Helicopter manufacturers must develop and introduce real-time in-flight data monitoring systems on their aircraft if the industry is to make sustained improvements in safety.
Speaking at the annual CHC Safety and Quality Summit in Vancouver on 31 March, Bill Amelio, chief executive of CHC Helicopter, said that "manufacturers must play a key part in advancing flight safety".
"They must take huge steps forward in developing and introducing advanced flight data monitoring," he says. This must be available "on demand, in real-time including in-flight", he says, similar to the wealth of safety data transmitted by Formula 1 cars back to their teams.
He additionally calls for better better "tools and technology" to analyse the vast quantities of flight data helicopters already generate.
Although noting that the offshore transportation sector has made "tremendous advances" in safety in recent years, Amelio says that "even one accident is one accident too many" and points to the five serious incidents that have occurred in the North Sea over the last four years, two of which involved CHC-operated helicopters.
"I perceive that some people within our industry think that commercial helicopter services are as safe as they are ever going to be. It's a mindset that causes us to overlook the reality of our reality," he says.
However, Amelio says he is "proud" the industry has taken "a big step" through the establishment of the joint operator review (JOR) in the wake of the fatal 22 August 2013 crash involving one of the company's Airbus Helicopters AS332 L2s.
The JOR – which is principally being driven by CHC, Bristow Group and Avinics – aims to standardise and share best practice throughout the industry, including with unions, customers and other interested parties.
It will lead to "sustained gains around the world in rotary-wing safety", says Amelio.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
