Photographer's Harness

[nrh]

Please can anyone offer any advice on UK regulations / what the requirements are for a harness when doing aerial + air to air photography, doors off, from a helicopter? Also where one might obtain such a thing and if a regular climbing harness with suitable attachments might suffice?

Many thanks

nrh

[parasite drag]

Contact Dave Spurdens at LOOP.aero (http://www.Loop.aero) :ok:

[Dieselpower]

Hi NRH

I do a fair ammount of aerial photography in the R44. The normal rules apply (rule 5) and also make sure you do not fly the helicopter is such manner that if you have a power unit failure you won't be able to make a safe landing.

I take every unnecessary loose object out of the helicopter (i.e sick bags, briefing cards ect) when removing the doors. I only take the rear right door off so no objects can fly into the tail rotor and you also get the advantage of seeing what the photographer is trying to capture. Remember the helicopters limitations when doors are removed.

With regards to the photographer I use a normal climbing harness with a strong climbing rope attached with two carabinas attached to him and a structural point in the helicopter. Also the camera has to be sercurly attached to the photographer himself (I use a thin steel cable with recorders). I also have him strapped in with the standard seatbelts. Make sure he does not have any loose articals or lenses on his camera and if he does change them in flight make sure there is an assistant to help him.

Hope this can help

Regards

DP

[photex]

You may want to think about using a fall arrester as well to absorb the energy from the (potential) fall. These can be purchased relatively cheaply, but are an absolute necessity when using a harness/short-rope set up.

Taking a fall onto a short piece of climbing rope is a very easy way of breaking your back or at least snapping something nasty.

PM for more info (occasional climbing instructor).

[mickjoebill]

Also the camera has to be sercurly attached to the photographer himself (I use a thin steel cable with recorders). I also have him strapped in with the standard seatbelts. Make sure he does not have any loose articals or lenses on his camera and if he does change them in flight make sure there is an assistant to help him.

Well, this setup will certainly protect the cameraman from falling out but will it hinder his egress in an emergency?
Can the carabinas be easily reached by the cameraman?
Straping the camera to the cameramans body is a less than good idea. Something else to tangle him up if he has to do a runner.
Attach the saftey strop to the aircraft not the man.

A cameraman drowned in an light aircraft ditching a few years ago, three others escaped uninjured. The cameraman couldn't release his carabinas and apparently he nor anyone else on board had a knife to hand.

If you tie your passenger in, consider a rigid sheathed knife strapped to his shin. Also another securley taped to the ceiling or seat, easily available if the cameraman is knocked out in a prang by the camera. Divers knives are good choice as they have straps on the sheaths.
A helmet is a good idea, something between camera and skull.


Mickjoebill

[Dieselpower]

Mickjoebill

I can see your point. The carabina is right infront of the camera man and in the brief you tell him that is the first thing he would reach for in an emergency (he still has the aircraft seat belt on in the air).

With regards to having the camera straped to the man the advantage is that he has control over it at all times and it is one less thing that could tangle him into the aircraft.

Ops manual forbids flight over water without floats so that one is cleared up!

DP

[Gordy]

A knife is not the best idea.....we have these hanging in the back seat area:

http://www.cascadefire.com/images/40212.jpg

[Brilliant Stuff]

We use a dispatchers harness which goes only round the hips. This is easy release.

In general we also leave the photographer secure to his seat by the normal seatbelt but at times one needs the extra flexibility so the seatbelt gets released, but then the dispatchers harness is only long enough for the actions so should you fall you can only fall an inch.

Camera is secured round the neck of the photographer.

[TRC]

I have used a purpose-made harness made by Irvin GQ for over 10 years.

It is a parachute harness with an adjustable length tether - BUT - the tether is releasable from the harness in emergency with a quick-release handle. The mechanism of this release is safe from accidental operation, but quick and easy if you need it.

The harness MUST be releasable quickly in case of ditching, fire, etc - AND the tether should be short enough to prevent matey from leaving the aircraft. The number of times I've seen people in a harness with about eight feet of rope at their feet FFS!! I remember an accident some years ago where the video cameraman was dragged along by his tether outside the helicopter after a hard engine-off run-on landing.

Also, in a small helicopter, the standard seat belt should still be used around the photographer's waist - a harness, even on a short tether is useless in a hard landing or accident (see above).

He's wearing the harness to keep him IN, not to catch him when he's fallen OUT.......

[Juan Smore]

TRC
Quite agree, the harness tether length should be adjusted to PREVENT him falling out. Can you give me the details of your Irvin GQ harness please?

[John Eacott]

I've no idea of the UK regulations, but Australia introduced standards for harnesses a few years ago, both for rescue harness and for crewman's harness. Companies have approvals ("Permissions", as they are now called) against not wearing seat belts when using a harness, but they will always stipulate that if a seat belt is worn then the harness must be disconnected: no point in getting caught trying to release both restraints after a bingle!

Our crewman/cameraman's harnesses have to be made to an approved standard, and are usually modified parachute harnesses with the quick release going to a 3 ring arrangement which will detach the securing strap from the back of the harness. A web cutter is essential as an alternative release, usually attached to one of the shoulder straps of the harness. Just as important is the hard point for attaching the harness to the airframe: seat belt anchorage points often do not have the lateral strength to safely restrain the crewman in an emergency. Bell have anchorage points for 206's which bolt to the vertical surface below the seats, other types need to be checked for an approved point.

We also have quick release straps to secure the camera to the harness, a further safety issue which can be overlooked. Then the still photographer changes his lens and it slips out of his hand: but you can only allow for so much, unfortunately!! :hmm:

There was a thread a while back, Lap belt vs harness (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/110583-lap-belt-versus-harness.html) which had some further discussion.

[TRC]

Can you give me the details of your Irvin GQ harness please?

I'm away at the moment and don't have the part number handy. There's no sign of it on the Irvin site, but this (http://www.airsafe.se/pdf/Airsafe1100.pdf) is very similar.

It is really better suited to larger helicopters that you can wander about in. I have used it in 350/355's with the tether point central in the back so as not to fall out of either side.

The important things are:

The harness tether must be short enough to keep the wearer inside the aircraft. Once the wearer is rigged get him to slide forward/lean out as much as possible - if his @r$e slides off the seat/door sill, the tether is too long. (Best done before take-off)
The harness is not the primary means of restraint for take-off and landing
All loose items removed or restrained - seat cushions, etc. I have known of 206 hatracks, roof trims and the entire rear bulkhead trim of a 355 coming adrift when flying doors-off

[[email protected]]

We've been using a crew mans harness from Lifesaving Systems Corp for years for crew ops in the back including photography. it works really well. It has a double safety lock with fully adjustable length strap and once this is anchored in the aircraft using the quick release (with safety), they are not going anywhere - hopefully :)

http://www.rotorinfo.com/images/testart/harness.jpg
http://www.lifesavingsystems.com/images/detail/harness_dtl/219.jpg

They are available from Life Saving Systems. As it happens, I have a couple of them which i no longer need - if you're interested PM me or of course LSC will be happy to sell you a new one. They provide pretty good service.

[Rescue1]

Hmmmmm
Glad I don't have to use that harness looks bloody dangerous to me,that is if the quick release mechanism is pressing the two side's in on each of the two snap connector's.
try doing that underwater.

Go for a dispatchers harness.

R1

[MikeNYC]

We use full body harnesses by Yates (Rope Rescue Harnesses (http://www.yatesgear.com/rescue/roperescue/harnesses/index.htm), as well as adjustable pick-off straps as tethers. Generally, the photographer is tethered in two places, middle of back and hips. The middle of back tether provides adjustability for lean, and the hip keeps his butt in. We generally work out of AStars and TwinStars with half of the seats folded up, and the photographer sits at the edge for maximum field of view and better ability to shoot straight down. The Yates harnesses provide several D-Rings that camera straps and other equipment can be attached to for safety (just looping the strap around your neck is NOT a great idea...). I do note the suggestion that camera gear should be tethered to the aircraft, not the individual... but that's not always practical.

I haven't found a quick release system that I'd trust not to get fouled in our gear during camera changes. Both the photographer and assistant carry a small seatbelt cutting tool in an easily accessible place on the harness. I'd be wary of using a simple climbing harness if working at the edge, as well as using the crewman safety belt as the sole restraint if working with the door removed.

All camera equipment (bags, gyro battery, etc) is tethered to hardpoints using quickdraws or longer webbing. For me, AStars have the easiest to access tether points, using the rear seatbelt attachment points. Bell 206's are a little bit more of a pain to access solid points on which to attach carabiners, but small bits of webbing around the seatbelt attachment point piece works for them. Interesting is John Eacott's mention below that seatbelt mount points may not have appropriate lateral strength. Mechanics in the past have advised me that seatbelt points were appropriate for this usage, but I'll have to revisit that.

In agreement with TRC's point, anything loose MUST be removed. When operating doors off in 350/355, the velcro on the rear cushions can come loose in the wind in certain conditions and create a dangerous situation. Also, the photographer should have the lens hood taped to each lens as the twistlock can come loose easily. Lens caps and things of that sort don't need to come up.

[lamanated]

any time we get someone leaning out, we put a rubber band over the female latch, as the photographers are wearing baggy clothes and its easy to catch the lap belt in their gear, and unbuckle unknowingly. had one guy last year say he undid the latch on a job. with the rubber band, you can still easily pop the belt off.. Same as long lining, some guys if they have doors off, add the band in case.

[[email protected]]

Rescue 1.

You are correct in assuming that you press the two sides to release the catch (twice :)). This piece of kit is favoured by the US Coast Guard and presumably it's a matter of risk management i.e ratio of people falling out of the helicopter versus helicopters going in the drink. We used it for crew safety in SAR type ops as much as photography over the 10 years or so.

It does work well and releases very easily with the added safety of the second release. For underwater egress, I always suppose that once you have your reference point and good training, reaching to your waist to release two catches is just as easy as one; however we know that pressure bursts pipes as we say, so maybe a bit of added stress at the wrong time might not be favoured, particularly by those hanging upside down without any underwater egress training at all.

[Brilliant Stuff]

bhl that is the exact harness we use.

We work inland therefore we should manage to keep clear of water.

[havick]

A cameramans harness will have a quick release handle much like on a parachute harness, therefore it is very quick for said person to exit the aircraft if they happen to survive the crash if they're not in their seat wearing their seatbelt (an unfortunate trade-off of achieving the task at hand vs risk). If someone's attached to the aircraft via a harness with no way of releasing themselves in a hurry other than via a carabiner that is connecting them, good luck getting out when the s*it hits the fan..

Furthermore the camera should be attached to the aircraft itself via a load rated strop/teather to stop it ending up going through someones' roof and landing on their dining room table in the middle of dinner. It won't act as an anchor on the cameraman that way.

[Fortyodd2]

Do you mean fall arrest? Or do you mean a restraining harness to stop them falling in the first place?

[TRC]

There have been several threads on here in the past on this subject.

The crucial things are that the harness stops the wearer falling out at all, rather than catching them when they have, and either the harness or the tether are quick-release. Industrial harnesses that are like putting overalls on are hopeless as they take too long to remove in an emergency.

I have seen people with ten feet of tether on the floor at their feet, and/or wearing the sort of thing found on building sites that are awkward to get out of.

I use a harness made by Irvin, it's a modified parachute harness with an adjustable length tether. The tether is attached to the harness with a three-ring release operated by a well-protected 'rip-cord' handle.

[Gordy]

No such regulation here in FAA land.

[Helilog56]

Regulations aside....how about commons sense that says, don't test you liability insurance!!!?!?! :ugh:

[KiwiNedNZ]

For the shoot I did today here in Doha its a full harness that you put your legs through and then a strap across the chest.

I used an AW139 as a camera ship today so used the anchoring straps around the bottom seat rails. I tightened the tether so I am at the door edge but no further. Once its anchored in I ALWAYS grab the end of and put all my weight on it to ensure no movement. Then hook up and away we go.

Me personally I dont lean all the way out hanging on the harness, dont see the point, wouldn't put the pilot in the position of filling out all that paperwork if something let go. Besides there is always a way to get that unique shot you want without being all the way outside the helo. For example today I just sat on the floor of the 139 in the doorway and shot for 2.3 hours and got everything I needed.

For those that are interested we were shooting Gulf Helicopters new AW189 as well as the S92 :)

Just my two cents worth.

Ned

[mickjoebill]

Three well intentioned cameraman have drowned in last 15 years, trapped by their home made harnesses, 1 x fixed wing 2 x helicopters ( 1 x civilian 1 x military)
In all cases they were the sole occupant who perished.


A common mistake is to use climbing gear, carabiners are designed not to release when under load, which screws you if you are left upside down in a rollover.

A one hand, protected, quick release is ideal.



Mickjoebill

[lelebebbel]

In OZ, you require an approval to use a photographers harness in lieu of the otherwise required seat belts. The details and conditions under which such a harness can be used are then put in your companies ops specs. This includes clear stipulations as to when the harness or seat belts have to be worn, as well as specifications for the harness to be used. For example, it must have an emergency quick release, the tether has to be the right length, it has to be attached to an appropriately rated hard point in the aircraft etc.

All good things to think about either way.

Since one is also required to wear a seatbelt in Canada, I would assume that a similar approval process would be required, although that is just a guess.

We had a purpose built helicopter harness when I was working down under. It had an emergency release similar to a parachute, and an adjustable length tether. I forgot the brand name, but I remember that it wasn't all that expensive.

[John Eacott]

Australian harnesses:

Airsafety Solutions (http://www.airsafetysolutions.com.au/products/crew-harnesses)

SETS (http://www.sets.com.au/harness.htm)

http://www.sets.com.au/pics/harness/Harness-Fitting-1.jpg

http://www.sets.com.au/pics/harness/Harness2.jpg

CASA Technical Standards Order (http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/airworth/atso/atsoc1001.pdf)

[MBJ]

Does anyone know of dispatcher harnesses available for purchase in the UK?

[SilsoeSid]

To clarify MBJ, are you after a despatches harness as in the traditional 'belt type' as used by UK Mil, or a despatchers harness more akin to a climbers harness?

[TRC]

Hi BJ,

I use one made by Irvine GQ.

PM me and I'll tell you who has (had) a couple. Clue might be in his initials - DA.

Thanks for the Christmas card btw.

TC

P.S. NO-ONE should even THINK about using a climbing or industrial type harness in a flying machine!!!!

[RVDT]

a.k.a a Monkey Belt? LMGTFY?

Lite Flite produces gunner belts, a.k.a. monkey belts or body positioning straps, and all sorts and lengths of lanyards for securing the crew during open door missions.

Lite Flite ApS
Lufthavnsvej 8
6580 Vamdrup
Denmark

Tel: +45 7558 3737
Fax: +45 7558 3758

Email: [email protected]

or

Airborne Systems Limited
Llangeinor • Bridgend CF32 8PL • UK
Tel: +44 (0)1656.727000

[SilsoeSid]

Thank you TRC for the p.s.
Could you elaborate please?
:ok:

[Hughes500]

TRC

nothing wrong with wearing a full body climbing harness, it is the release system that is the crucial bit ! Using krabs from the climbing world does not give that quick release if that is what you mean

[TRC]

Sid, this new thread has been added to all the others on this subject from the past.

Read it from the beginning again.

Climbing/industrial harnesses are not designed to be removed quickly. That means the only way to get out of a sinking or burning machine is to un-clip the tether at one end or the other. Not always easy as other posters have alredy pointed out.

Hughes, yes - that's what I mean.

[SilsoeSid]

Thanks TRC, I noticed that and it's interesting to read about the varying pieces of kit being used, and more importantly not used. Clearly, varying experience and risk assessments have led to the differing opinions. Again, the type of belt/harness/restraint utilised would depend on the likelihood of a fall. Some types of harness/belt would not have the required safety conformities as those designed to be capable of arresting a fall.

For example;
SAR Twin Rope Lanyards (http://www.sar-products.com/SAR_Work_positioning_lanyard1.html)
This lanyard is ideal for work positioning and work restraint and also passes the full standard EN354.

NOTE: These lanyards are not to be used for fall arrest.
Lanyards complying to EN354 must be used in conjunction with an energy absorber complying to EN355 for fall arrest and NOT to exceed 2m in length.

For what it's worth, I've always thought that 'in the event of', it should be possible to extract oneself with one arm incapacitated and 'blind'.

[TRC]

I don't understand why 'fall arrest' comes into this.

The sole purpose of these harnesses is to stop the wearer falling out, not to catch them when they do.

For the majority of photo sorties, the photographer should be in a seat with the normal seat belt fastened. The harness we are talking about is a secondary safety - no use at all in a heavy landing/crash.

[chute packer]

Indeed TRC. Another factor is the anchoring requirements for restraint vs fall arrest are different, there is a snatch loading on the hard point used as a fall arrest to be considered.

Also, read an accident report recently of an Australian Army Chinook crash in AFG. Only person killed was on the ramp during flight using a fall arrest strop, inflight upset caused him to fall out the back, the fall arrest strop extended 2 metres as designed to, and he was left hanging out the back unable to get back in when the helo bellied in, he was crushed under the ramp, everyone else survived.
250 page report here http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/coi/Reports/COIReport-30May11-Case.pdf
Last few chapters relate to the strop used. Suited to a building site, not a military aircraft.

[SilsoeSid]

The sole purpose of these harnesses is to stop the wearer falling out, not to catch them when they do.


Agreed TRC, however I bet this guy was glad he wasn't wearing a harness :eek:

odBuXF6dBd0

[McHover]

...listen to John Eacott and Mickjoebill. Sound. Sensible. Safe.

[MikeNYC]

While it may not be the popular answer, in my line of work we use industrial harnesses (made for transmission tower work) along with adjustable anchor straps. Release is by means of seatbelt cutters mounted and easily accessible on each harness, that (tested) slice through the anchor strap(s) instantly.

I have no trust in the dial-a-death chest-mounted quick release knobs when doing photography work, as equipment is frequently pressed against the chest and other items that could agitate it. Same goes for quick-release buckles in the back. The cutters are accessible with either hand and only require one hand. I am in in agreement that fall-arrest type straps have no place in an aircraft.

As far as the photographer being restrained primarily by a seatbelt, that simply doesn't work for a lot of missions. The flexibility isn't there.

One other important point is that the camera equipment should never be anchored to the harness or the photographer directly, but rather to the aircraft, lest the cameras act as an anchor should an evacuation be needed.

[Oldsarbouy]

During my time as a Winchman, Trainer and Examiner on both SAR and Support helicopters I always tried to impress those I flew with that the despatcher's harness was to stop them falling out and not to arrest their fall. Crewman, especially on Support Helicopters, would often lengthen the harness so as to be able to look underneath the aircraft or to reach the farthest parts of the cabin. It was brought home to me when we suffered a double engine failure during an approach in the mountains and, when everything had stopped and the Sea King was lying on it's starboard side minus sponsons, I was lying on the cabin door which I had quickly closed, contrary to the crash drills. If I had left the door open and had lengthened my harness I would have been crushed. To return to topic I would recommend the Despatcher's Harness as used by the British military as being simple and foolproof and, with the ceasing of UK military SAR soon, there should be plenty available.

[TripleC]

Hello OSB you are slightly older than me but I bet we served together on SAR at some time. This post reminds me of the time the RAF took responsibility for Manston with Wessex from Bristow with Whirlwinds. A couple of days before the handover we were tasked with a PR shoot with the BBC. The cameraman had a monkey-harness on and we flew down to Dover and back again. On passing the Goodwin Sands said photographer shouted that he had seen a red flare. Sure enough, on investigation we found a broken catamaran with 4 people and a dog clinging to it. While the rescue went on the cameraman was leaning well out of the door 'scooping' his financial future. It wasn't till we got back to Manston that he realised that his monkey-harness wasn't attached to anything!

[mickjoebill]

Worth repeating, when using a shoulder mounted camera, there is an issue relying on the seat belt because it is often loosened to be allow the camera operator to rotate his hips toward the door.

This helps to prevent the shoulder mounted camera from bumping against the seat back and reduces the need to twist the upper body and lean forward which is tiring.
The goal is to have the maximum scope to pan forward and aft without the airframe comming into shot.

A greater degree of body twisting is required when shooting out the right hand side to prevent camera bumping top of seat as camera is on the right shoulder.
On the other hand the lens is projecting a foot or so further towards the open door and so with less chance of airframe comming into shot (when shooting forwards) on the rhs than when shooting from Lhs.
If legal, removing seat back and/or the seat cushion can help with clearance. BTW, im told that unless the seat cushion is a very firm high tech foam it is better off without it in a serious crash.

Its interesting that sitting on the floor with legs dangling or resting on step seems to be less popular than it was a decade ago.

Mickjoebil

[NNB]

this is a blatant add for Skywerx.
We design and manufacture this type of gear. It's proven to work in the most hostile of environments.
Ok mods, I'll take my kicking now..!
NNB

[MBJ]

Its interesting that sitting on the floor with legs dangling or resting on step seems to be less popular than it was a decade ago.

They don't make 'em like they used to! For shooting out of the RH side this was always my preference in a 206 or 355 if the cameraman was right-handed. Its all gentleman's filming carriages now with remote cameras! ...Hope you had a good "Straya" day?

[SilsoeSid]

The sole purpose of these harnesses is to stop the wearer falling out, not to catch them when they do.

@ 5:00 is the bit we all remember most and the part that always springs to the front of my mind when I see these new bits of kit being handed around.
Watching the scene I think, 'Sarah (Michelle Joyner) isn't being stopped from falling when the kit fails, she is supposed to be being restrained'.

Having spent many an hour on the end of a UK military dispatchers harness, I'd have to agree with Oldsarbouy, "I would recommend the Despatcher's Harness as used by the British military as being simple and foolproof and, with the ceasing of UK military SAR soon, there should be plenty available."

seluTSIqoQ4

Lovely little note at 11:00 :eek:

Whatever you use, I'm sure it meets all the safety requirements, and some; just don't meddle :ok:

[Older and Wiser]

Check EASA PCDS Memorandum issued 8 Dec 2014

Please find herewith enclosed the link to the document they released on 8th December Certification Memoranda | EASA (http://easa.europa.eu/document-library/public-consultations/certification-memoranda) (click on the first doc on the left hand side).

Bottom line anything used to secure someone who is loose in the cabin must meet EN PPE Directives and be submitted as a minor change to the aircrafts airworthiness.

[Ready2Fly]

I think you are missing a bit:
1.1. Purpose and scope
The purpose of this Certification Memorandum is to provide specific clarification and additional guidance for certification of equipment and devices intended for use in operations involving carriage of human external cargo on helicopters by means of cargo hook or hoist.
A harness used i.e. while filming usually is not tied to a hoist or cargo hook, is it?

Therefore (imho) somebody still sitting on the floor inside the helicopter would not qualify as HEC.

[Older and Wiser]

Ready to Fly,

Obviously you did not read as far as bullet point 3 on this list.
This Certification Memorandum provides additional guidance for the EAS
A airworthiness approval of :

Personnel Carrying Device Systems of simple design (also referenced as ‘simple PCDS’)

elements connecting it to a cargo hook or hoist as part of the external loads of the rotorcraft

Elements attaching hoist operators to the cabin inside the helicopter

I read attaching a hoist operator inside the helicopter as no different to a photographer.

[Ready2Fly]

I read:
Elements attaching hoist operators to the cabin inside the helicopter

I do not read:
Elements attaching cameramen/humans/whatever else to the cabin inside the helicopter

EASA made many things more complicated than needed (my personal view). I am not going to add to this complexity by interpreting what has been written. I just take it as it is written down.

[cheshcat]

From the camera person's POV, I've taken to removing lens hoods as it all too easy for them to loosen and aim for the tail rotor

[TRC]

I read attaching a hoist operator inside the helicopter as no different to a photographerThe camera person is usually the reason for the flight in the first place - i.e. the helicopter has been chartered for the purpose of photography of some sort. That makes the photographer a fare-paying passenger, NOT a highly trained rear crew.

Fare-paying passengers deserve the correct equipment - AND - procedures for all phases of the flight.

[Ready2Fly]

Therefore (imho) somebody still sitting on the floor inside the helicopter would not qualify as HEC.

For the avoidance of doubt: For sure he has to wear a harness. The harness' airworthiness approval is just out of scope of this memorandum when used for this purpose.

It should obviously be certified according to EN 361 / EN 358 (in europe).

[Nail The Dream]

I hear that the Notional Police Air Support procurement team may have a few spare harnesses :E

Nail