HELICOPTER SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE

May 14, 2009

Hilton Tower – Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

 

MINUTES

 

INTRODUCTON

Chairman Mark Fontenot called the meeting to order at 08:30 and welcome members and guests.

 

HSAC COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

GOM Accident Update – Terry Kaufman 

·         The number of helicopter operators in the GOM are down to 13 from a high of 22-opeators.

·         Area Agreement Maps will be revised and updated.

·         Hurricanes have changed the landscape of the Gulf Coast.

·         Joe Gross will assist with digitizing the Gulf Coast chart.

·         Condolences:  John Kemp, ERA Director of Safety, passed away on March 20, 2009.

“In Memoriam

The members of the JHSAT dedicate this report to the memory of John R. Kemp. John passed away March 20, 2009. A consummate safety professional, John served as the Director of Safety for Era Helicopters LLC and as a valued member of the Joint Helicopter Safety Analysis Team. John’s knowledge, wit, and straight-talk were instrumental in the analysis that is contained in this report.  Aviation Safety has lost a powerful proponent. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.”

 

RP Committee – Mark Adolph

·         There are 21-RPs in place. 

·         Gap Analysis has been completed on 18-RPs.  (Where are we?.....Where do we want to be?)

·         Some RPs are obsolete and should be removed.

      

·         New draft RP, “Bird Strike Awareness”

      

·         Committee Chairman will complete gap analysis and provide information to Work Group for comments before vote.

 

Flight Following Committee – Terry Gambil

·         Fish Spotter Frequency:  Campanada Pass at Grand Isle is the point to determine which VHF frequency to select for East and West of Grand Isle.

·         New HSAC Frequency Cards are available.

·         Western Air Defense intercepts are up by 23% from 2008.

 

IFR Committee – Pat Attaway

·         Update Letter of Agreement to address new ADS-B procedures

·         Accolades to Houston Center for taking the lead to help make ADS-B the next generation of IFR operation in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Technical Committee – Pat Roberts

·         Tool Control

  

·         Develop Tool Control RP

·         Need to have more participation from operators on the Technical Committee. 

 

Bob Hall – Vice Chairman

Introduced Terry Palmer with FlightSafety International and member of Training Committee for International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST)

·         “I work for FSI because I believe in training.”

·         FSI has S76 and S92 flight simulators now in service in Lafayette, LA.

·         BH206/407 Level 7 FTD – Accomplish all training with exception of check ride

·         EC135 FTD should be operational October 4th

·         Cost effective to dry lease device for less than operating cost of aircraft

·         “What additional equipment is installed in your aircraft?”  Inform Terry.

·         Baines – Simmons:  Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance,  http://www.bainessimmons.com/

 

Joe Gross – Treasurer’s Report

 

Dan Feliciano – HSAC/FAA Interface

·         Draft RP for Bird Strike Avoidance   

·         Shell website:  Bird Strike Report and Location Map  www.avnotice.com

 

Dana Raaz – Government Liaison

Colonel Eric Vogt

Director of Operations, Western Air Defense Sector

Office:    (253) 982-4600

Cellular:  (253) 906-4611

eric.vogt@wads.mcchord.af.mil

 

·         Transponders issues are the primary reason for scrambles.

·         Operations Supervisor:  (800) 533-9072

·         Henry Killian direct phone:  (951) 656-0927

·         henry.killian@dhs.gov

 

 

Martha Wood – Lockheed Martin

·         Email your request for RCO report.   martha.p.wood@imco.com

·         There is a need to establish a pilot reporting system.

·         UAV mapping Louisiana coastal barrier island.  Operating from 250’ to a maximum of 400’.  72-hour notice required.

 

Nicholls State University - Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Project

Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, Ph.D.

Department of Applied Sciences

Nicholls State University

(985) 448-4724

balaji.ram@nicholls.edu

·         UAS:  55” wingspan; 48” nose-to-tail; weight 7-lbs; 2-to-5 miles radius of operation; 45   minute battery life; operates at 250’ to 300’ altitude

·         The UAS is used to monitor barrier islands for coastal restoration.  Barrier islands are the “speed bumps” for hurricanes.

 

Ken Kersker- Heliports and Airway

·         Offshore Helideck Markings:  Identify the worse and begin with those.

·         Paul Versowsky, API - Chevron

-          Major rewrite of RP2L

-          Document to ballot by end of this year

 

Tom Suhrhoff – Industrial Liaison

·         At the request to relinquish the position, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement for Industrial Liaison.  We express our appreciation for Tom’s contribution and year of service to HSAC.

 

Mark Small – Pipeline Aerial Observation

·         Aerial Observation Action Plan

      

 

Jim Linney, FAA SBS

 (817) 222-5655

jim.linney@faa.gov

ADS- B Update

Frank Colby – Fish Spotters

·         SAFETY LEADER:  Duane Davis, Omega Protein, is replacing Frank Colby.   Contact information:  (985) 860-8903    dcdavis26@hotmail.com

 

 The next HSAC Meeting is scheduled for October 7th and 8th at the Sheraton Hotel; JFK Blvd; Houston, TX.