HELICOPTER SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE

October 8, 2009

Sheraton North Houston

Houston, Texas

 

 

MINUTES

 

 

INTRODUCTON

Chairman Mark Fontenot called the meeting to order at 08:30 and welcomed members and guests.  The Chairman read the Anti-Trust Statement and reviewed emergency evacuation route.

 

  

HSAC COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

RP Committee – Mark Adolph

A.    Checkpoints:  Consider use of checkpoints on the Area Agreement Maps.

 

B.     Contentious RPs

1)      Two Aircraft on Helideck

a)      Approach OOC to understand risks and cooperation

b)      Establish controls to improve process

            2)   Lightering Operations

a)      Contract Mayeux Helicopters and Central Helicopters for their input.

b)      Discuss with dispatch agents.

c)      Suggest single engine aircraft for daylight operations and twin engine aircraft for night operations.

 

C.  To join the RP Committee contact Mark Adolph at mark.adolph@shell.com

 

 

Flight Following Committee – Terry Gambill

A.  HSAC Frequency Card

1)      37 AWOS listed

2)      16 Houston Center frequencies listed

 

B.  Suggested improvements to HSAC Frequency Card

1)      Add HSAC website listing on front cover

2)      Add HSAC recommended altitudes

3)      Contact for updates and changes to HSAC Frequency Card is: David Robinson, 337.764.9020, and drobinson@erahelicopters.com

 

C.  Update HSAC website (www.hsac.org) with new frequency card.

 

D.  Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

1)      Customs may provide waivers for passports?

2)      TSA may require passports for anyone going 50-miles offshore.

 

 

Technical Committee – Pat Roberts

A.  Mark Fontenot temporarily replaced Pat Roberts.

 

B.  Presented two (2) new RPs:  FOD Control and Tool Inventory Control

1)      Tool Inventory Control Tool Inventory Control

2)      FOD Control FOD Control

 

 

C.   Technical Committee Action Plan.  Comment: Appreciate the participation on the Technical

      Committee; however, need more AMTs on the Committee.

1)      Technical Committee Action Plan Technical Committee Action Plan

 

 

Aerial Observation Committee – Mark Small

A.  Representatives from HSAC needed to attend API meeting

 

B. Aerial Observations Action Plan

 1)  Aerial Observations Action Plan

 

 

Treasurer’s Report – Joe Gross

A.  Thanks to all the vendors for their contribution to the HSAC meetings.

 

B.  HSAC Treasurer’s Report 2009:  Treasurer’s Report 2009

 

 

Vice Chairman – Bob Hall

A. Steve Mildenstien, Bell Helicopters

            1) Bell Helicopters’ position on polycarbonate windshields

 

 

 

Government Liaison – Dana Raaz

A.  Jane Powers, MMS, “green deck” vs. unannounced visits

B.  Colonel Eric Vogt:  Director of Operations, Western Air Defense Sector

            1) Insure aircraft is squawking the correct company code.

C.  U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)

            1)  Introduced Officers William Hitchcock and Juan Gonzalez

                        a) Establish a “Neighborhood Watch” for the goings on in the Gulf of Mexico                             

                        b) The amount of natural gas and oil produce in the Gulf of Mexico is significant to economy and security of the United States 

            2) PERCHWATCH for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol:  866 – 50PROTECT   

                 (866.507.7683)

                       

            3)     PERCHWATCH PERCHWATCH       

 

  

Lockheed Martin - Martha Wood  martha.p.wood@imco.com

A.  Deridder FSS does not have interface with DUAT

 

B.  File direct with Deridder Lockheed – Martin

 

 

Heliports and Airway - Ken Kersker

A.  API Meeting on October 28, 2009 on RP2L

 

B.  There is an effort to move the HSAC helideck document to API

 

 

Industrial Liaison – Larry Lippert

 

Bird Strike Prevention

WebEx presentation by Scott Philiben, President of Precise Flight, Inc., has extensive bird strike research and experience

 

A.  Avian Wildlife – What we do know

            1)  Vision is primary sensory system for birds

            2)   Vision by design is tied to the type of bird

                        a) Collision Avoidance which allows high speed flight through a forest

                        b) Flicker Fusion the frequency at which an intermittent light stimulus appears to

                             become completely steady.

            3)  Birds do learn; however fledgling birds are a little less careful.

 

B.  Helicopter Operations – Avoiding Birds

            1)  During the day, fly as high as possible.

            2)  Bird strikes diminish by ½ for every 1000-feet AGL

            3)  Birds better able to detect you in bright conditions

            4)  Be more observant in the fall season

            5) Wear face and head protection

 

C.  Rotorcraft Specifics

            1)  Lighting plays a role in bird strikes.  If it is more visible to you, then it is more visible

                  to avian wildlife.

            2)  Pulsing lights work best in low ambient light conditions

 

            3)  Birds in laboratory experiments react to pulsing lights similar to a predatory response.

 

            4)  Steady lighting may prove to be better under bright conditions.

 

D.  Contact Information:  Scott.Philliben@preciseflight.com

 

E.  Commentary on bird strikes

http://www.aero-news.net/podcasts/casts/5/ann-special-feature-2009-09-25.mp3

  

Sikorsky – Ron Deptner

A.  AC90-80B

 

B.  Coupled IFR Approach to Platform

  

ADS-B Update – Allan Overby, Project Manager

·         4th year in the program

·         ABS-B operational “Go Live” scheduled for December 17, 2009

·         The Cornerstone and ADS-B projects have  transformed the National Airspace System (NAS).  “The helicopter community is got to make us look like heroes.”

 

HSAC Meeting 2010

·         January 13th and 14th at the Hilton New Orleans Airport