Safety is the primary concern of every member of the BAC Helicopters team. Safety underpins every aspect of all BAC operations and is based on a company culture, driven to a dedication of safety awareness, improvement and safe operating practices. BAC adheres to a stringent set of safety standards, aimed at reducing risk in all areas of operation. An SMS (Safety Management System) has procedures and processes in place that facilitate and encourage continual risk analysis. A proactive approach and the right attitude towards safety have given BAC a proud and enviable record in the industry.
For each operation undertaken, BAC adheres to CAA accredited and highly detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that are relevant to the task at hand and cover every aspect of the operation, both on the ground and in the air.
All aircraft are equipped with survival kits, ELTs and first aid kits.
A comprehensive risk analysis with full communication between the team is always undertaken prior to commencing operations on site and is presented to the clients to keep them completely informed as to all facets of the operation. In remote and inaccessible parts of Africa, this measure is invaluable when considering weather conditions, terrain, obstacles, helicopter performance and external load characteristics.
HELICOPTER FOLLOWING
All operational aircraft are equipped with real-time tracking equipment. This provides the Operations crew with constant feedback in terms of the aircraft’s position, speed, altitude and track. This value-added service also provides clients with constant access to aircraft and flying service information by logging onto an Internet site from anywhere in the world.
SAFETY IN HELICOPTER TRAINING
From the very first day, BAC students are involved in the helicopter safety culture as part of their daily routine of checks and safeguards. This ensures a sound professional attitude in all of our helicopter pilots and reflects in their ability to perform at top level standards.
A monthly safety meeting welcomes all students, past and present, helicopter PPL pilots and owners to discuss and reassess current and potential threats to helicopter flying. A proactive and open-discussion approach has a positive effect on reducing risk with an increase in situational awareness and good risk analysis practices.
