afghanmerc,
Many of us wore helmets in the military in helicopters without air-conditioning, but then again we were young and the helmet was a revered symbol of the profession. Not many of the guys here in the GoM would be willing to put up with them now. Additionally, my company's standard response is that the passengers might complain if the pilots wore them without providing the same protection for the pax.
Geoffersincornwall,
Some of the larger oil companies require underwater egress training, but it's hit or miss with the others.
As I see it the greatest safety related improvement in the time I've been here has been the implementation by several operators of what we at my company call "enhanced operational control." This is a greater level of control exercised by base managers over operations in less than ideal conditions. True, it usurps some of the pilot in command's autonomy and authority, but we now have much clearer guidelines for operation. This is not to say that all pressures are magically eliminated, but our managers are much more likely to back us up nowadays when we take the prudent course of action.
The FAA in many cases sets minimum standards which allow operations that are legal but not necessarily safe. A number of oil companies have taken the lead in attempting to require safer flight operations. I doubt it's out of altruism, but rather due to the enormous potential liability they face in transporting their employees. Many corporations with "deep pockets" have found out the hard way that the cost of an accident is tremendously expensive and far reaching. In our litigious society the safe way almost always turns out to also be the most profitable way.
-Stan-
Last edited by slgrossman; 8th April 2006 at 01:05.