Flight Deck
Page 2 of 3
Flight Deck Safety
- Remove all unnecessary personnel. The vicinity of operations must be cleared of all exposed idle personnel. High velocity blade fragments and severe burns could result from a crash on deck, injuring any personnel who are not in a protected station.
- Minimizing hover time for helos. The helo should spend as little time over the deck as possible. When not actually performing hoist maneuvers, the helo will normally move abeam to windward.
- Wind direction and speed. The wind direction and speed should be known so that high-speed winds will not catch personnel off guard causing unexpected knock down. Wind direction should be known when working in the vicinity of stacks so that harmful gases are not inhaled.
- Policing a flight deck and surrounding area to eliminate FOD. Decks must be cleared, free of loose gear and free of any projection on which a hook, basket, litter, or line may foul. High velocity rotors will blow any loose gear about the decks, which may be eliminated by prior policing of the area.
- Lowering of obstructions (i.e. antenna). Any rig, boom, stays, whip antenna, halyards, or other obstruction must be removed or lowered out of the way of the helo while it is in the hover position.
- Personnel transfer/shock hazards (static). Able personnel may be transferred wearing life jackets and when properly briefed in procedure. If a stretcher patient is to be moved, a light free running line will be attached to one end of the litter to orient the litter as it is hoisted/lowered. Static electricity may be induced into ungrounded wires and other rigging.