LION protects (EMEA)’s Post

Canada is one big country, with one big wildfire problem and one regulator which does not want the worlds most successful heavy category helicopter on it's Restricted Category - the Sikorsky UH60 'Blackhawk'. UH60’s operate on Restricted Categories in the USA, Australia, Europe and even New Zealand but since the mid-60’s Canada has had an aversion to ex-Military aircraft for which there's no obvious justification. Perhaps influential OEM’s on both sides of the border would rather sell new at 10X the price of military surplus? It’s an absurd situation because Restricted Category Helicopters are flying in Canada - they just do it on the FAA ‘N’ register via the NAFTA agreement and consequently FAA operators fly north of the border and take the revenue south of the border. I flew a 1976 Bell 212 with +25,000 hours TT during the 2023 Wildfire Season and it was obvious that the scale of the Fires is outpacing the aging medium/heavy fleet. My Bell 212 was one of 116 registered with Transport Canada and it had seen more fires than I’ve had G&T’s. With the exception of the AS332’s representing 8% of the registered medium/heavy fleet and Sikorsky S61’s and KMAX’s adding another 10% of diversity, the bulk of the fighting force are stoic, reliable Bell's which on average have been flying for half a century! In total there are 190 Bell medium or heavy helicopters across Canada. In the last five years Bell 204’s numbers dropped 22% (essentially obsolete in Western Canada – superseded by the AS350B3) and only seven Bell 214’s are airworthy (down 23%). Bell 412’s numbers are 19% less with only 18 on the register, but the greatest change was Bell 205’s down by a shocking 38%. There was improvement with Bell 212’s increasing 9% to 116 airframes but across the sector the number of total airframes decreased by 10%. The proverbial eggs are all in one basket because 61% of the entire medium and heavy helicopter fleet are legacy Bell 212’s. Just imagine if an emergency AD was released in the middle of July? As much as I love flying the 212 and 214ST, I can’t see a future without the Sikorsky UH60. Realistically, if the industry wants to scale up to meet the increased burden of larger and longer fire seasons, then Sikorsky is the only manufacturer which has produced a suitable platform in any significant volume over the last 30 years. What do you think?

OTD in 2020: LOC-I on a low, slow downwind leg. The survivors had not trained with the specific safety equipment. The front crew both became trapped.  https://lnkd.in/dYVQbJu #military #helicopter #accident #flightsafety #aviationsafety #survivability

Helicopters are more than twice as likely to have an accident from loss of visual reference than airplanes. Despite this, their requirements are less stringent than those for airplanes. These differences permit #helicopters to operate at half the visibility applicable to airplanes, but without the same defences. Our investigation into the fatal helicopter crash in Nunavut (A21C0038) determined that the pilot encountered an unexpected loss of visual reference to the horizon and, while attempting to visually manoeuvre the helicopter, collided with the terrain. This is why the TSB is calling on Transport Canada - Transports Canada to enhance the requirements for helicopter operators that conduct reduced-visibility operations in uncontrolled airspace to ensure that pilots have an acceptable level of protection against inadvertent IMC accidents. (A24-04) Find out more: https://ow.ly/Iqp250QGIab #AviationSafety #Aviation #Safety #TSBAir

We have launched the Psychoactive Substances Management Programme (PSMP) in Spanish. Who this course is aimed at? Safety-sensitive personnel who might endanger aviation safety if they perform their duties and functions improperly. This includes, but is not limited to, flight crew members, ground crew, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance personnel. To book: https://lnkd.in/djVSqmuz #AviationTraining #eLearning #AviationLearning

#IMPORTANTNOTICE #SafariRallyKenya ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #SafariRallyKenya is back, and with it comes the need to coordinate air traffic in the area as more than 15 helicopters will be providing aerial coverage and logistics support. #KCAA has already released comprehensive Flight Information Service procedures. The protocols have been developed in close collaboration with #WRCSafariRally2024 organisers to ensure seamless air traffic flow to, within and out of the temporary restricted area for the duration of the competition. A team of air traffic control officers will also be on site coordinating movement and timely alerting of aircraft. Working with the Rescue Coordination Centre, #KCAA is also prepared to facilitate Medical Evacuation and address any potential aircraft distress scenarios. As the on-track action ramps up, we urge members of the public to observe safety protocol and maintain a safe distance from helicopters especially during take-off and landing procedures. #KCAACares

An Airbus engulfed in flames with 379 passengers on board! Could you imagine any survivors? To me, NO. We have a saying in the forces: "The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war". No accident is so revealing the importance of proper training, as this one. Had the crew not trained to handle the emergency, there could have been no survivors. Because history is replete with such cases. So, train, train and train your employees. Not just on paper, but in class rooms and apron areas. If you want to save your tomorrow. And passengers' too. #aviation #aviationtraining #emergency #handlingemergencies #crew #pilot #passengersafety #safety #sms #accident #incident

The moral obligation of an aircraft mechanic is to ensure that those who fly our planes, as crew or passengers, return to their families safely. Every bolt we torque, every inspection we conduct, every component we repair or replace has to have this in mind. Airplanes and helicopters are tools for people - human beings traversing the sky to get to where they need to be. Those people have families, friends, and co-workers who care about them and need them. We aren't just accountable to the FAA or regulations that govern our work. We're accountable to the people we serve and to their families. Remember that. #aviation #aircraftmaintenance #aircraftmechanic

We have launched the Psychoactive Substances Management Programme (PSMP) in Spanish. Who this course is aimed at? Safety-sensitive personnel who might endanger aviation safety if they perform their duties and functions improperly. This includes, but is not limited to, flight crew members, ground crew, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance personnel. To book: https://lnkd.in/djVSqmuz #AviationTraining #eLearning #AviationLearning

FAA to require secondary flight deck barriers on new aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will require a secondary barrier on the flight deck of new Part 121 commercial airplanes in the United States, to ensure the safety of the aircraft, crew, and passengers. As the FAA describes this, the intent is to slow any attack on the flight deck long enough so that the flight deck can be closed and locked before an attacker could reach it. With this, aircraft manufacturers will have to install a second barrier. This rule will take effect for newly built aircraft as of the middle of 2025. The FAA is estimating that this secondary barrier will cost $35,000 per aircraft, including the purchase of the barrier plus the installation. After the addition of training and other costs, the present value costs for this rule are $236.5 million at a 7% discount rate and $505 million at a 3% discount rate. #airline #aircraft #security #11september #airlines #aviation

Aerial Firefighting fact of the day: The ATGS (Air Tactical Group Supervisor) sits onboard the air attack aircraft and manages the airspace over a fire. They coordinate aerial firefighting operations and are the link between the ground firefighters and aircraft. It’s an intense role and mandates extreme focus, tactical awareness, and strong communication skills. Our role as the operator is to provide the most effective aircraft for the mission. The Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12 is one of the most renouned single engine turboprop aircraft in the world, known for its safety, reliability, and airspeed. As an air attack and multi-mission aircraft (MMA), the PC-12 is a highly effective platform. #aerialfirefighting #Aviation #airattack #fly #wildfire #firefighting