Airbus promotes helicopter operations risk management tools in Africa
Airbus is taking the lead in promoting helicopter operational safety in Southern and Eastern Africa, a region which is home to operators of more than 300 light and medium Airbus helicopters.
The recently launched campaign, which involves a roadshow of events, aims to alert customers to various operational factors in order to enhance the global helicopter safety record and reduce the number of helicopter accidents attributable to them.
Seminars and workshops have already been held in South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya, with additional events planned for the remainder of the year.
“Although technologies and tools have emerged and evolved to enhance and improve safety, the accident rates still remain high, with over 80 percent caused by operational factors,” explained Sanjeeth Sewgolam, Aviation Safety Manager at Airbus Southern Africa.
To date over 120 helicopter operator senior managers, pilots, engineers as well as safety and quality leaders have attended the workshops, which are held by Airbus with the cooperation of local civil aviation, accident investigators and airport authorities.
Among the topics addressed at each event is the natural tension between an organisation’s safety and commercial cultures and ensuring there are sufficient safeguards and processes in place to preserve safety as the priority consideration. Core to this is a continual risk assessment process and the use of modern tools and aids, especially in flight operations and aircraft maintenance, such as Airbus’ Heliscan or the new safety application, SAFLY.
“The events emphasise the crucial role that Safety Management Systems plays in promoting and inculcating a safety culture across entire organisations. Equally important is collaboration with other role players in the safety network, which also leads to raised safety levels,” said Sewgolam.
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