The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified Sikorsky’s “Rig Approach” option for the S-92 medium twin helicopter, a system that enables automated approach to offshore oil platforms. It is essentially a software upgrade, AIN understands, and can be retrofitted to in-service S-92s. Sikorsky thus hopes the functionality will be adopted in the North Sea.
“We have used Rig Approach for offshore flights for more than a year and a half and we are seeing clear results; this is truly a breakthrough in offshore safety and reliability,” said PHI president and COO Lance Bosflug.
Sikorsky developed the option in collaboration with S-92 operator PHI and the FAA certified it in May 2013. At the time, Sikorsky said the workload is reduced from 17 pilot-initiated items to only seven.