Lesson 1Hazard 2 — Rotor wash and downwash effects: causes, consequences, perimeter control and shieldingExplore rotor wash and downwash effects on people, vehicles, and loose objects. Address risk factors, safe approach paths, perimeter control, shielding solutions, and communication with ground personnel for safety.
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 mitigationCover FOD sources, from loose hardware to litter, and their impact on engines, rotors, and personnel. Explain inspection routines, detection tools, housekeeping standards, and reporting to prevent recurrence at di heliport.
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 proceduresExplore lighting failures during night operations, including causes, detection, and backup options. Detail inspection routines, fault response, temporary lighting, and NOTAM procedures to protect flight safety.
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 SOPsExplain fuel handling hazards including fire, explosion, contamination, and environmental harm. Cover bonding and grounding, storage standards, transfer procedures, emergency actions, and documentation for safe fueling.
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 controlCover unauthorized access, vehicle incursions, and pedestrian conflicts on di heliport. Focus on perimeter security, access control, signage, escorting, and coordination with security and facility 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 controlAddress obstacles and incursions affecting approach and departure paths. Cover obstacle surveys, safeguarding surfaces, temporary works, wildlife, and procedures to prevent unauthorized movements in critical areas.
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 authorityAnalyze risks from simultaneous or converging arrivals and communication breakdowns. Cover sequencing, holding, standard phraseology, and clear delegation of landing authority between pilots and heliport staff.
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 documentationDetail how to classify risks, apply di mitigation hierarchy, and document residual risk. Cover decision thresholds, acceptance criteria, and how to justify, track, and review risk controls in heliport operations.
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 limitsExamine adverse weather and visibility hazards, including fog, low cloud, wind, and precipitation. Define triggers, minima, and limits, and explain weather monitoring, decision making, and contingency 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 scalesExplain qualitative and quantitative risk assessment at heliports, focusing on likelihood and consequence scales, matrix design, and data sources. Emphasize consistent scoring, documentation, and review of changing operational risks.
Qualitative risk assessment stepsQuantitative data sources and limitsDesigning likelihood rating scalesDesigning consequence rating scalesBuilding and using risk matricesReviewing and updating risk models
