Lesson 1Hazard 2 — Rotor wash and downwash effects: causes, consequences, perimeter control and shieldingLooks at rotor wash and downwash impacts on people, vehicles, and loose items. Covers risk elements, safe entry paths, boundary management, shielding options, and talks with ground crew.
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 stray parts to rubbish, and their effects on engines, rotors, and workers. Outlines check routines, spotting tools, cleaning standards, and reporting to avoid repeats.
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 lighting issues in night ops, including reasons, spotting, and spare options. Details check schedules, fault handling, interim lighting, and NOTAM steps to safeguard flights.
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 refuelling hazards: bonding/grounding, spill sources, storage and SOPsCovers fuel handling risks like fire, blasts, contamination, and eco damage. Includes bonding and grounding, storage rules, transfer steps, urgent responses, and record-keeping.
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 — Unauthorised access and ground vehicle/pedestrian conflicts: perimeter security, signage, access controlAddresses unauthorised entry, vehicle intrusions, and walker clashes on the heliport. Emphasises boundary security, entry management, signs, guiding, and links with security and site management.
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 impacting approach and departure routes. Includes obstacle checks, protection zones, temp works, wildlife, and steps to stop unauthorised moves in key spots.
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 handover of landing rights between pilots and heliport team.
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 the mitigation order, and noting leftover risks. Covers decision points, acceptance standards, and ways to support, follow, and update risk measures in 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 limitsReviews bad weather and sight risks, like fog, low clouds, wind, and rain. Sets triggers, minimums, and bounds, plus weather watching, choices, and backup planning.
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 scalesCovers qualitative and quantitative risk checks for heliports, stressing chance and outcome scales, grid setup, and data origins. Stresses steady marking, records, and review of shifting ops risks.
Qualitative risk assessment stepsQuantitative data sources and limitsDesigning likelihood rating scalesDesigning consequence rating scalesBuilding and using risk matricesReviewing and updating risk models
