To the chopper
Operating helicopters on superyachts is all about safety and adding value to the luxury yacht experience. Nigel Watson, helicopter consultant and broker, goes through key points to consider when factoring a chopper into your superyacht.…
Operating helicopters on superyachts is all about safety and adding value to the luxury yacht experience. Whether you are planning a helideck as a part of a new build or a refit, by following some basic guidelines you will hopefully ensure there are no big surprises. Nigel Watson, founder of three companies that specialise in safe and efficient helicopter operations within the luxury yachting industry, goes through key points to consider when factoring a chopper into your superyacht.
Best advice
Get some help from a reputable organisation that is independent of any certification or build process. There are costly elements associated with heli yacht integration they need to be evaluated from the client’s position.
Location
Best place to a land a helicopter is at the centre of gravity of the vessel. As this is an unlikely option, try for something as low down as possible and that will provide some visual references of the vessel when you are flying the helicopter. Understand why the forepeak should be your last option.
Strength
Build the deck so that it is strong enough for the helicopter that will operate to the deck in the future, not the smallest helicopter that will fit or the one the owner currently operates. Boats will outlive helicopters. Understand the differences between dynamic and static loads.
Size
Understand what the 'D' value of the deck and the helicopter relate to and that your deck should be, as a minimum; the equivalent of 1D.
Obstacle environment
The architecture of yachts can be busy with many obstacles of differing sizes and shapes. They are all likely to be detrimental to safe helicopter operations. Know the limits of size and location.
Deck markings
If you are seeking commercial certification they become a must in terms of compliance, if not then consider how they can fulfill both the purpose of indicating the landing place for the helicopter while also remaining an attractive part of the yacht.
Light
This relates to both the aesthetics of the deck’s presentation and its helicopter and the wish to operate the helicopter at night. It is not only the deck that will need to be marked, consider obstacles that are also associated with the area around the yacht.
Helicopter Fuel
To carry or not to carry. The carriage of Jet A1 should not be as intimidating as it was once perceived. If you are going to install an aviation fuel system justify the project by carrying enough fuel to make it worthwhile. Realise that topping up is not easily achieved and in the case of operating with an embarked helicopter consider that defuelling of well sourced clean fuel may become the means by which you replenish your system. Jet A1 fuel management is all about quality control.
Protection
Yachts normally find themselves in hot, salty and possibly sandy places; some of the harshest environments for helicopters to operate in. If you can provide shelter aboard, in terms of a hangar, this will greatly enhance the long term condition of the helicopter. Anticipate higher maintenance costs if this cannot be achieved.
Outfitting
Principally fire-fighting systems and equipment together with helideck crash rescue kits, good personal protective clothing and breathing apparatus is what is being referred to here.
Training
The software of the process of heli yacht ops comprises the people that will operate the deck and the procedures they will follow. You will need to ensure that the yacht crew are trained in the specific environment and accompanying procedures surrounding helicopter operations and this training must be maintained this can be achieved through shore based, vessel or web based training courses. Ideally it should be all three, particularly if you are seeking commercial certification.
Procedures
The vessel should have a comprehensive and detailed operations manual that becomes the point of reference. Within this document will be immediate action cards that provide simple checklists to support everyday, normal and emergency procedures.
Commercial certification
Whether you are seeking certification as a passenger ship a commercial yacht through the MCA and its red ensign states or perhaps through the Marshall Islands and their new commercial certification process, it is important to establish contact at the earliest stage once you have an agreed preliminary design.
Operator
Legislation associated even with private operations is rapidly moving towards many of the expectations of commercial operations. Aircrew training, operations manuals, safety management and quality systems all become an important part of safe helicopter operations. A reputable helicopter operator will be able to offer this broad scope of services.
Nigel Watson is founder of Heli Riviera, Luviair Ltd and Nigel Watson Ltd. Issue 15 of The Superyacht Owner, out in December 2014, will look at helicopter operations on board in detail and feature Nigel Watson's top 5 helicopter models for superyachts. To subscribe and receive Issue 15, click here.
Best advice
Get some help from a reputable organisation that is independent of any certification or build process. There are costly elements associated with heli yacht integration they need to be evaluated from the client’s position.
Location
Best place to a land a helicopter is at the centre of gravity of the vessel. As this is an unlikely option, try for something as low down as possible and that will provide some visual references of the vessel when you are flying the helicopter. Understand why the forepeak should be your last option.
Strength
Build the deck so that it is strong enough for the helicopter that will operate to the deck in the future, not the smallest helicopter that will fit or the one the owner currently operates. Boats will outlive helicopters. Understand the differences between dynamic and static loads.
A render of the Marenco SKYe SH09 helicopter, still in concept phase, in front of a superyacht. Look out for this model in 2016.
Size
Understand what the 'D' value of the deck and the helicopter relate to and that your deck should be, as a minimum; the equivalent of 1D.
Obstacle environment
The architecture of yachts can be busy with many obstacles of differing sizes and shapes. They are all likely to be detrimental to safe helicopter operations. Know the limits of size and location.
Deck markings
If you are seeking commercial certification they become a must in terms of compliance, if not then consider how they can fulfill both the purpose of indicating the landing place for the helicopter while also remaining an attractive part of the yacht.
The certified helideck on M/Y Stella Maris (copyright VSY).
Light
This relates to both the aesthetics of the deck’s presentation and its helicopter and the wish to operate the helicopter at night. It is not only the deck that will need to be marked, consider obstacles that are also associated with the area around the yacht.
Helicopter Fuel
To carry or not to carry. The carriage of Jet A1 should not be as intimidating as it was once perceived. If you are going to install an aviation fuel system justify the project by carrying enough fuel to make it worthwhile. Realise that topping up is not easily achieved and in the case of operating with an embarked helicopter consider that defuelling of well sourced clean fuel may become the means by which you replenish your system. Jet A1 fuel management is all about quality control.
Protection
Yachts normally find themselves in hot, salty and possibly sandy places; some of the harshest environments for helicopters to operate in. If you can provide shelter aboard, in terms of a hangar, this will greatly enhance the long term condition of the helicopter. Anticipate higher maintenance costs if this cannot be achieved.
Outfitting
Principally fire-fighting systems and equipment together with helideck crash rescue kits, good personal protective clothing and breathing apparatus is what is being referred to here.
Helicopter operations on board M/Y Big Blue.
Training
The software of the process of heli yacht ops comprises the people that will operate the deck and the procedures they will follow. You will need to ensure that the yacht crew are trained in the specific environment and accompanying procedures surrounding helicopter operations and this training must be maintained this can be achieved through shore based, vessel or web based training courses. Ideally it should be all three, particularly if you are seeking commercial certification.
Procedures
The vessel should have a comprehensive and detailed operations manual that becomes the point of reference. Within this document will be immediate action cards that provide simple checklists to support everyday, normal and emergency procedures.
Commercial certification
Whether you are seeking certification as a passenger ship a commercial yacht through the MCA and its red ensign states or perhaps through the Marshall Islands and their new commercial certification process, it is important to establish contact at the earliest stage once you have an agreed preliminary design.
Operator
Legislation associated even with private operations is rapidly moving towards many of the expectations of commercial operations. Aircrew training, operations manuals, safety management and quality systems all become an important part of safe helicopter operations. A reputable helicopter operator will be able to offer this broad scope of services.
Nigel Watson is founder of Heli Riviera, Luviair Ltd and Nigel Watson Ltd. Issue 15 of The Superyacht Owner, out in December 2014, will look at helicopter operations on board in detail and feature Nigel Watson's top 5 helicopter models for superyachts. To subscribe and receive Issue 15, click here.
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