WDL’s have been pondered and pontificated for years with little progress.
Customer areas for confusion if trying to avoid WDL’s:
1. Different name / abbreviation / marking by oil / service company on helideck / structure / vessel
2. Failure to follow CAP 437 guidelines for mounting / displaying / cleaning / illuminating markings
3. Limitation of transposing name into operator / oil company flight planning system / GPS / FMS
4. Last minute changes – not permitted for production ops; safeguards for exploration ops
Helicopter operator best practices:
1. Maintain an up to date rig plate library available to crew / dispatch for flight planning / in-flight
2. Initial and annual helideck inspection to identify shortcomings, put mitigations in place
3. Dispatch staff fully trained to be aware of hazards and pitfalls during planning
4. Do not allow customer / time pressure during planning stage, especially changes (D and T values)
5. Refuse to depart without latest Platform Status Report including position (1 hour max) / PRH
6. Extra fuel for mobile / vessel on move
Flight operations and HLO best practices:
1. Crew to check PSR position of all mobiles against FMS / GPS
2. Crew to check next waypoint course displayed against planning document prior to lift-off
3. Tune in beacon of next landing if available, consult rig library as required to confirm details
4. Contact radio operator approx 30 nms out for wx / admin traffic (standard calls / response)
5. Send radio operator position call at 10 nms
6. On finals 1.5 nms call HLO for deck availability / green / clear - giving direction of approach (you may also wish to "Direct To" to confirm on nav equipment?)
7. HLO confirms by radio aircraft in sight and helideck green thus confirming helideck clear / OFS not infringed / cranes on cradles, unmanned / fire crew in place
8. Crew to BOTH identify the helideck / vessel name before committal point
Nice to haves:
1. Understanding from all parties that if above is not followed – WDL’s are inevitable!
2. Red cross on deck if not available – lights difficult by day, plates?
3. DGPS / other installation identifier