HeliOffshore Conference Report: Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance

The offshore helicopter safety association, HeliOffshore, launched a new ‘Safety Performance Model’ and Safety Strategy for the industry. Both were agreed to at HeliOffshorCe's conference last month, and are the basis for an on-going review of safety in the sector and collaborative safety improvement.

HeliOffshore, founded by the five of the largest players in offshore helicopter operations (Babcock, Bristow, CHC, ERA and PHI), now has 90 members, all committed to collaborating to improve offshore helicopter safety.

HeliOffshore CEO Gretchin Haskins said the group’s goal is “that no lives are lost due to offshore helicopter transport,” and even though the model and strategy were confirmed at the conference – “work already underway to share information and expertise across the industry – will help to achieve that.”

The key, she said, is to build “system resilience” and “increased survivability” in case of equipment malfunction, and the entire industry – from OEMs, to operators, to oil and gas customers – must also work proactively to increase safety.

Bill Chiles, HeliOffshore Chairman, said “Members have adopted a plan to undertake a fundamental review that will enhance the reliability and resilience of the offshore fleet and the systems that support it – both human and machine.”

HeliOffshore says stakeholder alignment on this strategy must be to:

The entire conference report is available at  HeliOffshore 2016 Conference Report: Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance.