Winching for so-called public transport are an essential part of the offshore industry and is safe enough if done correctly. Using a MD902 or a S76 is not safe enough. I have lost count of the winching I have done offshore with the 332 using simple principles of operation.
The aircraft MUST be able to maintain an OEI HOGE.
The crew must be proficient and the passengers, which is what they are, must be briefed on what is happening and what they must do to ensure their safety.
No short cuts, no 'that'll do, if the situation doesn't fit the bill fly away.
An example is winching a Mooring Crew on to and off a tanker which is offloading an FPSO. Impractical by boat, one of the reasons being that the first transfer can be 30 minutes sailing time away. After the tanker has loaded the crew are picked up after the tanker is at full speed owing to the time to do the paperwork.
ONCE, somebody, not our company, decided to land a 332 on the deck because the area was big enough even though it had WINCHING ONLY painted on it. The crap hit the fan. The ships deck isn't stressed for helicopters up to 6.7 tons so the deck had to be inspected in a dockyard. You try getting under the main deck of a tanker.
The picture is taken 120 naut. miles offshore, about 15 knots wind plus five knots on the tanker; 30 degrees, 1500lbs of fuel, well within the OEI curve.
