WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

NEWS ROUND-UP

OIL&GASUK

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CIVILAVIATIONAUTHORITYCOMPLETESREVIEWOF UKOFFSHOREHELICOPTEROPERATIONS On20February, theUKCivilAviationAuthority (CAA) released its findings following a strategic reviewofUKhelicopteroperations in the aftermathof the tragic accident on23August 2013off SumburghHead.TheCAA carriedout its review in conjunction with theNorwegianCAA and theEuropeanAviationSafetyAgency (EASA), and gatheredevidencebyengagingwith the tradeunions, industry, helicopteroperators and manufacturers, government, regulatorybodies, andother experts. The review recommends anumberofmeasures to increase the safetyof offshore helicopter flights.These include: •Prohibitinghelicopter flights in themost severe sea conditions •Passengers onlybeingpermitted to fly if they are seatednext to anemergency windowexit, pending further improvements tohelicopters, unless helicopters are fittedwithextra flotationdevices orpassengers areprovidedwithbetter emergency breathing systems •Requiring all passengers tohavebetter emergencybreathingequipment unless the helicopter is equippedwith side floats •Changes to thewaypilots are trained and checked •TheCAA takingon the roleof approvingeachoffshorehelideck, ensuring theymeet strict safety standards •TheEASAestablishing a reviewof offshorehelicopter accidents and incidentswith national aviationorganisations tohighlight safety issues anddevelop remedies, and standardisinghelicopteroperating information forpilots •Thehelicopteroperators fitting side floats; improving life rafts and life jackets; implementing automatic flotationequipment; and addinghandholds next to push-outwindows • Improvements to survival training foroffshoreworkers byOPITO TheCAAwill establishanew safety forum thatwill activelypromotedeliveryof the recommendations andpublicly reportonprogress.RobertPaterson,Oil&GasUK’s

2.METOFFICEAND INDUSTRY SHAREBRIGHTFORECAST TheMetOfficehas recognised thebenefits of the industry-developedoffshorehelicopter weathermonitoringnetwork,Helimet, and isnowusing thedata toenhance itsown weather forecasting.Helimet, launched in2011, allowsmore than104offshore installations tocollect anddisplay real-time weatherdata fromNorthSeaplatforms givingadetailedviewofweatherconditions. Thishelps toproduce semi-automatic weather reports, incompliancewith CivilAviationAuthorityguidance, to beusedbyhelicopteroperators in their pre-flightplanning. In theeventof meteorological equipment failureona platform, the systemwill automatically accessdata fromnearby installations. MetOfficemeteorological and oceanographicadvisor, JohnMitchell, says Helimetdata is alreadymakinga significant contribution toexperts’ ability tomonitor andprovideaccurateweatheradvice. Headds: “Accurateguidance is critical to the safeandefficientoperationofnotonly theoil andgas industrybut alsooffshore renewables, shippingandaviationactivity.” Formore information, please contact RebeccaBorresenon rborresen@oilandgasuk.co.uk. speedabove45knots, cloud less than 600 feet; red–visibility less than1,500 metres,wavesgreater than sevenmetres, wind speedgreater than60knots, cloud less than300 feet; andwhite–noavailable cloudorvisibilitydata Helimetmapof theUKContinental Shelf. It shows all the installations that record and sendmeteorological information. Colourcoding is as follows:green–good weatherconditions;yellow–wind speed above40knots;orange–visibility4,000 metres,waveheight fivemetres,wind

health, safetyandemployment issues director, says: “The focus isnowon managing thechanges arising from the report inaconsideredand systematicway. Weapplaud the involvementof the Norwegianaviationauthority together withan independentpeergroup in the reviewprocess andnote theCAA review found no significantdifferencesbetweenUK andNorwayoperations.Wehaveaconstructive working relationshipwith theCAAandwewill continue toworkcloselywith theCAAand the HelicopterSafetySteeringGroup toensure the recommendationsmadeareacted onas appropriate.”

FORMORE INFORMATION Pleasevisitwww.caa.co.ukor contactRobertPatersonon rpaterson@oilandgasuk.co.uk.

www.caa.co.uk

3. EUOFFSHORESAFETYDIRECTIVE Industry, theHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)and the DepartmentofEnergy&ClimateChangeareworking closely to transpose theEUDirectiveonoffshoresafety into UK legislation.Aspartof thisactivity,over180delegates attendedahalf-dayseminaron27February inAberdeen. Theevent, sponsoredbyERM,providedavaluable insight into theprospectivechanges toUK legislation. Informal discussionscontinuewithaview toproducinga full stakeholderconsultativedocument inJune. Thepresentationsareavailable todownloadat www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events/archive.cfm. TheHSEhasalsoestablishedanareaon itswebsite for up todate informationon theEUDirective.Visit www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/directive.htm formoredetails.

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RobertPaterson, Oil&GasUK’shealth, safetyandemployment issues director,ataseminaron 27Februaryon the EUOffshoreSafetyDirective

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