Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations

1 Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Issue 5. February 2005. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, neither UKOOA, nor any of its members will assume liability for any use made thereof. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publishers.

2 Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Copyright 2005 UK Offshore Operators Association Limited ISBN: 1 903003 296. PUBLISHED BY UK Offshore OPERATORS ASSOCIATION. London Office: 2nd Floor, 232-242 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1AU. Tel: 020 7802 2400 Fax: 020 7802 2401. Aberdeen Office: 3rd Floor, The Exchange, 62 Market Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5PJ. Tel: 01224 577250. Email: Website: Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Contents Preface Disclaimer Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Section 1 Introduction Section 2 The Offshore Helicopter Operating Environment Section 3 Responsibilities and United Kingdom Legislation Section 4 Management System Template for Offshore Helicopter Operations Section 5 Security Section 6 Aeronautical Radio Communications Section 7 Helicopter and Helideck Operations Section 8 Operations to Moving Helidecks Section 9 Combined

3 Helideck Operations Section 10 Normally Unattended Installations Section 11 Offshore -based Rescue and Recovery Helicopter Operations Section 12 Offshore Helideck Maintenance Section 13 Competence and Training Issue 5 February 2005 i Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Contents (cont'd). Addendum 1 References Addendum 2 Pilot Information Addendum 3 Approach, Landing and Take-off Manoeuvres Addendum 4 Helideck Responsibilities Addendum 5 Standard Hand Signals Addendum 6 List of Prohibited Items for Carriage in Passengers' Baggage or on their Person During Flights within the UKCS.

4 Addendum 7 Trainee Helideck Assistant Achievement Record Addendum 8 Survival Suit (Hood Up, Zip Up) Guidelines Addendum 9 Offshore Helideck Inspection Report Form Addendum 10 Sample British Helicopter Advisory Board Offshore Helideck Certificate Addendum 11 Topic List for Management System Auditing Addendum 12 Helideck and System Inspection Checklist Addendum 13 Radio Operations Procedures Addendum 14 Standard Weather etc Message Lists Addendum 15 Operating Information ii Issue 5 February 2005. Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Preface These Guidelines have been produced by the UK Offshore Operators Association, in conjunction with its key stakeholders, to assist all those with responsibilities in Offshore helicopter Operations to reduce the risks involved in such Operations to as low as reasonably practicable.

5 The Guidelines bring together four previous UKOOA publications related to Offshore helicopter Operations . These are: Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Helicopter Operations to Normally Unattended Installations (NUIs). Offshore Radio Operators' Procedures Helicopter Operations Security Controls at Helicopter Terminals In July 2004, Offshore Helideck Design Guidelines [Ref: 38] were published by the Health and Safety Executive. The Helideck design Guidelines are complementary to these Helideck Management Guidelines and should therefore be regarded as a companion document.

6 This edition supersedes Issue 4 February 2003 and incorporates recommendations arising from recent AAIB reports into two helicopter accidents. The first was the Super Puma accident on the West Navion drilling ship in November 2001. The report highlighted the need to communicate significant changes in environmental conditions, to the pilot of a helicopter sitting on the Helideck with rotors running (Section 7. Paragraph and Section 8 Paragraph 3 (3)). The report also identified the need to ensure that investigations into any Installation accidents consider the safety implications for helicopter Operations on helidecks (Section 3 Paragraph ).

7 The second accident was the S-76 crash off the Norfolk coast in July 2002 with the loss of eleven lives. Although not a contributory factor to the accident, the report highlighted the need, in the case of flights between manned Installations, for the radio operator to establish positive contact with the receiving Installation immediately after the departure of the flight and convey the relevant flight details (Addendum 13. Paragraph 1(2)). Other revisions to the Guidelines include; blocked Helideck procedure (Section 7), reference to research into Operations to moving helidecks (Section 8) and reference to competency standards for Helideck crew (Section 13).

8 Issue 5 February 2005 iii/iv Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Disclaimer The Guidelines in this document set out what is generally regarded in the UK Offshore oil and gas industry as good practice. They are not mandatory and those responsible for helidecks and the Management of them may adopt different standards in a particular situation where to do so would maintain an equivalent level of safety. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the data given in this document is both correct and up to date at the time of publication, the sponsors, participating groups and author will not accept any liability for any erroneous, incorrect or incomplete information published in this document.

9 Issue 5 February 2005 v/vi Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Acknowledgements In preparing and publishing these Guidelines , UKOOA gratefully acknowledges the support and contributions given by representatives from the following organisations: British Helicopter Advisory Board (BHAB). British Rig Owners Association (BROA). Civil Aviation Authority (CAA SRG). Cogent/ Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO). Health and Safety Executive Offshore Division (HSE-OSD). International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) North Sea Chapter International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC).

10 International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). International Association of Oil and Gas Producers Aviation Sub Committee (OGP). Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Offshore Contractors Association (OCA). Offshore Industry Advisory Committee Helicopter Liaison Group (OIAC-HLG). UKOOA Aircraft Committee Members TECHNICAL EDITOR. John Burt Associates Limited BROA IADC. Issue 5 February 2005 vii/viii Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations List of Abbreviations AAIB Air Accident Investigation Branch ABCB Association of British Certification Bodies ACOP Approved Code of Practice AEO All Engines Operative AFFF Aqueous Film Forming Foam ALARP As Low As Reasonably Practicable ANO Air Navigation Order AOC Air Operator's Certificate API American Petroleum Institute ASTG Aviation Safety Technical Group ATC Air Traffic Control BHAB British Helicopter Advisory Board BROA