RESULTS OF HELICOPTER SIMULATOR SURVEY

OPITO SCOPITOExits 15.12.2006 Page 7 of 30

3.0 REVIEW OF HELICOPTOR ESCAPE SIMULATORS

3.1 RESULTS OF HELICOPTER SIMULATOR SURVEY

A survey of HUET facilities used by OPITO-approved training organisations worldwide provided evidence of a wide range of helicopter simulators currently in use. Table 1 summarises the data collected. Responses were received from all 8 of the UK training providers contacted and from 4 of the 12 other training providers contacted worldwide. Of the 12 training providers who responded, 9 designs of HUET simulator were recorded, made by 7 different manufacturers. Appendix 2 shows photographs of most of these designs. All of these training providers currently conducted HUET training with some type of exit. Push-out windows were used by 10 of the 12 training providers. Doors, exits or windows operated by rotation of a lever or handle were used by 10 of the 12 training providers. Of those operating push-out windows, 5 used designs with a rubber seal that was removed using a pull-tab prior to pushing out the window. In some cases Velcro held the window in place. In others, a system of ball bearings held the window in place. Photographs of a selection of the exitspush-out windows currently in use are shown in Appendix 2. No information was obtained from the equipment manufacturers regarding the amount of pressure required to remove the push-out windows. In most cases, mechanisms were adjusted with the aim of ensuring that operation by delegates could be achieved with a moderate amount of pressure. One training provider undertaking training on behalf of Shell for operations in the Gulf of Mexico also used a shallow water training device to familiarise delegates with the underwater operation of exits before undertaking exercises in the HUET simulator. This device is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: SWIMMER Shallow water exit training OPITO SCOPITOExits 15.12.2006 Page 8 of 30 Table 1: Results of helicopter simulator survey Training Provider HUET Type Seats next to removable exitwindow Exit types mechanisms Window types mechanisms United Kingdom FalckNutec Aberdeen METS 30, Survival Systems 7 Rotate lever, push out exit Pull tabpush out window Push-out window FalckNutec Teesside METS 40, Survival Systems 8 Rotate lever, push out exit Pull tabpush out window Rotate lever Fleetwood EDM 4 Removable doors Rotate lever Push-out window HOTA Partoria Engineering 4 2 next to window Half door with release lever 2 Pull tabpush out window Push-out window PETANS Small Co, Lowestoft 4 Rotate lever, push out exit Rotate lever RGIT Montrose McLean Gibson Mk2 3 - Push-out window South Tyneside College McLean Gibson 3 - Pull tabpush out window Warsash Maritime Academy Gulf Tech, BTC 4 Sliding door Rotate lever, push out window Rotate lever OPITO SCOPITOExits 15.12.2006 Page 9 of 30 Table 1 continued Training Provider HUET Type Seats next to removable exitwindow Exit types mechanisms Window types mechanisms Rest of World Emirates Technical and Safety Development, UAE Carrig Engineering Services Ltd 3 Door with pull-down handle 2 Push-out window 2 RGIT Montrose Inc. USA METS Mk5, Survival Systems 4 Lever pulls out at right-angle to exit, door jettisoned 2 Push-out window 2 MSTS Asia, Johor METS 30, Survival Systems 8 Rotate lever Rotate lever, push out exit Lever pulls out at right-angle to exit Pull tabpush out window Push-out window Alert Disaster Control Asia Pte Singapore McLean Gibson 4 Pull handle down Push-out window OPITO SCOPITOExits 15.12.2006 Page 10 of 30 [Intentionally blank] OPITO SCOPITOExits 15.12.2006 Page 11 of 30

4.0 REVIEW OF EMERGENCY EXITS IN REAL HELICOPTERS