Some oil and gas companies already do enforce such a "fit through the window"policy.
Overall.....
- The operators will be pleased with this report, = more helicopters
- Could lead to an increased pilot shortage and lower experience levels?
- It will place some increased cost burden on oil and gas companies.
- The oil and gas companies do appear to get some blame for the existing state of affairs, this report will not improve the adversarial attitudes that exist
- There will be lots of no fly days due sea state >6
- It may increase the perception of safety but I am not sure how much it will improve safety in reality, it has more effect on survivability after a crash than preventing a crash.
- Perhaps less diversity will create less competition and more stable long term pricing among providers.
A lack of leadership within the helicopter industry has meant that big brother CAA will now enforce what the industry should have innovated. Perhaps this is what it needs, a regulatory approach to re level the playing field?
Luckily, it won't affect my company much, we were already ahead with many of these "initiatives"through self regulation and rigid risk reduction criteria.