News / CAA clamps down on helicopter safety
OFFSHORE helicopter flights will be banned in the most severe sea conditions, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced.
In other safety measures, passengers will only be fly if they are seated next to an emergency window exit or are provided with better emergency breathing systems.
Size restrictions will also be placed on passengers to ensure they can escape an aircraft in the event of an emergency.
The measures were welcomed by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott who said that safety should always be the number one priority.
The changes come in the wake of last year’s fatal Super Puma crash off Shetland, in which four oil workers died, and four similar accidents in the past four years in which a further 16 people were killed.
The CAA and its Norwegian and European counterparts had set up an urgent review to improve offshore helicopter safety.
On Thursday the agency announced a series of measures, including:
- prohibiting helicopter flights in the most severe sea conditions, so that the chance of a ditched helicopter capsizing is reduced and a rescue can be safely undertaken;
- pending further safety improvements to helicopters, passengers will only be able to fly if they are seated next to an emergency window exit to make it easier to get out of a helicopter in an emergency (unless helicopters are fitted with extra flotation devices or passengers are provided with better emergency breathing systems);
- requiring all passengers to have better emergency breathing equipment to increase underwater survival time unless the helicopter is equipped with side floats.
In addition, there will be changes to the way pilots are trained.
The CAA will also take on the role of approving each offshore helideck, ensuring they meet strict safety standards.
The CAA said it was expecting helicopter operators to make improvements to helicopters and survival equipment, including:
• fitting side floats;
• implementing automatic flotation equipment;
• adding hand holds next to push out windows;
• making improvements to life rafts and lifejackets.
The agency’s chair Dame Deirdre Hutton said safety of those who rely on offshore helicopter flights were the CAA’s absolute priority.
“The steps we are announcing today will result in significant improvements in safety for those flying to and from offshore sites in the UK and potentially worldwide.
“We expect helicopter operators, the oil and gas industry and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to move forward with recommendations to them as soon as possible.
“For our part, the CAA is already taking forward actions directly under our control. We will monitor and report regularly on progress, so that people can have confidence that these important changes are being implemented as quickly as possible.”
Scott said: “Having previously undertaken offshore helicopter survival training myself, I can fully understand how these changes will be applauded by people across the industry, not least by those who use these flights to and from offshore sites on a regular basis.”
“Hopefully, helicopter operators across the industry can now iron out the practicalities of how these recommendations can be successfully implemented and move forward with them as soon as possible.”
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