HeliOffshore Advancing Key Safety Projects

HeliOffshore is advancing key projects that would have the most potential to improve safety in offshore helicopter operations. Its priority projects include enhanced obstacle avoidance through implementing HTAWS for the offshore fleet; improving system reliability and resilience to eliminate the main causes of safety-critical system failure; expanding a safety management program for helicopter operators; and collecting operational data to support the introduction of evidence-based training for helicopter flight crews.

And as the offshore industry faces significant economic challenges, HeliOffshore has held meetings with helicopter operators in this sector to ensure that there is no loss of focus on safety. “The energy companies see that they have a vested interest in supporting this work to save lives, and their support could prove to be a force multiplier,” the group said. In fact, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers’ safety committee has already signed a letter of intent supporting implementation of HTAWS across the offshore helicopter fleet.

In addition to the HTAWS implementation program, HeliOffshore is now starting work on a second phase of eye-tracking research, which aims to help pilots make better use of automation in the cockpit. The research will compare the results of an anonymous flight crew survey with simulator trials.