The HeliOffshore Safety Performance Model
Welcome to the interactive version of HeliOffshore’s Safety Performance Model (‘SPM’).
The SPM underpins our safety strategy. It provides a common language and framework to align stakeholders and measure the progress and impact our activities have on frontline safety performance.
Informed by data collected through our Safety Intelligence Programme, the SPM identifies opportunities for organisations to implement Accident Prevention Goals that address critical Accident Events.
The SPM connects Accident Prevention Goals we have identified with resources HeliOffshore’s members and partners have developed together over the last decade to tackle these goals. It also includes related activities to unlock the effective application of Accident Prevention Goals, as well as areas for future collaboration.
You can download a PDF version of the model below.
HeliOffshore Safety Performance Model (Revised April 2025)
Accident Events
Accident Prevention Goals
This accident event is equivalent to the CICTT
category
Loss of Control - Inflight (LOC-I)
defined as "loss of aircraft control while, or deviation from intended
flightpath, in flight."
The equivalent EASA Key Risk Area is Aircraft Upset defined as "an undesired aircraft state characterized by unintentional divergences from parameters normally experienced during operations, which might ultimately lead to an uncontrolled impact with terrain."
Effective Flightpath Management
Optimised Use of Automation
Enhanced Situational Awareness
Applied Crew Resource Management
The equivalent EASA Key Risk Area is Aircraft Upset defined as "an undesired aircraft state characterized by unintentional divergences from parameters normally experienced during operations, which might ultimately lead to an uncontrolled impact with terrain."
This accident event is equivalent to the CICTT category
Controlled Flight Into or Toward Terrain (CFIT)
defined as "In-flight collision or near collision with terrain, water, or obstacle
without indication of loss of control."
The equivalent EASA Key Risk Area is Terrain Collision defined as "An occurrence where an airborne aircraft collides with terrain, without indication that the flight crew was unable to control the aircraft."
Enhanced Surface Detection
Enroute Obstacle Conspicuity and
Detection
Night / DVE Flight Management
The equivalent EASA Key Risk Area is Terrain Collision defined as "An occurrence where an airborne aircraft collides with terrain, without indication that the flight crew was unable to control the aircraft."
This accident event is equivalent to the CICTT category
System / Component Failure or Malfunction
(Powerplant and Non-powerplant) (SCF-PP and SCF-NP)
defined as "failure or malfunction of an aircraft system or component related to the
powerplant" and "failure or malfunction
of an aircraft system or component other than the powerplant."
This section also covers events related to maintenance, continued and continuing airworthiness and associated practices.
Early Diagnosis of In-service Failures
Enhanced Reliability
Airworthiness Management
Effective Maintenance
Error-tolerant Designs
Robust Supply Chain
This section also covers events related to maintenance, continued and continuing airworthiness and associated practices.
This event category covers incidents that may occur during the
transfer of passengers or cargo at heliports,
offshore helidecks or during hoist operations. Responsibilities lie both with
helicopter operators and ground / offshore staff.
Operating Area Design
Operating Area Management
Operating Area Information
Helideck Limitations List (HLL)
Non-normal Operations
Survival Goals
These goals relate to the procedures, equipment and activities designed to minimise the risk of injury to aircraft occupants
following an accident event occurring overland or overwater.
HeliOffshore's Safety Programme and associated workstreams prioritises Accident Prevention Goals (for Loss of Control, Controlled Flight into Terrain/Water, System Reliability and Helideck Events) over Survival Goals, based on an assumption that the majority of survival goals outlined here are already addressed in aircraft certification standards (eg FAR/CS 29, CS 26) supplemented with customer contractual requirements outlined in IOGP R690.
HeliOffshore's Safety Programme and associated workstreams prioritises Accident Prevention Goals (for Loss of Control, Controlled Flight into Terrain/Water, System Reliability and Helideck Events) over Survival Goals, based on an assumption that the majority of survival goals outlined here are already addressed in aircraft certification standards (eg FAR/CS 29, CS 26) supplemented with customer contractual requirements outlined in IOGP R690.
Impact Survival
Key focus areas include: Aircraft Certification Standards, Upper Torso Restraints, Public Address Systems,
Crash Resistant Fuel Systems and Crash Resistant Seating Systems.
Flotation
Key focus areas include: Sea-state-appropriate Floats, Auto-arming Systems, Automatic Deployment Systems.
Underwater Escape
Key focus areas include: Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), Category A Emergency Breathing Systems,
Helicopter Emergency Exit Lighting Systems (HEELS), Push-out windows and Cabin Seating Layout.
Sea Survival
Key focus areas include: Life-jackets, Survival Suits and Life-rafts.
Post-accident Survival
Key focus areas include: Heliport and Helideck Rescue & Firefighting, Fire Extinguisher, First Aid Kits and Survival Kits.
Alerting
Key focus areas include: Flight-following and comms, Aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs),
Crew Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and Passenger Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs).
SAR / Emergency Response
Key focus areas include: Emergency Response Plans and Dedicated SAR / Emergency Response providers.
Post-accident Learning
Key focus areas include: Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs), Flight Data Recorders (FDRs), Cockpit Cameras and Investigation Quality.
