TCAS Offshore
Yes definitly, at least in some busy areas with intermeshing "helicopter routes" with saturated radio com.and poorly managed logistic coordination.....it seems to become the common lot in many operating areas.
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TCAS is like looking at your own personal radar screen, it works like a charm. It is not 100% reliable, some targets don't appear (dead transponders?) but the vast majority pop up and would not otherwise be seen by naked eye.
It is a fantastic improvement, IMHO.
It is a fantastic improvement, IMHO.
NIck,
I shall pose the famous question heard in the industry anytime something like this comes up......"Who is going to pay for this?"
I shall pose the famous question heard in the industry anytime something like this comes up......"Who is going to pay for this?"
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Same folks who pay your salary and mine, same folks who pay insurance, same folks who pay for accidents, same folks who will require it in new contracts - you customers, and mine.
Does that mean the helicopter industry has to raise rates to pay for such innovations? How do we compete if we equip our aircraft with TCAS, Autopilots, Second pilot....even another engine...and the competition does not? Will the oil companies see the wisdom of "sophisticated machines" and pay the extra money we need to pay for the updates? Or....will they go to the cheapest bidder....and safety be damned?
Nick, it all sounds good to have these things...lord knows I am on the side of safety and progress....but the reality is the oil companies and thus the operators do not give a fig for safety unless their cost benefit-risk analysis shows it to be the cheaper way to go. Human life sure doesn't seem to be the driving issue or else we would not have the situation we do in the Gulf of Mexico oil patch.
Nick, it all sounds good to have these things...lord knows I am on the side of safety and progress....but the reality is the oil companies and thus the operators do not give a fig for safety unless their cost benefit-risk analysis shows it to be the cheaper way to go. Human life sure doesn't seem to be the driving issue or else we would not have the situation we do in the Gulf of Mexico oil patch.
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Let's assume the costs are taken care of. What I don't know is "will it work". Not just theory. Anybody got any real life experience with TCAS offshore or in a representative crowded, low level environment?
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I've been flying offshore in the Gulf of Mexico for close to eight years. The base to which I'm currently assigned is home to several operators and experiences a high volume of traffic most of the working day.
For the past three or four years I've been using BFG's Skywatch (which is considered a Traffic Alert System or TAS rather than true TCAS). It sends out its own interrogation and displays the returns from traffic within six or ten miles (depending on the installation) using TCAS symbology. It differs from true TCAS in that it does not suggest a course of action to avoid traffic.
I've found it to be quite reliable and reasonably accurate. It does a great job of alerting us to traffic which is or may become a threat. As Nick said, it's not perfect, but it's saved my bacon more than once.
PHI initially began installing the systems in conjunction with customer funding, however, several years ago the policy changed to equip all aircraft in the fleet, regardless. I think we're pretty close to 100% at this point. It's absolutely my favorite piece of safety equipment for offshore flying.
-Stan-
For the past three or four years I've been using BFG's Skywatch (which is considered a Traffic Alert System or TAS rather than true TCAS). It sends out its own interrogation and displays the returns from traffic within six or ten miles (depending on the installation) using TCAS symbology. It differs from true TCAS in that it does not suggest a course of action to avoid traffic.
I've found it to be quite reliable and reasonably accurate. It does a great job of alerting us to traffic which is or may become a threat. As Nick said, it's not perfect, but it's saved my bacon more than once.
PHI initially began installing the systems in conjunction with customer funding, however, several years ago the policy changed to equip all aircraft in the fleet, regardless. I think we're pretty close to 100% at this point. It's absolutely my favorite piece of safety equipment for offshore flying.
-Stan-
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TCAS TCAD they are all a bit different but basically perform the same function to varying degrees of cleverness or ability.
I agree with SL Grossman, they are a great piece of kit and ghave been much better than the previous equipment in the GOM which was NOTHING!
Beware, in the NS, the industry may see it as a way of you guys doing your own ATC and separation, thereby saving the oil companies a dollar or two in fixed offshore nav charges.
Either that or the operators will pocket the charge and give you TCAS instead!
Overall, if you can afford it, get it.
HH
I agree with SL Grossman, they are a great piece of kit and ghave been much better than the previous equipment in the GOM which was NOTHING!
Beware, in the NS, the industry may see it as a way of you guys doing your own ATC and separation, thereby saving the oil companies a dollar or two in fixed offshore nav charges.
Either that or the operators will pocket the charge and give you TCAS instead!
Overall, if you can afford it, get it.
HH
Nice piece of kit
Niece piece of kit; does it help in the North Sea?
We've got decent (to be improved radar cover); if we all follow common sense and improve coms with the military, it would be something nice to have, but not as essential as newer helicopters.
Shoot me down, if you like, but I'll be coming out of the sun.
The Hun
We've got decent (to be improved radar cover); if we all follow common sense and improve coms with the military, it would be something nice to have, but not as essential as newer helicopters.
Shoot me down, if you like, but I'll be coming out of the sun.
The Hun
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SASless,
Look at your insurance bill, you buy another helicopter for the insurance company every 20 years, if you have average rates! If he banks the money at normal interest rates, he buys a new helo every 15 years or so.
Welcome to the ranks of the Bosses, SASless! Now you can hear the "Ka-ching" of the cash register at every good idea!
The trick is to think of it and sell it as reducing the cost of operation by reducing the number of accidents.
Look at your insurance bill, you buy another helicopter for the insurance company every 20 years, if you have average rates! If he banks the money at normal interest rates, he buys a new helo every 15 years or so.
Welcome to the ranks of the Bosses, SASless! Now you can hear the "Ka-ching" of the cash register at every good idea!
The trick is to think of it and sell it as reducing the cost of operation by reducing the number of accidents.
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slgrossman
We are installing skywatch in one of our L2's next month and have just sat down with the manual and would welcome some insight to it's good and bad bits.
PM me if you like.
MaxNg
We are installing skywatch in one of our L2's next month and have just sat down with the manual and would welcome some insight to it's good and bad bits.
PM me if you like.
MaxNg
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You wouldn't need full TCAS. I agree with the others here, the skywatch type system is excellent. But remember, gliders and non squawking microlites do not show up. You can set the kit to concentate above or below as well. Useful when at lower level as it increases coverage.
Fat chance
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As a safely feet dry on terra firma ATCO, I believe anything that improves situational awarness for the NS pilots has to be good.....
However! There is always a danger of complacancy creeping in with equipment like TCAS. From what I have seen on the Radar screen over 20+ years at the Ice Station, quite a high proportion of those ultra-fast, swing-wing, pointy things fly around offshore with the transponder/IFF switched OFF - and when they are operating as a "pair" (or bigger "formation") often only the "Lead" has the Transponder/IFF on. Therefore, there will still be a lot of potential conflicting traffic which will NEVER show on your TCAS/whatever, display.
DD
However! There is always a danger of complacancy creeping in with equipment like TCAS. From what I have seen on the Radar screen over 20+ years at the Ice Station, quite a high proportion of those ultra-fast, swing-wing, pointy things fly around offshore with the transponder/IFF switched OFF - and when they are operating as a "pair" (or bigger "formation") often only the "Lead" has the Transponder/IFF on. Therefore, there will still be a lot of potential conflicting traffic which will NEVER show on your TCAS/whatever, display.
DD
Despite what can be said against, I am convinced that a TCAS( 1 or 2) is a good asset in flight safety, like the weather radar...Once again in areas with no ATC assistance, where different competing companies operate different procedures, sometimes using different langages, this equipment quickly becomes your friend. Of course we still have to keep it's limitations in mind and also remember some are not equipped with transponder....
