UK MP's to examine helicopter safety
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UK MP's to examine helicopter safety
The move follows a loss of confidence from passengers flown to UK oil rigs.
An inquiry into offshore helicopter safety is to be carried out by MPs.
It follows the Super Puma crash off Shetland last month, in which four people died.
The transport select committee has confirmed it is to examine the crash, along with other North Sea helicopter incidents, as part of a wide-ranging investigation.
The committee chairman, Louise Ellman, said there is "worrying evidence" that the workforce has lost confidence.
It is expected that union representatives will be among those brought before the committee.
An investigation into the CHC-operated Super Puma AS332 L2 crash is ongoing.
Sarah Darnley, 45, of Elgin, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester, lost their lives in the incident.
It follows the Super Puma crash off Shetland last month, in which four people died.
The transport select committee has confirmed it is to examine the crash, along with other North Sea helicopter incidents, as part of a wide-ranging investigation.
The committee chairman, Louise Ellman, said there is "worrying evidence" that the workforce has lost confidence.
It is expected that union representatives will be among those brought before the committee.
An investigation into the CHC-operated Super Puma AS332 L2 crash is ongoing.
Sarah Darnley, 45, of Elgin, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester, lost their lives in the incident.
Last edited by Ye Olde Pilot; 10th Sep 2013 at 21:15.
If it is run anything like the manner in which that bl**dy Hodge woman runs the PAC, it'll be World Class grandstanding with various oil and rotary Industry executives arrogantly browbeaten and assumed guilty of some unspecified fault.
Mucho heat with very little light.
I hope I'm wrong.
Mucho heat with very little light.
I hope I'm wrong.
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Why not?
The helicopter industry and the regulator have failed to innovate to improve safety, other than purchasing newer helicopters and apparently operating them with insufficient SOPS and Training. The OEMs and the regulators continue to allow operation of aircraft with a band aid applied to the MGB.
Before you blame the " bad nasty"oil companies, who is paying for the "new technology" helicopters which have yet to demonstrate a real improvement in safety?
The helicopter industry and the regulator have failed to innovate to improve safety, other than purchasing newer helicopters and apparently operating them with insufficient SOPS and Training. The OEMs and the regulators continue to allow operation of aircraft with a band aid applied to the MGB.
Before you blame the " bad nasty"oil companies, who is paying for the "new technology" helicopters which have yet to demonstrate a real improvement in safety?
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The OEMs and the regulators continue to allow operation of aircraft with a band aid applied to the MGB.
Is checking the S92 MGB mounting feet for cracks also a 'band aid' solution?
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just listened to the BBC radio programme 'more or less' which is all about statics. They examine the safety record with ref to a ten year study and it makes good listening, the bottom line was along the theme that there weren't enough accidents to draw statical conclusions from, but that every case should be examined on it's own merits. The podcast is still available, give it a listen and see what you think.
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CvB
Seeing as the inquiry is being set up as a result of loss of confidence in helicopters, I would have thought that cracking gearbox shafts and mounting feet would form a relevant part of it. Wouldn't you? They are quite important.
Seeing as the inquiry is being set up as a result of loss of confidence in helicopters, I would have thought that cracking gearbox shafts and mounting feet would form a relevant part of it. Wouldn't you? They are quite important.
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That should be good for a lot of self-serving rubbish being talked by people without a clue who I wouldn't let take my dog for a walk!!!!
Last edited by mtoroshanga; 11th Sep 2013 at 19:24.
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As posted before, it will probably be chaired by someone who knows nothing about aviation and a good little number for all the scroungers to get onto. Let the industry do this we always have and people like the CAA/FAA have managed pretty well so far.
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Patricia Hodge would be perfect. Get the management and regulators squirming to get a safer industry I say. Corner cutting and poor management across the helicopter industry needs to come to an end.
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Mz Ellman (i thought Ellerman) is a red hot socialist
, verging on a sort of female Quisling/communista
, she is a lover of the TV/paperatsi type sound bites.totally the wrong person to be looking into such problems that have had sad outcomes.
Air miles Andy is better qualified!!!
Peter RB
Lancashire
, verging on a sort of female Quisling/communista, she is a lover of the TV/paperatsi type sound bites.totally the wrong person to be looking into such problems that have had sad outcomes.Air miles Andy is better qualified!!!
Peter RB
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Satsuma, CVB is absolutely correct.
He is challenging the use of the emotive "Band Aid" descriptor in reference to what are actually maintenance actions approved by the OEM, the Regulator and incorporated into the Continued Airworthiness Requirements.
It is you sir that does not understand!!
DB
He is challenging the use of the emotive "Band Aid" descriptor in reference to what are actually maintenance actions approved by the OEM, the Regulator and incorporated into the Continued Airworthiness Requirements.
It is you sir that does not understand!!
DB
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You two carry on congratulating each other and everything will be ok. 
If emotive words are used by some, maybe it reflects a strength of feeling. The three modern aircraft of choice have had major technical problems, two with their gearboxes and one with its tail rotor. That's not reassuring to any passenger. The 225 is only just limping back into North Sea service, quicker with some operators than others, so to classify its gearbox issue merely as something that's prone to failure and should be checked like any other component is wholly missing the point of concern of those who have to endure that uncomfortable ride to a rig.
What would be reassuring would be that they know they'll be able to escape the cabin unhindered should an unfortunate event occur or that the pilots are capable of handling both the aircraft and its increasingly complex automatic pilot in all phases of flight, but that doesn't appear to universally be the case either, does it?
If emotive words are used by some, maybe it reflects a strength of feeling. The three modern aircraft of choice have had major technical problems, two with their gearboxes and one with its tail rotor. That's not reassuring to any passenger. The 225 is only just limping back into North Sea service, quicker with some operators than others, so to classify its gearbox issue merely as something that's prone to failure and should be checked like any other component is wholly missing the point of concern of those who have to endure that uncomfortable ride to a rig.
What would be reassuring would be that they know they'll be able to escape the cabin unhindered should an unfortunate event occur or that the pilots are capable of handling both the aircraft and its increasingly complex automatic pilot in all phases of flight, but that doesn't appear to universally be the case either, does it?
Last edited by satsuma; 13th Sep 2013 at 11:16.