HeliOffshore - Must dig into certification more thoroughly - Eyetracking will not enhance safety substantially - Curt Lewis

Industry Embraces HeliOffshore's Constructive Safety Approach

HeliOffshore has launched a new drive to boost the industry's investment in safety, the association announced at the Helitech show in London yesterday. It recently held meetings with the offshore community, including the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP).

Priority projects for HeliOffshore include enhanced obstacle avoidance through helicopter terrain awareness systems (HTAWS) for the offshore fleet; Improved system reliability and resilience to eliminate the main causes of safety-critical system failure; expansion of a major safety intelligence data program that will collect and analyze helicopter flight data monitoring output from operators to identify causes and trends for operational safety performance issues; and collection of operational data to support introducing evidence-based training for helicopter flight crews.

IOGP's safety committee has already signed a letter of intent supporting implementation of HTAWS across the offshore helicopter fleet.

In addition to the HTAWS program, HeliOffshore is starting work on the second-phase of eye-tracking research, which aims to help pilots make better use of automation in the cockpit. It recently introduced approach path management guidelines and has been working with OEMs such as Airbus and Sikorsky on introducing flight crew operating manuals.

HeliOffshore is also working on a global data management system that will be built around GE's Predix big data platform. The association said it is "about to sign a contract with two other companies that will provide expert IT support for the second and third phases of this key project." The system will track and share operators' data to help develop a clearer understanding of adverse safety issues and trends.