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 »
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 »
UAS View of Lomond Offshore Installation Stunning ‘drone’* footage of the BG Group Lomond installation in the Central North Sea has been uploaded to YouTube by Gary Hay. Alongside the platform, joined by a ‘bridge’, is the semi-submersible accommodation vessel Borgholm Dolphin, hence the helideck on Lomond is marked as closed due to the infringement of the
UAS View of Lomond Offshore Installation 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 »
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
Ready Salted ATR72 and WP-3D Read Post »
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 »
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 »
French TV AS350 Helicopter Accident in Argentina (UPDATED with final accident report) The mid air collision of two Airbus AS350 (H125) helicopters on 9 March 2015 resulted in the death of all 10 people on board during the filming of a French TV programme, Dropped, for TF1 in Argentina. The accident highlights the importance of risk assessment,
French TV Helicopter Accident in Argentina Read Post »
In 2003 a HEMS A109K2 helicopter was lost in a fatal accident in Salt Lake City, UT in poor weather.
Life Flight 6 – US HEMS Accident Read Post »
Flight Crew Incapacitation – Oxygen System Failure The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published their investigation report on a case of hypoxia in an unpressurised twin turboprop survey aircraft: On 1 August 2014, at about 0935 EST, a Reims Aviation F406 aircraft, registered VH-EYQ, departed Emerald, Queensland, on an aerial survey task with a pilot
Flight Crew Incapacitation – Oxygen System Failure Read Post »
An experimental X-31 was making a routine test flight when disaster struck. NASA produced a unique documentary insight into this accident and its lessons.
Breaking the Chain: X-31 Lessons Learned Read Post »
Both engines flamed out on a police helicopter over a crowded city with multiple fatalities. We examine the accident report. But its not where you think.
Accident Report: Fatal Police Helicopter Double Engine Flameout Over City Centre Read Post »
BAe 146 & Avro RJ85 Fire Bombers Fire bombing, as show in this video of training, was unlikely to have been something envisaged in the early 1970s as the then HS146, was on the drawing board. Neptune Aviation Services, whose name neatly indicates their initial operation of ex-US Navy Lockheed P-2 Neptunes, is one of four companies in North America
BAe 146 & Avro RJ85 Fire Bombers Read Post »
NTSB Update on SpaceShip Two Accident Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a press release on progress with the investigation into the Virgin Galactic Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShip Two N339SS accident on 31 Oct 2014: November 12, 2014 WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board issued an investigative update today into the
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Seven reflections from the UK MAA applicable to other regulators and organisations, and a warning on the seduction of the process of risk management.
Regulatory Reflections & Resisting the Seduction of the Risk Management Process Read Post »
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
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
Medevac Misadventure – Inquest in the Yukon Read Post »
Spectacular images of DC-10 fire fighting.
DC-10 Air Tanker Retardant Drop 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 »
UK Airborne Anti-Pollution Assets The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued this video in 2011 on their anti-pollution airborne dispersant spraying and surveillance assets. The video describes their two sesnor equipped surveillance aircraft. It goes onto show their airborne dispersant spray capability being demonstrated in Lyme Bay, using both a small Cessna Caravan II and a Lockheed
UK Airborne Anti-Pollution Assets 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 »
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 »
