Australia is updating its guidelines for helicopter landing sites, as the number and complexity of helicopter operations in the country increases.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has launched a project to update the existing civil aviation advisory publication on establishing and using helicopter landing sites, which was first published in 1996. CASA says helicopter operations in the country are becoming more complex and are carrying increasing numbers of passengers each year. The existing guidance on helicopter landing sites is not up to date and is not in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, it adds.
New Civil Aviation Safety Regulations under development include specific performance requirements for helicopter operations that will require a more detailed approach to the design and use of a helicopter landing site.
Australian regulations state that an aircraft cannot land or take off from any place that is not suitable for use as an aerodrome, but do not specify all the circumstances that should be considered when determining if a place is suitable for safe operations, says CASA.
In particular, helicopter operators and government agencies are requesting up-to-date material for offshore and hospital helipads. As a result, the project will initially look at the requirements for offshore helidecks, with the second stage to focus on onshore helipads, other than those that are basic and standard, says CASA
Source: Flight International