There have been several threads on here in the past on this subject.

The crucial things are that the harness stops the wearer falling out at all, rather than catching them when they have, and either the harness or the tether are quick-release. Industrial harnesses that are like putting overalls on are hopeless as they take too long to remove in an emergency.

I have seen people with ten feet of tether on the floor at their feet, and/or wearing the sort of thing found on building sites that are awkward to get out of.

I use a harness made by Irvin, it's a modified parachute harness with an adjustable length tether. The tether is attached to the harness with a three-ring release operated by a well-protected 'rip-cord' handle.

No such regulation here in FAA land.

Regulations aside....how about commons sense that says, don't test you liability insurance!!!?!?! :ugh:

For the shoot I did today here in Doha its a full harness that you put your legs through and then a strap across the chest.

I used an AW139 as a camera ship today so used the anchoring straps around the bottom seat rails. I tightened the tether so I am at the door edge but no further. Once its anchored in I ALWAYS grab the end of and put all my weight on it to ensure no movement. Then hook up and away we go.

Me personally I dont lean all the way out hanging on the harness, dont see the point, wouldn't put the pilot in the position of filling out all that paperwork if something let go. Besides there is always a way to get that unique shot you want without being all the way outside the helo. For example today I just sat on the floor of the 139 in the doorway and shot for 2.3 hours and got everything I needed.

For those that are interested we were shooting Gulf Helicopters new AW189 as well as the S92 :)

Just my two cents worth.

Ned

Three well intentioned cameraman have drowned in last 15 years, trapped by their home made harnesses, 1 x fixed wing 2 x helicopters ( 1 x civilian 1 x military)
In all cases they were the sole occupant who perished.


A common mistake is to use climbing gear, carabiners are designed not to release when under load, which screws you if you are left upside down in a rollover.

A one hand, protected, quick release is ideal.



Mickjoebill

In OZ, you require an approval to use a photographers harness in lieu of the otherwise required seat belts. The details and conditions under which such a harness can be used are then put in your companies ops specs. This includes clear stipulations as to when the harness or seat belts have to be worn, as well as specifications for the harness to be used. For example, it must have an emergency quick release, the tether has to be the right length, it has to be attached to an appropriately rated hard point in the aircraft etc.

All good things to think about either way.

Since one is also required to wear a seatbelt in Canada, I would assume that a similar approval process would be required, although that is just a guess.

We had a purpose built helicopter harness when I was working down under. It had an emergency release similar to a parachute, and an adjustable length tether. I forgot the brand name, but I remember that it wasn't all that expensive.

Australian harnesses:

Airsafety Solutions

SETS

http://www.sets.com.au/pics/harness/...-Fitting-1.jpg

http://www.sets.com.au/pics/harness/Harness2.jpg

CASA Technical Standards Order

Dispatcher Harnesses
 

Does anyone know of dispatcher harnesses available for purchase in the UK?

To clarify MBJ, are you after a despatches harness as in the traditional 'belt type' as used by UK Mil, or a despatchers harness more akin to a climbers harness?

Hi BJ,

I use one made by Irvine GQ.

PM me and I'll tell you who has (had) a couple. Clue might be in his initials - DA.

Thanks for the Christmas card btw.

TC

P.S. NO-ONE should even THINK about using a climbing or industrial type harness in a flying machine!!!!

a.k.a a Monkey Belt? LMGTFY?

Lite Flite ApS
Lufthavnsvej 8
6580 Vamdrup
Denmark

Tel: +45 7558 3737
Fax: +45 7558 3758

Email: [email protected]

or

Airborne Systems Limited
Llangeinor • Bridgend CF32 8PL • UK
Tel: +44 (0)1656.727000

Thank you TRC for the p.s.
Could you elaborate please?
:ok:

TRC

nothing wrong with wearing a full body climbing harness, it is the release system that is the crucial bit ! Using krabs from the climbing world does not give that quick release if that is what you mean

Sid, this new thread has been added to all the others on this subject from the past.

Read it from the beginning again.

Climbing/industrial harnesses are not designed to be removed quickly. That means the only way to get out of a sinking or burning machine is to un-clip the tether at one end or the other. Not always easy as other posters have alredy pointed out.

Hughes, yes - that's what I mean.

Thanks TRC, I noticed that and it's interesting to read about the varying pieces of kit being used, and more importantly not used. Clearly, varying experience and risk assessments have led to the differing opinions. Again, the type of belt/harness/restraint utilised would depend on the likelihood of a fall. Some types of harness/belt would not have the required safety conformities as those designed to be capable of arresting a fall.

For example;
SAR Twin Rope Lanyards
For what it's worth, I've always thought that 'in the event of', it should be possible to extract oneself with one arm incapacitated and 'blind'.

I don't understand why 'fall arrest' comes into this.

The sole purpose of these harnesses is to stop the wearer falling out, not to catch them when they do.

For the majority of photo sorties, the photographer should be in a seat with the normal seat belt fastened. The harness we are talking about is a secondary safety - no use at all in a heavy landing/crash.

Indeed TRC. Another factor is the anchoring requirements for restraint vs fall arrest are different, there is a snatch loading on the hard point used as a fall arrest to be considered.

Also, read an accident report recently of an Australian Army Chinook crash in AFG. Only person killed was on the ramp during flight using a fall arrest strop, inflight upset caused him to fall out the back, the fall arrest strop extended 2 metres as designed to, and he was left hanging out the back unable to get back in when the helo bellied in, he was crushed under the ramp, everyone else survived.
250 page report here http://www.defence.gov.au/publicatio...May11-Case.pdf
Last few chapters relate to the strop used. Suited to a building site, not a military aircraft.

Agreed TRC, however I bet this guy was glad he wasn't wearing a harness :eek:

For the best advice...
 

...listen to John Eacott and Mickjoebill. Sound. Sensible. Safe.

While it may not be the popular answer, in my line of work we use industrial harnesses (made for transmission tower work) along with adjustable anchor straps. Release is by means of seatbelt cutters mounted and easily accessible on each harness, that (tested) slice through the anchor strap(s) instantly.

I have no trust in the dial-a-death chest-mounted quick release knobs when doing photography work, as equipment is frequently pressed against the chest and other items that could agitate it. Same goes for quick-release buckles in the back. The cutters are accessible with either hand and only require one hand. I am in in agreement that fall-arrest type straps have no place in an aircraft.

As far as the photographer being restrained primarily by a seatbelt, that simply doesn't work for a lot of missions. The flexibility isn't there.

One other important point is that the camera equipment should never be anchored to the harness or the photographer directly, but rather to the aircraft, lest the cameras act as an anchor should an evacuation be needed.