Commercial, Passenger-Carrying Helicopter Operations Safety
The helicopter industry, along with the majority of aviation, has witnessed a reduction in fatal crashes over the past 20 years as a result of better training, an increased concentration on operational risks that are high risk, and advancements in technology, as well as other reasons. However, fatal accidents continue to occur with a high frequency and in small commercial passenger-carrying companies. Statistics indicate that for-hire and air taxi helicopters are more likely to be fatally injured percentage than the industry in general. It is evident that there is more work to be done to lower the rate of helicopter accidents, increase the safety of crash victims, and improve the entire aviation industry in managing risk.
It is also evident that there is only a one-size-fits-all solution. A mix of long- and short-term strategies that include manufacturers, operators, regulators, and consumers is needed to enhance the industry's safety. It is also necessary to have an urgent sense. In the last six months, there have been a number of fatal helicopter crashes, including two significant crashes that claimed the lives of pilots and fourteen passengers. The reason for this is because of their flexibility and the ability to land and take off in areas where fixed-wing aircraft are not able to; helicopters perform various missions, including offshore operations to support energy and oil industries to air ambulances (also known as helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) tour tours for sightseeing, gathering news law enforcement, and external load operations, just to just some. The paper is focused on the safety of passenger-carrying, commercial VFR (VFR) operations due to the possibility of risk these flights can pose to travelers. The majority of commercial helicopter crashes happen during daytime weather conditions visible in single-engine turbine aircraft controlled by commercial pilots, per the 28th Joseph T. Nall Report, released by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. This article encompasses on-demand passenger charters for flights operated by air taxis and corporate aviation mission tours and sightseeing. Most of these flights are covered by U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 135 or equivalents from other countries that govern unscheduled, on-demand flights; however, certain flights are operated under the more limited Part 91 for general operations.