UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On

Not long after the fatal loss of Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 with 4 fatalities (AAIB Special Bulletin), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an rapid review on offshore helicopter safety. That CAA Review resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of offshore public transport helicopter operations in support of the exploitation of oil and gas’), issued two years ago on 20 February 2014. UK CAA CAP1145 report: Safety review of offshore public transport helicopter operations in support of the exploitation of oil and gas Last year the CAA issued CAP 1243, the Offshore Helicopter Review Progress Report, which provides an update on the 10 months to 31 Dec 2014.  The minutes of the 16 October 2015 meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) suggest the next CAP1145 progress report is due in April 2016.

When they refreshed their website in late 2015 the UK CAA introduced a blog section with the opportunity for public comment and questions.  This includes one on offshore helicopter operations, which has had the most interaction to date (on two topics we have previously written about certified sea states limits and CA-EBS training).

UPDATE 24 September 2016: The UKCAA has issued CAP1386, their second update on CAP1145.  We have summarised that report.

UPDATE 1 February 2017: An update of BARSOHO (Version 3), fully aligned with the HeliOffshore SPM, is now available.

barsoho v3

Aerossurance is pleased to be supporting both HeliOffshore and the Flight Safety Foundation in their work to improve offshore helicopter safety.

UPDATE 6 March 2017: HSS3b is issued (initially in Norwegian, with an English Exec Summary).  It features comment on CAP 1145 and survivability matters.

hss3b

UPDATE 23 January 2020: Without fanfare UK CAA publish CAP 1877: Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in Support of the Exploitation of Oil and Gas

Aerossurance is an Aberdeen based aviation consultancy.  For expert advice you can trust on offshore helicopter safety, survivability, safety assurance, safety culture and contracting matters, contact us at enquiries@aerossurance.com