HeliOffshore releases annual Industry Safety Performance Report for 2023

Today (18th April 2024), HeliOffshore published its 6th annual Industry Safety Performance Report with figures for 2023. The report provides the only global perspective on the safety performance of the offshore aviation industry over the last 11 years.

The report compiles data gathered from operators, OEMs and industry bodies, combined with information from partner agencies and regulators, to build an overall safety picture of the offshore helicopter industry over the last decade.

The results of the data show that whilst progress has been made, safety management requires constant focus. In the 5-years from 2019-2023, Western OEM helicopters transporting passengers for the offshore energy industry suffered 21 accidents, 10 of which were fatal, resulting in 22 fatalities.

In 2023, the sector saw 3 confirmed accidents, 2 of which were fatal, resulting in 4 lives lost.

The report identified trends in accident data to focus industry-wide efforts on the most pressing challenges. The three most common causes of fatal accidents from 2013 – 2023 remain: the loss of control in flight (LOC-I); controlled flight into terrain or water (CFIT); and system or component failure or malfunction – non-powerplant (SCF-NP).

Commenting on the results of the report, Dr Matthew Greaves, HeliOffshore’s Safety Intelligence Programme Director, said: “The data presented in this report highlights the importance of the HeliOffshore Safety Intelligence Programme. Only by collaborating can we hope to understand the true safety performance of the industry and measure progress as we work towards our goal of zero accidents.”

Tim Rolfe, Chief Executive Officer, HeliOffshore, said: ’This latest report, covering the period 2013 – 2023, reminds us there is more work we can and must do to meet our critical mission to transform global performance, so no lives are lost in aviation.

“Despite its breakthroughs and successes, safety remains relentless work. Our industry frontline of pilots, engineers, maintainers, designers and passengers, deserve nothing less. The one action that is not acceptable when reading this report, is to do nothing”.

The 2022 Industry Safety Performance Report identified helideck infrastructure and pilot physical health as new reported contributing factors to fatal accidents.

Over the last year, HeliOffshore has released an Industry Action Plan for Night Deck Landing Practice and carried out two Fatigue Management Surveys to address these factors. HeliOffshore’s workstream activities will continue to be driven by the data, tackling the most pressing challenges identified by this year’s report.

The data in this report will be presented and discussed at HeliOffshore’s upcoming Annual Conference in Vienna.

To read the full Industry Safety Performance Report, visit HeliOffshore Industry Report (helioffshore-industry-report.org).