HFDM at a Small HEMS Operation: An IHST Case Study Stuart Kipp Lau, CAPACG, LLC JHSIT Member HFDM Co-Chair Global HFDM Committee Steering Group 1
Session Flight Plan: IHST Case Study Challenges Background Small operator HFDM Success Maintenance Operations 2
IHST Goal: To reduce worldwide helicopter accident rate by 80% by 2016! Reduce accidents save lives!!! 3
2006 (IHST Formed) 2010 (Today) Who is using HFDM? Bristow Group (OGP) CHC Arkansas Children s (ACH) Phoenix Heli-Flight, Inc. (OGP/Utility) Cougar Helicopters ERA Helicopters PHI UND (University) Island Express (OGP/Tour) Skyline Helicopters (OGP/Utility) Omniflight (HEMS) Air Methods (HEMS) Halo Life Flight (HEMS) 4
Implementation the JHSIT challenge The challenge is how do you frame it in a small operation? 80 percent of all helicopter operators have fewer than 5 aircraft the small operator. Small operators often operate legacy aircraft no FDR-equipage. FAA-approved FOQA programs (perception: domain of large carriers) Case Study implement FOQA at a small HEMS operation (ACH) 5
Why HEMS? 6
Case Study: Why ACH? Organizational Individual Champion Organizational Sponsor Technology Light recorder funded Personnel Strong safety culture 7
HFDM is not a silver bullet HFDM Programs Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) are is only effective only when coupled with an effective active SMS in a just culture. when coupled with an active SMS in a just culture. NO FOQA Interest Senior Mgt Support Employee Group Support SMS within a just culture YES 8
Arkansas Children s Hospital 300-400 bed pediatric care facility 85-100 bed NICU Burn center for the entire state One of the top 25 pediatric facilities in the U.S. A strong safety culture Clinical Staff Flight Operations Organization 9
Angel One Transport 32 year old program. Hospital owned/operated FAA Air Carrier certificate since 2003 (CFR 135) Transport 1200 patients a year by Helicopter Operate 900-1000 hours a year on each airframe. 20-30% are Single Pilot IFR flights. 2 -S76 C+ Helicopters, SPIFR, EGPWS equipped No DFDR added light recorder Safety Culture supporting SMS Active risk assessment No scene work 10 pilots + DO and Chief Pilot IHST Focus: HEMS and small organization 10
Challenges/Solutions Challenges Organizational Small flight ops group already wearing many hats. Technology Advanced aircraft - no DFDR Limited IT support Personnel Limited human resources No labor group Solutions Organizational Outsourced analysis/reporting functions to a 3 rd -party Technology Light recorder Web-based analysis tools Personnel Outsourced analysis/reporting/implementati on functions Individual Letters of Agreement 11
Implementation Plan Business Plan - the I&O Program development Consulted with FAA and industry Submission clean approval Steering group/buy-in Education Informal pilot meetings Event Set no standard (new IHST project) Involved line pilots No standard such as AC 120-82 Appendix (CAA) 12
Scheduled Reports Monthly/Quarterly Reports Due to statistical variance (low number of flights/events) actionable recommendations are based on Quarterly or Trailing 3-month rates and trends. Reporting typical of airline FOQA programs include: Top 5/10 Drill down based on severity Extensive drill down into higher threat events such as Excessive Descent 3 (HI) and Excessive Pitch Up on Landing events 13
HFDM Results: Pitch Up During Landing 14
Special Studies Studies have focused on all areas of the MOST model Maintenance Autopilot Excursion/Excessive Yaw Operations Noise Study Safety Excessive Descent Training Check Airman can pull cards and review animation of actual flights 15
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A/P Excursion/Excessiv e Yaw Night IFR event Subjective pilot report vs. objective flight data Airframe limitation? Analysis used to validate actual yaw values Consulted with OEM Avoided lengthy/costly inspection Limited service interruption 17
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Real Estate 101: Location, location, location 19
Noise Study Noise complaints Built events around area based on height/distance Analyzed flight paths Determined vast majority of flights repositioning from AR62 to KLIT Developing mitigation strategy Continual monitoring of events 20
HFDM: Discovering the unknown AR62 to KLIT over 2/3rds of the events HFDM Results post noise study 21
Lessons: the first year Positives Outsourcing frees up internal resources FAA-approval process of program Strength in the program ROI captured with A/P excursion event Crew acceptance Negatives Initial equipment installation under Form 337 HFDM is addictive Desire for additional parameters 22
HFDM Resources: IHST HFDM Toolkit! IHST HFDM Toolkit Resource listing Regulatory Guidance (AC 120-82, CAA CAP 739, etc.) Industry Studies Other resources Blogs/News HFDM.org IHST.org Other operators (ACH, Bristow, GHFDM Steering Group) 23
Questions Contact Information: Stuart Kipp Lau, CAPACG, LLC. (slau@capacg.com) BJ Raysor, Arkansas Children s Hospital (raysorbj@archildrens.org) 24