Lesson 1Hazard 2 — Rotor wash and downwash effects: causes, consequences, perimeter control and shieldingLooks into rotor wash and downwash impacts on people, vehicles, and loose items. Covers risk elements, safe entry paths, boundary management, shielding methods, and talks with ground workers in Namibian settings.
Aerodynamic basics of rotor washRisk factors and vulnerable areasSecuring loose equipment and loadsPerimeter control and exclusion zonesUse of barriers and physical shieldingBriefing and training ground staffLesson 2Hazard 1 — Foreign Object Debris (FOD): causes, consequences, detection and mitigationDiscusses FOD origins, from small parts to rubbish, and their effects on engines, blades, and staff. Covers check routines, spotting tools, cleaning standards, and reporting to avoid repeats at Namibian heliports.
Typical FOD sources at heliportsConsequences for aircraft and peopleFOD inspection routes and frequencyUse of FOD containers and toolsHousekeeping and contractor controlsFOD reporting and trend analysisLesson 3Hazard 7 — Lighting failures at night operations: causes, checks, backup lighting and NOTAM proceduresExamines light failures in night work, including reasons, spotting, and reserve options. Details check schedules, fault handling, temporary lights, and NOTAM steps to safeguard flights in Namibia.
Types of heliport lighting systemsCommon lighting failure modesPreflight and nightly lighting checksUse of backup and portable lightingNOTAM criteria and issue processMaintenance and fault rectificationLesson 4Hazard 3 — Fuel handling and refueling hazards: bonding/grounding, spill sources, storage and SOPsCovers fuel management risks like fire, blasts, pollution, and eco damage. Includes bonding and grounding, storage rules, transfer steps, urgent responses, and records for Namibian heliport safety.
Fuel properties and ignition sourcesBonding and grounding proceduresFuel storage and tank farm layoutRefueling SOPs and checklistsSpill prevention and containmentFuel fire and spill emergency actionsLesson 5Hazard 6 — Unauthorized access and ground vehicle/pedestrian conflicts: perimeter security, signage, access controlAddresses unapproved entry, vehicle intrusions, and walker issues on the heliport. Focuses on boundary protection, entry rules, signs, guiding, and links with security and site management in Namibia.
Perimeter fencing and physical barriersAccess control systems and passesVehicle route planning and controlPedestrian routing and escort rulesSignage, markings, and warningsIncident reporting and investigationLesson 6Hazard 4 — Obstacles and incursions during approach/departure: causes, mitigation, obstacle controlDeals with obstacles and intrusions on entry/exit paths. Includes obstacle checks, protection zones, short-term works, animals, and steps to stop unapproved moves in key areas for Namibian sites.
Defining approach and departure surfacesIdentifying permanent obstaclesManaging temporary cranes and worksWildlife and drone incursion risksMarking, lighting, and charting obstaclesProcedures for obstacle reportingLesson 7Hazard 8 — Simultaneous or converging arrivals and communications breakdowns: sequencing, holding procedures, and delegation of landing authorityReviews risks from overlapping or merging arrivals and comms failures. Covers ordering, waiting, standard talk, and clear landing rights assignment between pilots and heliport team in Namibia.
Traffic patterns and capacity limitsArrival and departure sequencingHolding procedures near heliportsStandard radio calls and phraseologyDelegation of landing authorityManaging communication failuresLesson 8Assigning risk levels and mitigation hierarchy: eliminate, reduce, control, accept; residual risk documentationExplains classifying risks, using mitigation steps, and recording leftover risks. Covers choice points, approval standards, and ways to support, follow, and check risk measures in Namibian heliport work.
Defining risk categories and bandsApplying the mitigation hierarchySetting risk acceptance criteriaDocumenting residual risk decisionsMonitoring control effectivenessEscalation and management reviewLesson 9Hazard 5 — Adverse weather and visibility (including coastal fog): triggers, minima and operational limitsStudies bad weather and sight risks, like fog, low clouds, winds, and rain. Sets triggers, minimums, and limits, and covers weather watching, choices, and backup planning for Namibian coasts.
Key weather hazards for heliportsVisibility and ceiling assessmentWind, turbulence, and gust factorsDefining local weather minimaWeather monitoring tools and sourcesLow-visibility operating proceduresLesson 10Risk assessment frameworks: qualitative vs quantitative risk matrices, likelihood and consequence scalesDescribes basic and number-based risk checks at heliports, stressing chance and outcome scales, chart setup, and info sources. Stresses steady marking, records, and review of shifting risks in Namibia.
Qualitative risk assessment stepsQuantitative data sources and limitsDesigning likelihood rating scalesDesigning consequence rating scalesBuilding and using risk matricesReviewing and updating risk models
