Can offshore helicopters become as safe as commercial airlines?
Originally Posted by SASless
There was a lot more vegetation growing on it the last time I saw it.
ISTR there were a couple of palm trees growing amongst the sand piled up in odd corners, blown down off the Sahara 
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Originally posted by SASLess
Which platform might that be that has the shivers?
Which platform might that be that has the shivers?
The JuJu rig was starting to compete with Kew Gardens last time I looked - lots of foliage and a haven for seabirds!
RJ - you are definitely NL by another name. Once you start posting about old cars we will be certain!
Interesting that you chose the 2006 statistics. Wasn't that the year that the S76 out of Norwich lost a rotor blade? That being the first loss of life accident for some years. Even though you used that data to try to slew things (and as zalt points out, the FAA's idea of an accident is far removed from Europe's), in fact it makes the point that probably no, offshore helicopters will never become as safe as commercial airliners if only because there are so many more single point mechanical failures that can cause a catastrophic accident.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't try though! With the 7/7 items etc, safety can be raised but ultimately you are dealing with an intrinsically much more dangerous flying machine than an airliner.
HC
Interesting that you chose the 2006 statistics. Wasn't that the year that the S76 out of Norwich lost a rotor blade? That being the first loss of life accident for some years. Even though you used that data to try to slew things (and as zalt points out, the FAA's idea of an accident is far removed from Europe's), in fact it makes the point that probably no, offshore helicopters will never become as safe as commercial airliners if only because there are so many more single point mechanical failures that can cause a catastrophic accident.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't try though! With the 7/7 items etc, safety can be raised but ultimately you are dealing with an intrinsically much more dangerous flying machine than an airliner.
HC
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Safety
Skiddriver,
Sorry mate, misread the whole reply; had a very difficult day - new copilot.
Thanks for joining the crew - we need more pilots who can see the bottom line to make this whole issue balance out. This illusive balance is not only in our favor, but for the passengers AND the Companies thermselves - IF they ever get their heads out of profits and into what they are supposed to be doing.
I doubt very much if this will be an overnight success. - BUT - if we can take and maintain the professional high ground in such a manner as NOT to allow another AW139 happening, it will be a success, and as we all know, one leads to another.
Again, my apologies.
CMW.
Sorry mate, misread the whole reply; had a very difficult day - new copilot.
Thanks for joining the crew - we need more pilots who can see the bottom line to make this whole issue balance out. This illusive balance is not only in our favor, but for the passengers AND the Companies thermselves - IF they ever get their heads out of profits and into what they are supposed to be doing.
I doubt very much if this will be an overnight success. - BUT - if we can take and maintain the professional high ground in such a manner as NOT to allow another AW139 happening, it will be a success, and as we all know, one leads to another.
Again, my apologies.
CMW.
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HC,
2006 between christmas and new year was morecambe bay.
these are the only 2 fatal accidents in the UK North Sea that I can recall since I started flying in 1997, the previous one I believe was in 1990 (cormorant A) and before that sumburgh 1986 (chinook) can the old and bold tell me if that is right?
regards
CF
2006 between christmas and new year was morecambe bay.
these are the only 2 fatal accidents in the UK North Sea that I can recall since I started flying in 1997, the previous one I believe was in 1990 (cormorant A) and before that sumburgh 1986 (chinook) can the old and bold tell me if that is right?
regards
CF
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I remember the Norwegians lost a 332L near the Norne platform in the early 1990s. IIRC the turbine shaft broke and the engine ran up, but as the overspeed protection system was u/s, the engine blew itself to bits, breaking through the firewall and knocking out the other engine. All died. 
All 332Ls were grounded for a time and eventually the emergency checklist was ammended with a procedure for an overspeed warning (at least it was at Bond).
bondu (obviously OLD, but definately NOT bold!)
All 332Ls were grounded for a time and eventually the emergency checklist was ammended with a procedure for an overspeed warning (at least it was at Bond).
bondu (obviously OLD, but definately NOT bold!)
Camp Freddie - Morecambe Bay is most certainly not in the North Sea!
Helidecks always seem an after thought to most rig builders.
Rig owner ".....rig looks great but where's the Helideck".
Rig Builder. "Ohhhh sh*t, we'll just plonk one near the turbine exhausts and cranes, there's a bit of room in that corner, it's also hidden from view so will not ruin the great looks of my design"
Rig owner ".....rig looks great but where's the Helideck".
Rig Builder. "Ohhhh sh*t, we'll just plonk one near the turbine exhausts and cranes, there's a bit of room in that corner, it's also hidden from view so will not ruin the great looks of my design"
CF,
between the Chinook and the Cormorant there was the Brent Spar in 1990 - S-61 clipped the crane jib with it's tail rotor (resulted in 6 fatalaties and 7 survivors.) I made reference to it in the thread about the CHC Dauphin (XD) in an attempt to highlight how potentially dangerous such an event was, but was poo-pooed for being melodramatic!
between the Chinook and the Cormorant there was the Brent Spar in 1990 - S-61 clipped the crane jib with it's tail rotor (resulted in 6 fatalaties and 7 survivors.) I made reference to it in the thread about the CHC Dauphin (XD) in an attempt to highlight how potentially dangerous such an event was, but was poo-pooed for being melodramatic!
