Sikorsky S-92: Operations

[Savoia]

PHI flies first Rig Approach Customer Flights in the S-92

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and PHI Inc. announced today the completion of the first operational flights of the new "Rig Approach" system, a first of its kind functionality on the S-92 helicopter that provides helicopter operators with an automated approach to offshore rigs and platforms. The flights occurred yesterday.



Earlier this year, two FAA Demonstration test flights were flown simultaneously by Sikorsky and PHI, Inc. pilots who utilized Rig Approach to fly to oil rigs off the coast of Louisiana.

"This milestone culminates a five-year joint development effort between PHI and Sikorsky for Rig Approach. This new capability improves helicopter safety and operations for the offshore oil industry by reducing crew workload, increasing situational awareness and enhancing on-time performance," said Carey Bond, President, Sikorsky Global Helicopters. "Safety is and always will be our priority. Innovations such as Rig Approach are invaluable, especially in the hostile weather environments where many of these rigs operate every day."

"We share an absolute commitment to continue to explore new technologies to enhance the safety of the men and women who work in the Gulf," said Al Gonsoulin, CEO and Chairman of the Board for PHI, Inc. "Throughout our 60-plus-year history, PHI has taken great pride in our work to introduce advances with partners like Sikorsky. Together, with the introduction of Rig Approach, Sikorsky and PHI have made an important advancement in the name of safety."

Rig Approach reduces cockpit workload by 60 percent and allows for more consistent operations under challenging weather and operating conditions. The system will be available as an option on the S-92 helicopters, providing a fully coupled and automated approach capability with a higher safety margin than currently is available with any other offshore approach procedure. The feature can be retrofitted to aircraft already operating.

PHI flies first Rig Approach(TM) Customer Flights in the S-92® helicopter - MarketWatch

[nowherespecial]

In my experience, outside of established production areas most ac are rarely full. The oil companies can afford it, don't worry. Let them worry about it.

[Stinger10]

Good point! S-92 window barely qualifies as an emergency exit, and with 7 windows per side, they are only carrying 14 pax?

[tottigol]

In the North See, where the CAA has jurisdiction they likely ARE carrying just the number of passengers seated right next to a suitably large emergency exit.
Not all windows in the S-92 are emergency exits:

Or are large enough to qualify as such under certain conditions.

In the GOM, land of do whatever-you-want, or elsewhere they likely are not.

[satsuma]

Looking at the front row of that photo, are North Sea passengers not informed of the importance of zipping up their survival suits properly? As has been shown in recent years, the time elapsed between 'fat dumb and happy' and 'underwater escape' can be a matter of seconds. Do passengers really think they're going to escape with a survival suit full of water?

[jimf671]

Calm down! Calm down! This is clearly one of those photos where they drag a bunch of unsuspecting office workers out to the hangar to demonstrate bums on seats.

(I thought satsumas were supposed to be sweet?)



And yes, there clearly is the issue of the difference between a 'Type' of aviation Emergency Exit and an Escape Window.

Are we witnessing a stage in the Escape Window becoming a fundamental part of rotorcraft regulation rather than a convenient way of opening up a hole in the fuselage where a manufacturer happened to put a window?

[TiPwEiGhT]

It's a Norsk Helikopter S-92 at Stavanger and not office staff, probably taken during a customer demo flight.

TiP

[Stinger10]

Must be loud in the cabin too with everyone wearing that much hearing protection?

[tottigol]

So, by looking at this picture should we surmise that the S-92 is effectively a four passenger aircraft without the the use of rebreathing apparatuses for the passengers?

[jimf671]

Originally Posted by tottigol

So, by looking at this picture should we surmise that the S-92 is effectively a four passenger aircraft without the the use of rebreathing apparatuses for the passengers?

Only if you can find four people willing to put up with the vibration levels.

[terminus mos]

Only if you can find four people willing to put up with the vibration levels.

Which you probably would, our passengers far prefer the S-92 over the EC225 on long and short sectors.

[ATN]

... and where is the nose wheel ?

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by ATN

... and where is the nose wheel ?

Have you read this thread?

[ATN]

No, I had not. Thanks.