Assessing the Hazards of Nighttime Offshore Helicopter Operations

Offshore helicopter operations are essential for oil and gas exploration and production activities. When visibility is poor, e.g. at nighttime, such operations are prone to accidents. A significant increase in such nighttime operations is predicted in the near future and there is a pressing need to understand the causes of such accidents to avoid them in future. This paper proposes a systemic approach to account for all the factors underlying such accidents, unveiled through expert knowledge elicitation. It presents the results of interviews of pilots from four different scenarios using cognitive task analysis, followed by rigorous application of grounded theory and template analysis to the narratives. The results are used to compile a comprehensive list of the factors that affect the ability of pilots to fly at night, thus guiding future data collection and safety interventions. Amongst items for improvement are: the visual environment in and around offshore installations; standard operating procedures in which tasks are based; training requirements for the pilots; internal states of the pilots; capabilities of the aircraft for the intended job; regulations concerning night operations; and organizational support to the crews onboard the aircraft.