Features Procedures Safety & Training
International community focusing on helicopter safety

Nov. 17, 2011 – Fort Worth – More than 200 professionals from helicopter companies,
associations, and government agencies in 21 countries gathered in Fort
Worth, Texas, last week for the fifth annual International Helicopter
Safety Symposium. They left the Lone Star State with a renewed optimism
about safety successes, along with a dedicated focus on the work that needs
to be accomplished in order to reach the helicopter community’s 2016 safety
goal.

Stronger outreach efforts to general aviation pilots, instructors and
mechanics; a continued push for additional participating countries
worldwide; and a persistent focus on creating safety cultures were
repeating themes throughout the two-day conference.

“The International Helicopter Safety Team has developed very thorough
analyses on how and why helicopter accidents occur and they have succeeded
in creating a wide array of toolkits, videos, and training pieces to help
all levels of the helicopter community build a strong safety culture,”
explains Kim Smith, IHST Co-Chair and Manager of the FAA Rotorcraft
Directorate. “Our focus is to get these free and simple-to-use tools into
the hands of small operators, general aviation pilots, and mechanics so
that they can reap the benefits of a safe aviation environment.”

“GA pilots, mechanics, and owners of small helicopter businesses can use
tools such as Safety Management Systems, risk assessment processes, and
flight data monitoring equipment just like the larger helicopter
operations,” adds Smith. “With small upfront expenses and adjustments in
safety practices, every type of operator can reduce and eliminate
accidents. The benefits far outweigh the costs and at the bottom line,
that is good business for every segment within the helicopter industry.”

The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) was created in 2005 with a
mission of reducing the worldwide civil helicopter accident rate by 80
percent by 2016. Participants in the effort include operators,
manufacturers, trade associations, academics, government regulators,
pilots, mechanics, and instructors from Europe, the Middle East/North
Africa region, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Russia, and the
United States. Regions where IHST toolkits are being implemented have
achieved 20 percent and better reduction in accident rates. Participants
from Mexico and South Africa also plan to join the team which aims to
expand to all areas of the globe by 2016.