Safety in operations
Safety by training
As part of its commitment to improving aviation safety, Airbus provides realistic, mission-focused training for its complete product line, which prepares flight personnel and maintenance crews for real-world situations. Quality training is directly linked to pilots and flight crews’ proficiency, as well as their ability to safely operate in a full range of conditions.
To ensure customers have access to world-class training, Airbus continues to make significant investments in full-motion simulators, procedural training devices, computer-aided training and e-learning systems.
With an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) data package, Airbus can ensure that the latest rotorcraft developments and improvements are reflected in its simulator network. In addition, the implementation of an extended field of view (in the full-flight simulator (FFS), along with the integration of real rotorcraft data tested by Airbus test pilots guarantee a real-to-life full flight simulation.
In parallel, Airbus’ helicopter division focuses on expanding the catalogue of services it offers – particularly for recurrent and mission training – with on-site flight operations support deployed worldwide to increase safety. This provides a comprehensive suite of services, including customer help desks and flight operations support and analysis – all tailored for individual operator needs.
In order to remain close to its customers and provide cost-effective solutions for fleets to remain operationally available, Airbus – with its customer centers and affiliates – operates a network of 23 training centers and 26 full-flight simulators in all regions of the world, including Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, and South America.
For additional information, visit our Training section.
Safety/Training Videos
"That Others May Live" is a case study and pilot’s account of an actual inadvertent IMC encounter that occurred at night in a VFR-equipped AS350 helicopter.
"Simulated Failure Procedure FFS AS350 B3/H125 - Engine Fire"
The objective of this video is to demonstrate the "In-flight ENG Fire" procedure application on a single engine helicopter.
"Simulated Failure Procedure FFS AS350 B3/H125 - Hydraulic Failure"
The objective of this video is to demonstrate the "In-flight Hydraulic Failure" procedure application on a single engine helicopter.
"Simulated Failure Procedure FFS AS350 B3/H125 - Tail Rotor Control Failure"
The objective of this video is to demonstrate the "In-flight Tail Rotor Control Failure" procedure application on a single engine helicopter
"Preflight Safety Inspection on AS350 B3e/H125"
The video outlines the pilot pre-flight safety inspection for H125 in an interactive presentation.
Safety by maintenance
Proper practices
Proper maintenance practices play a crucial role in supporting helicopter safety. Airbus has decades of maintenance expertise and is well equipped to address the full spectrum of operator maintenance needs, from providing the best maintenance tools to promoting adherence to approved maintenance procedures and schedules.
Airbus Customer Service teams are the customer’s primary entry point to maintenance activities and available services. The three main maintenance pillars related to safety are maintenance procedures, maintenance documentation and maintenance training.
Maintenance procedures
Airbus works closely with customers to support their maintenance teams, whether ensuring adherence to existing maintenance procedures and inspection schedules, applying Service Bulletins and Airworthiness Directives, or developing new services that simplify and optimize customers’ maintenance organizations.
The company also promotes the proper use of maintenance technologies that aid operational safety. For example, the Health & Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) provide invaluable helicopter information that helps maintenance teams make the right decisions to keep an aircraft airworthy. Guidance on how to use and interpret HUMS data is one of the key supports that Airbus provides to its customers.
Maintenance documentation
Airbus’ online technical publications service – e-TechPub, available via the Keycopter customer portal – provides operators with complete, accurate and up-to-date documentation to support safe operations and maintenance of their helicopters.
e-TechPub subscribers receive notifications whenever a new publication is added or updated – including Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, and Safety Information Notices. In this way, customers have at their fingertips real time-access to the latest technical information that could impact the safe operation of their aircraft.
Maintenance training
Airbus offers a wide variety of classroom and hands-on courses designed to teach aircraft maintenance engineers how to maintain their helicopters in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manuals and regulations.
The courses cater to all levels, from new technicians in need of type rating training to more experienced mechanics in need of periodic refreshers courses, known as recurrent training.
The company has hardware and systems available for maintenance training at its 23 training sites around the world. Maintenance training for new products – such as the H175 and the H145 – is an indispensable part of an aircraft’s support package.
Read more on maintenance training
Safety by cooperation
Airbus is a responsible member of the international helicopter community, sharing its values with the industry and actively contributing to key rotorcraft safety goals. Supporting the safety initiatives of leading organisations, institutes, steering groups and governmental agencies around the world is a key company priority.
Airbus works closely with the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) – and its European component – which brings together government and industry leaders to reduce civil rotorcraft accidents. Formed in 2006, IHST aims to dramatically reduce the international civil helicopter accident rate.
Further reinforcing the company’s cooperation in industry-wide safety initiatives, Airbus has issued a Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) for H225 aircraft that are utilised for oil and gas missions, marking the first such source document created in the rotorcraft sector.
Airbus takes a proactive approach in listening to customers’ requirements in order to meet and surpass their expectations. The company also works with its customers to support the safe operation of their Airbus rotorcraft. This includes regularly hosting and participating in symposiums and forums, distributing safety materials to help customers manage operational risks and supporting operators’ application of helicopter flight data management (HFDM) systems.
In addition, the company leverages the expertise and know-how of its supplier base to support safety and quality, engaging its supply chain through a collaborative approach and shared view of customer expectations.
IHST : International Helicopter Safety Team
An industry-wide effort to improve rotorcraft safety is headed by the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST), which was formed in 2005.
As the world’s no. 1 helicopter manufacturer, Airbus Helicopters takes a leadership role in this important safety initiative. As part of this commitment, the company is a major sponsor of the organization’s annual safety symposium which is open to all aviation safety professionals within the helicopter community
Aiming to realize an international civil helicopter community with zero accidents, the IHST works with global partners – such as Airbus Helicopters – and regional safety teams to develop strategies and harmonize safety efforts in key areas, including:
- Educating target audiences on helicopter safety and accident causes;
- Updating the progress toward IHST goals;
- Conveying information about global partnership efforts within IHST;
- And, raising awareness on IHST tools that can improve helicopter safety.
Nearly 40 countries support the IHST’s efforts, with safety teams established in Europe, the United States, Canada, Brazil, India, Japan and the Middle East-North Africa region.
Visit the International Helicopter Safety Team’s official website for more information
Outreach to customers
Airbus Helicopters maintains a close relationship with customers to improve rotorcraft safety.
The company – and its worldwide network of customer centers and affiliates – regularly hosts symposiums and forums for its operators, allowing them to get the latest safety and technical updates, as well as provide feedback on key issues. Examples include the annual national and regional customer service symposiums hosted by company’s Airbus Helicopters, Inc. U.S. affiliate, as well as an oil and gas forum for Asian operators, among many other initiatives around the world which cover topics including safety and training.
Airbus Helicopters also reaches out to its customers through events that help operators establish a top-notch safety culture – such as the CHC Quality & Safety Summit, which brings together leading aviation, oil and gas, insurance and regulatory experts to promote aviation safety
As a leading helicopter manufacturer, Airbus Helicopters is committed to fostering a culture of safety within the company, and sharing it with the industry. Safe operation of its in-service rotorcraft is supported by the company’s outreach – which includes working with operators on such key topics as safety management systems, risk management, helicopter flight data management (HFDM) systems, comprehensive analysis of training systems, and more.
Supply chain
Airbus Helicopters works with its supply chain partners to leverage the strengths of this global network through a collaborative approach and shared view on safety and customer expectations.
This ensures that the company’s commitment to safety is aligned throughout the entire aircraft manufacturing process, to deliver quality aircraft that meet – and exceed – the requirements of a global operator base.
American Helicopter Society
www.vtol.org
Our involvement in the American Helicopter Society (AHS) Technical Safety Committee represents Airbus Helicopters, Inc.’s efforts to improve rotorcraft safety through engineering excellence and innovation.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
www.gama.aero
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) represents the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics, and components. GAMA has been actively pursuing various programs and initiatives that continue to improve the safety of general aviation, which is why Airbus Helicopters, Inc.’s Aviation Safety team participates and supports GAMA functions such as the Safety and Accident Investigation Committee and the General Aviation Air Safety Investigator's (GA-ASI) Advanced Technical Workshop. This annual workshop brings together aviation accident investigators from around the world to improve the investigation practices for aviation accidents in order to better identify accident root causes and mitigate future accidents.
Global Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring
www.hfdm.org
Airbus Helicopters, Inc. partners with the Global Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring Steering Group’s initiative for safety through leadership focus on issues concerning the manufacture, provision, support and operation of helicopter flight data monitoring systems, with a just culture environment across the global helicopter community.
National Transportation Safety Board Training Center
www.ntsb.gov/tc/trainingcenter.htm
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Training Center is the training facility for the NTSB, an independent federal agency that investigates all civil aviation accidents in the United States. Airbus Helicopters, Inc. supports the NTSB Training Center by participating as adjunct instructor staff for the Rotorcraft Accident Investigation Course.
Transportation Safety Institute
http://www.rita.dot.gov/tsi/about/aviation_safety
The Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) is an agency whose parent organization is the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Airbus Helicopters, Inc. supports TSI’s Aviation Division by participating as adjunct instructor staff for the Rotorcraft Accident Investigation Course.
Safety Event
Changing aviation culture with Safety Roadshows
Technologies and tools have evolved to improve aviation safety, but accident rates still remain high. Airbus has launched Safety Roadshows to address and reduce the number of accidents due to operational factors, the main cause behind most rotorcraft accidents. Watch the video to learn more.
Accident Investigation
Airbus Helicopters, Inc.’s Accident Investigation Team has an extensive history of successfully assisting U.S. and international aviation authorities in conducting on-site investigations and technical examinations of aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving Airbus Helicopters products.
Our investigators participate in National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations as technical advisors to the respective foreign accredited representative agencies per the guidelines set forth by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13. They coordinate with the parent company, Airbus Helicopters, as Type Certificate Holder throughout all phases of investigations to ensure fleet safety and continued airworthiness.
The Accident Investigation Team specializes in collecting, examining and evaluating data and information to assist Airbus Helicopters, Inc., Airbus Helicopters, the aviation authorities and operators to improve safety and avoid future accidents. Team members’ investigative capabilities include – but are not limited to – wreckage reconstruction, flight control system analysis, witness interview and analysis, weather information analysis, review of flight and maintenance training records, aircraft limitations and aircraft maintenance history.
Airbus Helicopters, Inc. investigates accidents and incidents for the following rotary-wing aircraft types:
- Airbus Helicopters France Type Certificate:
SA315, SA313/318, SA316/319, SA330 SA341/342
AS350/H125, AS355, AS365, AS332, HH-65 (U.S. Coast Guard)
EC120, EC130 (AS350B4), EC155, EC175, EC225/H225 - Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Type Certificate:
BO105, BO105LS, BK117,
EC135/H135, EC145/H145 (BK117 C2 and BK117 D2), UH-72 (U.S. Army)
