. Over time the usage of these generations has changed. Of particular interest is Airbus’ claim that the 4th generation has halved the fatal
Airbus Report: Commercial Aviation Accidents 1958-2013 – A Statistical Analysis Read Post »
Fixed Wing Accident & Incident Digest There have been a number of interesting air accident reports or updates recently on a range of fixed wing accidents and incidents, each with unique lessons. 1) Loss of propeller control during descent causes fatal DHC-8 forced landing in Papua New Guinea On 15 June 2014 the Papua New Guinea
Fixed Wing Accident & Incident Digest 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 »
After this accident FAA determined unapproved “off the shelf” ducts may have been widely used as no approved Piper ducts has been ordered since 1999 for the 5000 US registered PA-28!
FAA Identify Widespread Use of Unapproved Parts 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
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Planning for Mass Evacuations A wave of mass evacuations of foreign workers from Iraq is a timely reminder of the importance of having pre-arranged evacuation arrangements in place for companies operating in the less stable of overseas locations. Similar evacuations have occurred in a range of other countries in recent years, particularly in the Middle
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) 2014-12-52 on 10 June 2014 in response to a production defect on the Honeywell TFE731 engine type. This was prompted by reports of 2nd stage Low Pressure Turbine (LPT2) blade separations due to casting anomalies at or near the root of the LPT2 blade. The EAD requires review of maintenance
Emergency AD – Honeywell TFE731 Engines Read Post »
In addition to being an already active member of Oil & Gas UK, the trade association that speaks for the whole UK offshore sector, Aerossurance has been accepted as a member of ADS, the trade body advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Industries, globally. Follow us on LinkedIn for our latest updates.
Aerossurance joins ADS Read Post »
Trade body Oil & Gas UK have released two new reports. The first is the annual Oil & Gas UK Health and Safety Report 2014 which covers: A detailed summary of the UK offshore oil and gas industry’s safety performance An overview of the safety-related projects being carried out across the industry An explanation of how the
Oil & Gas UK News: Health & Safety and Supply Chain CoP Read Post »
Safety Management International Collaboration Group Industry Day The Safety Management International Collaboration Group (SM ICG) held its fourth Industry Day with representatives from 27 European aviation industry organizations on 16 May 2014 in Bern, Switzerland. The SMICG is a group of 14 aviation regulatory bodies, formed in 2009 to promote a common understanding of safety
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Helitech International 2014 will present an extensive Education Programme across three days of Europe’s largest helicopter show which will take place in Amsterdam from 14 – 16 October 2014. This will be Helitech’s first outing in the Dutch capital. Supported by the European Helicopter Association (EHA), Helitech International will stage a comprehensive programme covering topics
Helitech International 2014 Education Programme Announced Read Post »
Size Isn’t Everything The day after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) CAP1145 report on North Sea helicopter safety was published, the Aberdeen Press & Journal focused on one controversial action with the front page headline ‘If you are too fat you won’t fly’! But when it comes to escaping from a submerged helicopter through the push
Size Isn’t Everything Read Post »
In a session entitled “Resilience, helicopters and the challenge of transferring the workforce offshore” at Oil & Gas UK‘s first Annual Conference, attendees heard that the industry is now better prepared for major disruption. Past disruptions have included: The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull (aka ‘E15’) volcanic eruption in Iceland and the resulting volcanic ash fall out Two ditchings in 2012 due
Offshore Industry Improving Aviation Resilience Read Post »
EHOC to Become HeliOffshore It has been announced that the trade body, the European Helicopter Operators’ Committee (EHOC), is to become HeliOffshore, with an international membership: http://www.energyvoice.com/2014/06/helicopter-operators-fund-new-international-trade-body-safety/ One advantage of this change is an improvement in safety communication between operators globally. This was a point that emerged from the Joint Operators Review currently underway. Some
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