IN 1209 – Helicopter pre-flight safety briefings – emergency breathing systems (EBS)

The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published bulletin S1/2014 SPECIAL, relating to the Super Puma helicopter crash of 23 August 2013, in which four of the 18 persons onboard perished.

AAIB special bulletins S6/2013 and S7/2013 were published to provide initial information on the circumstances of the accident. This special bulletin was published to highlight a safety concern relating to pre-flight safety briefings, given to passengers, on the functionality of emergency equipment provided to them for UK North Sea offshore helicopter flights.

In particular, it refers to the emergency breathing systems (EBS). These were introduced in UK North Sea offshore helicopter operations as a voluntary industry standard; at present there is no regulatory requirement for such equipment.

The special bulletin provides some outline information on the three types of EBS currently in use, and details of how helicopter passengers should be briefed on the use of such equipment.

The special bulletin can be downloaded here.