Rules are proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency intended to address inadequacies in the existing certification requirements (CS-27, CS-29) governing offshore operations. The EASA said most fatalities occur as a result of drowning because the occupants are unable to escape quickly enough from a capsized and flooded cabin. Furthermore, the ditching testing environment “bears little resemblance to the sea conditions experienced in operation.” The proposal establishes new certification methods by which a target probability of capsizing following a ditching can be determined. This target probability would be verified following a defined tank test using irregular waves. More changes are proposed to improve occupant egress. The revisions would apply only to new helicopter types. Retroactive rules are to be considered in a second phase of this effort. Comments are due by June 23 this year.
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