Safety was a huge issue at the Heli Expo this year. With the NTSB set to issue recommendations based largely on a terrible 2008 accident record in the rotary-wing world (helicopter emergency medical services [HEMS] in particular), the industry is struggling to find ways to make its operations a lot safer. There were many suppliers at the show with ideas, mostly in the form of electronics. Sandel had a couple of helicopter-ready displays with advanced hazard utilities, including TAWS and traffic, and Cobham was showing off its retrofit flat panel solutions. Honeywell had a variety of hazard avoidance gear aimed directly at the helo market, as did such mainstream fixed-wing suppliers as Avidyne, Garmin and Sagem. Recognizing the dire need for improvement, the industry also announced an ambitious plan to cut the accident rate by 80 percent by 2016, and HAI head Matt Zuccaro made it clear that improving safety in the helicopter world is Job One for the industry. Can that kind of improvement be accomplished? Good question. To read our editor’s take on the subject, check out this week’s web exclusive on flyingmag.com.
Rotary-Wing Safety Issues Loom Large
Key Takeaways:
- The helicopter industry, particularly HEMS, is facing intense scrutiny over safety due to a high accident rate in 2008 and impending NTSB recommendations.
- Numerous suppliers are offering advanced electronic hazard avoidance systems and retrofit solutions (e.g., TAWS, traffic, flat panel displays) tailored for the helicopter market to improve safety.
- The industry has announced an ambitious plan to reduce the accident rate by 80 percent by 2016, with safety being declared the top priority.
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