North Sea News
Helistudent - here's a 19-seat helicopter on a standard helideck.
Our Internet link is via satellite, and bandwidth is restricted accordingly, as commercial data has priority.
There are snags to your suggestion to combine flights in a larger aircraft, including accountability, liferaft capacity, and the fact that after three weeks away we really don't like getting shuttled-about to pick-up odds-and-sods from other units.
Our Internet link is via satellite, and bandwidth is restricted accordingly, as commercial data has priority.
There are snags to your suggestion to combine flights in a larger aircraft, including accountability, liferaft capacity, and the fact that after three weeks away we really don't like getting shuttled-about to pick-up odds-and-sods from other units.
Last edited by diginagain; 30th Jun 2013 at 19:37.
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Aberdare, Wales
Age: 31
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Thanks so much. 
Last "stupid" question please, can you feel the movement of the sea when you are on the rig - is is possible to get sea sick on a rig or platform?
Last "stupid" question please, can you feel the movement of the sea when you are on the rig - is is possible to get sea sick on a rig or platform?
There's no such thing as a 'stupid' question.
It all depends on the installation. On a semi-submersible - ie floating - unit, you can feel the motion, but a lot depends on how 'tender' the unit is, and some people are seasick when it gets lumpy.
Fixed platforms and jack-up drilling units are attached to the sea-bed, although there is often a little movement even then during rough weather.
It all depends on the installation. On a semi-submersible - ie floating - unit, you can feel the motion, but a lot depends on how 'tender' the unit is, and some people are seasick when it gets lumpy.
Fixed platforms and jack-up drilling units are attached to the sea-bed, although there is often a little movement even then during rough weather.
Last edited by diginagain; 30th Jun 2013 at 19:50.
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ogba
Age: 53
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anthony Flexiblenyash
Surely you're right, they should be able to, but something is surely wrong in a company which always talks about 'Target Zero' and has that included somewhere in all communications, but has no Quality and Safety manager for the North Sea, has had no Q&S manager in Nigeria for more than 1 year? They also now have no global manager of quality and safety or engineering standards and the training and standards manager is now also filling in as the global director quality, safety and standards. Something, somewhere has surely gone wrong, especially where one of the positions has now been vacant for more than 1 year 
. It seems quality and safety now takes second place to the commercial department and people are leaving because of it, which I think is disturbing.
Surely Bristow can always recruit more quality/safety managers if they need?
. It seems quality and safety now takes second place to the commercial department and people are leaving because of it, which I think is disturbing.
Have the Safety Standards changed? Are they having an increased rate of incidents/accidents?
Are the Operations grinding to a halt due to the vacancies?
Or....did the Operations function safely and efficiently despite the presence of the now departed?
Are the Operations grinding to a halt due to the vacancies?
Or....did the Operations function safely and efficiently despite the presence of the now departed?
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rumor has it that Stripling and Ireland are going to join Bristow former Vice President Operations, Richard Burman, who is now a director of Avincis Group,
Larger helicopters
Helistudent, regarding your suggestion about larger helicopters, one factor to consider is the size and strength of helidecks currently installed on offshore installations. The current batch of 19 passenger seaters are pretty much at the limit.
Also a large number of onerous regulations come into force if you have more than 19 passengers, making it all quite difficult!
Also a large number of onerous regulations come into force if you have more than 19 passengers, making it all quite difficult!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ogba
Age: 53
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SASless, are you trolling or a hypocrite?
You have been posting extensively on the thread about the fatal crash at Ornge about people ignoring warning signs, commercial pressures overriding safety concerns, lack of proper oversight and then you ask:
I guess that the safety standards in Ornge didn't seem to have changed, operations didn't halt and operations appeared to be functioning safely until suddenly they didn't. Lack of proper safety oversight never has any apparent effect on operations until something goes wrong and suddenly all sorts of people start asking 'where was the oversight of the continuing safe function of this company?'.
You have been posting extensively on the thread about the fatal crash at Ornge about people ignoring warning signs, commercial pressures overriding safety concerns, lack of proper oversight and then you ask:
Have the Safety Standards changed? Are they having an increased rate of incidents/accidents?
Are the Operations grinding to a halt due to the vacancies?
Or....did the Operations function safely and efficiently despite the presence of the now departed?
Are the Operations grinding to a halt due to the vacancies?
Or....did the Operations function safely and efficiently despite the presence of the now departed?
It seems quality and safety now takes second place to the commercial department and people are leaving because of it, which I think is disturbing.
Care to share with us what factual information you have that warrant your public voicing of concern?
At the Ornge thread....I have made my concerns known in detail
Go back to the thread about the Fraud Investigation at Ornge while you have time.....I raised concerns about the Management way back then....long before the Fatal Crash.
Your turn!
Last edited by SASless; 1st Jul 2013 at 20:22.
GOM News actually.....but it does have interest to the folks working on the North Sea.
PHI and Sikorsky have received FAA Approval for fully automated Rig Approaches in the S-92. The Process is on-going to reduce Minimums to a 200/ 1/4 Mile Weather.
This has been a very long time in coming.
FAA Certifies Sikorsky?s Auto Rig Approach for S-92 | Aviation International News
PHI and Sikorsky have received FAA Approval for fully automated Rig Approaches in the S-92. The Process is on-going to reduce Minimums to a 200/ 1/4 Mile Weather.
This has been a very long time in coming.
FAA Certifies Sikorsky?s Auto Rig Approach for S-92 | Aviation International News
I would imagine at DH/DA.
One question that came to mind....if using 200' Ceiliing and 1/4 SM visibility for Weather Minimums.....do you apply that to deck height or highest part of the structure the Deck is located upon?
For Night Operations....what kind of lighting would be required?
One question that came to mind....if using 200' Ceiliing and 1/4 SM visibility for Weather Minimums.....do you apply that to deck height or highest part of the structure the Deck is located upon?
For Night Operations....what kind of lighting would be required?
Last edited by SASless; 3rd Jul 2013 at 22:07.
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Aer
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think that the system terminates at 1/4 mile and 50" above deck height slightly offset, so if you continue straight ahead, the aircraft is oriented as if it will perform a go around. If the Pilot does not de couple and land, the aircraft performs an automatic go around and a climb to 1500'.
1/4 sm does seem very close. Maybe the FAA considered only the relatively small offshore installations in GoM, but in N Sea some are huge, so which co-ordinates do you enter? Helideck? In which case there can be lots of structure between you and the helideck. Also what about FPSOs etc that swing around on an anchor, so you don't quite know where the helideck is until after you have landed on it. I can't see UK CAA approving 1/4 sm MAP.
Its not about the precision of the guidance system, its about knowing the obstacle environment.
Its not about the precision of the guidance system, its about knowing the obstacle environment.
Last edited by HeliComparator; 4th Jul 2013 at 13:45.
HC....the minima was weather.....not the Decision Point as I read it.
Right now they use a one half mile offset.
I also wonder if they accept visual contact with the structure or is it visual contact with the Deck?
Even the CAA is going to have to accept something in this regard.
The Technology is here.....figuring out how to utilize it safely is going to be the hard part for some Authorities.
As to the difference in Platforms in the UK and US waters.....you might be surprised at how much similarity there is between the two places.
The GOM over all has far more smaller platforms for sure....but then it is a much larger area than the North Sea oil patch.
Ever seen a GOM Block Map?
Not a block map but does show extent of the GOM Oil Patch.
The fields stretch about 900 SM's in length.....from Texas to Alabama.
Right now they use a one half mile offset.
I also wonder if they accept visual contact with the structure or is it visual contact with the Deck?
Even the CAA is going to have to accept something in this regard.
The Technology is here.....figuring out how to utilize it safely is going to be the hard part for some Authorities.
As to the difference in Platforms in the UK and US waters.....you might be surprised at how much similarity there is between the two places.
The GOM over all has far more smaller platforms for sure....but then it is a much larger area than the North Sea oil patch.
Ever seen a GOM Block Map?
Not a block map but does show extent of the GOM Oil Patch.
The fields stretch about 900 SM's in length.....from Texas to Alabama.
Last edited by SASless; 4th Jul 2013 at 14:06.
SAS, whether your's is bigger than mine wasn't really the issue! It was about the size and shape of the individual structures - although I have no first hand knowledge of GoM structures, they do seem to be smaller individually than NNSea. Take the Ekofisk for example, you would have to be really careful getting within 1/4 sm of one of their helidecks in IMC!
As to the point about weather minima vs MAP, what is the difference?
I'm sure the CAA will accept something like this - they are doing their own research into automated rig approaches - just not with 1/4SM minima.
As to the point about weather minima vs MAP, what is the difference?
I'm sure the CAA will accept something like this - they are doing their own research into automated rig approaches - just not with 1/4SM minima.
Last edited by HeliComparator; 4th Jul 2013 at 14:36.
If you are using one quarter mile vis and a one half mile MAP.....about a quarter of a mile.
Which is it HC.....you seemed to think size mattered to begin with....and then note the Ekofisk (which i am well familiar with)....so you do seem size fixated....does that come from other insecurities?
Which is it HC.....you seemed to think size mattered to begin with....and then note the Ekofisk (which i am well familiar with)....so you do seem size fixated....does that come from other insecurities?
Maybe the FAA considered only the relatively small offshore installations in GoM, but in N Sea some are huge,
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Aberdare, Wales
Age: 31
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have found a couple of videos, among the first on the list - showing a North Sea and then GOM Rig -
They seem a bit similar!
On the second video, I thought the pilot was first supposed to fly over the landing area to check that the are no obvious (or maybe not so obvious) obstructions or is this not necessary?
They seem a bit similar!
On the second video, I thought the pilot was first supposed to fly over the landing area to check that the are no obvious (or maybe not so obvious) obstructions or is this not necessary?