Flight Safety Foundation Helicopter Safety 1995

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November–December 1995

Changes Expand U.S. Helicopter Operations Under Instrument Flight Rules 6 pages. [PDF 122K]

Copter ILS approaches to 100 feet (30.5 meters), satellite-based helicopter approaches and low-altitude routes, and an air-ambulance exemption from weather reporting requirements are among the changes.

September–October 1995

Crew Resource Management Applies to Single-pilot Flight Operations 4 pages. [PDF 28K]

The single helicopter pilot can use crew resource management (CRM) techniques to improve communication, decision making, workload management, stress management and other skills for improving the safety margin.

July–August 1995

Incident Reports Highlight Hazards in EMS Helicopter Operations 6 pages. [PDF 39K]

A study finds that communication difficulties, time pressure and distraction lead the list of human factors variables cited in incidents. A majority of incidents studied involved nonadherence to the U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), and airspace violations and near-midair collisions were also among the most frequent anomalies reported. Most incidents occurred under visual flight rules (VFR) or no filed flight plan.

May–June 1995

Failure to Intercept Final Approach Course, Improperly Performed IFR Approach Cited in Fatal Collision with Terrain 6 pages. [PDF 54K]

The U.S. National Transportation Board (NTSB) report on the accident found that although the pilot had accurately followed ATC radar vectors, pilot error was the cause of the accident.

March–April 1995

Fatal Turbine-helicopter Accidents Provide Clues to Safer Operations 6 pages. [PDF 39K]

The fatal-accident rate for U.S. turbine helicopters improved significantly over a previous five-year period and compared favorably with general aviation’s fatal-accident rate. An analysis of the types of accidents suggests causal factors that still need attention.

January–February 1995

For Helicopter Pilots, Managing Stress is Part of Flying Safely 6 pages. [PDF 43K]

Stress is a normal part of life, and up to a point can be beneficial in critical situations. But pilots must take care that daily stress plus ordinary cockpit stress do not combine to threaten safety at times of severe flying difficulty.