two recordable accidents in 2008
were the smallest number since the
statistics were first recorded in 1984,
and a milestone.
Is offshore helicopter flight
more dangerous than onshore
flying? I think not. It’s the same old
story that we have heard again and
again: procedures, procedures.
As always, when the pilot departs
from the established procedures
and ad libs the operation, then the
risk increases.
Leasing Co. operates mostly single engine
aircraft. Their training programs consist
of computer-assisted classes and
in-flight training using the helicop-
ters. A small company, Heli Works,
Pensacola, Fla., operates four single-
engine helicopters from Abbeville,
La. and Beaumont, Texas. Bob
Wade, the Gulf Coast manager, uses
a program similar to Rotorcraft
Leasing, but it differs in that they
only hire well-experienced pilots
with offshore backgrounds.
Photo by Pat Gray
The Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference meets several times
each year to discuss safety-related issues in the Gulf Coast.
Michael White, simulator technician for
Era, said they can give the pilot human factors training by simulating scenarios such
as crowded deck space, crane operations
and obstructions. They can crank in actual
weather conditions such as fog, haze and
low clouds. Broussard, La.-based Rotorcraft
Flight Safety International (FSI)
has opened a training facility in
Lafayette, La., and is concentrating
its efforts toward the Gulf Coast
helicopter market. The facility manager,
Amparo Calatayud, said that they have
Level D simulators for the S-76 and S-92
that provide IFR training. FSI is in the process of obtaining two level 7 FTDs in Bell
407 and AS-350 configurations. They will
provide the VFR training for operating in
the Gulf environment.
Training
Are personnel being trained for the repeatable accident scenarios that seem to recur
on a much-too-frequent basis? Interviews
seem to indicate that they do. Simulators
or flight training devices (FTDs) are beginning to make their mark on the Gulf Coast.
Era Helicopters, of Lake Charles, La., has
been employing a Frasca FTD for a while.
The LEO
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