North Sea helicopter operations to be reviewed

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/24/north-sea-helicopter-operations-reviewed

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Offshore helicopter operations in the North Sea are to be reviewed, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced.

The review follows five accidents in the last four years, the last of which, in August, claimed four lives.

The CAA said the review would be undertaken jointly with its Norwegian counterpart and the European Aviation Safety Agency, and would be advised by a panel of independent experts.

It will study current operations, previous incidents and accidents and offshore helicopter flying in other countries to make recommendations aimed at improving the safety of offshore flying.

The CAA said on Tuesday: "Although there has been considerable effort by regulators, operators and the offshore industry to minimise the risk of North Sea helicopter operations there have been five accidents in the past four years, two of which tragically resulted in fatalities."

It added that the review would be led by its flight operations head, Captain Bob Jones, who will work closely with Geir Hamre, head of helicopter safety for the Norwegian CAA.

They will be supported by a team of experts who will consult with a wide range of individuals and organisations involved in offshore flying. The final review will also be subject to scrutiny by independent specialists.

The review will pay particular attention to:

• Operators' decision making and internal management

• The protection of passengers and crew

• Pilot training and performance

• Helicopter airworthiness.

It will include a comparison study of UK operations with those in Norway. The findings of the review are due to be published in early 2014.

Mark Swan, director of the CAA's safety and airspace regulation group, said: "The recent accidents have understandably given rise to concerns, particularly with offshore workers who rely so heavily on these helicopter flights.

"We are absolutely committed to ensuring that operations are as safe as possible. The review we are announcing today will thoroughly examine the risks and hazards of operating in the North Sea and how these can be managed most effectively.

"We are extremely grateful to Geir Hamre from the Norwegian CAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency for joining the review team. They bring additional expertise and experience which will be invaluable to the review."

The most recent North Sea helicopter accident happened on 23 August and involved a CHC-operated Super Puma helicopter, which crashed into the sea while on approach to Sumburgh airport in the Shetland Islands.

Four oil workers were killed. There was a total of 16 passengers and two crew on board.

An interim report into the accident, issued on 5 September by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, said that to date no evidence of a technical failure had been identified and that the investigation was continuing.

The aircraft had been coming from the Borgsten Dolphin platform when it crashed.

In April 2009, all 16 men on board a Super Puma helicopter were killed after it came down off Peterhead.

In February 2009, all 18 people on board a Super Puma survived after it ditched on its approach to an oil rig 120 miles from Aberdeen.

Two Super Pumas also ditched last year, with 14 people saved in an incident 20 miles north-east of Aberdeen on 10 May, while 19 people were rescued from the sea around 32 miles south-west of Sumburgh airport on 22 October.

All Super Pumas ceased operations for a time after last month's disaster but flights later resumed, with the version involved in that accident being allowed to fly on what has been described as "non-passenger revenue operations".

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