H e l i c o p t e r 1 0 1
Helicopters are a common sight these days in the skies around Takoradi , another sign of the developing oil and gas industry . Bristow Helicopters is one of three helicopter companies currently operating here . The company ’ s fleet of Sikorsky 76s is easily recognizable by its blue , red and white livery .
Bristow , which has its head office in Houston , Texas , is one of the world ’ s largest providers of helicopter services and was the first civil helicopter company to work in the oil and gas industry . Today it specializes in the movement of personnel to offshore production platforms and drilling rigs including those in the Western Region . The company is committed to a long-term association with Ghana with plans to train local staff in the various occupations required for its operations .
The Chief Engineer David Coady and Chief Pilot Martin Bull at the Takoradi base say while helicopter technology continues to evolve there is great emphasis these days , by both companies and customers , on safety features . David Coady says their helicopters operate under rigorous safety measures as they must be compliant not just with Ghana Civil Aviation regulations but also with oil industry standards and with European aviation legislation as their helicopters are UK registered .
In other countries where Bristow operates it provides Search and Rescue services and emergency services as required alongside its passenger services . It also contributed assistance to the response to the massive oil spill in Gulf of Mexico last year .
While flying in helicopters retains an aura of glamour for those of us who do not do it every day it is routine for the pilots ; however , for those in the Western Region there ’ s the consolation that it ’ s not unheard of to get a bird ’ s eye view of a whale !
H e l i c o p t e r 1 0 1
The speed limit for helicopters is 145 knots per hour ( airspeed ). This measures how fast it is travelling through the air , not how fast it is travelling over the ground . For example , if the head wind is 80 knots and the indicated airspeed is 80 knots the aircraft is standing still . The ground speed is measured by GPS . Helicopter cannot fly higher then 8000ft .
Weather report is given from the Takoradi airport tower every morning detailing wind , visibility , pressure and rain at Takoradi air force base . A weather report is also obtained from the destination ( rig ) before each flight .
There are always two pilots during the flight in the cockpit , purely for safety reasons . The captain sits on the right with co-pilot on the left . Normally the captain takes care of the flying and co-pilot takes care of the radios .
Temperature in the cockpit depends on the outside temperature and ventilation fan .
The aircraft is equipped with autopilot . The main purpose of this is to reduce the pilot ’ s workload .
GPS shows the time to destination , distance to destination and direction .
The fuel required is calculated based on destination and conditions of the day ( bad weather takes more fuel in case a diversion is required ). Payload ( how many passengers / baggage ) can then be calculated .
Cyclic lever controls helicopter in four directions ( pitch forward and back and roll left and right ).
Collective lever moves helicopter up and down .
Passengers ’ weight and passengers ’ luggage weight is checked before the flight takes off from Takoradi airport . Prior to each flight every passenger must go through security screening and immigration checks at both sides - the airport and the rig . The passengers are required to view a safety briefing video before each and every flight , even if the passenger returns the same day .
Put the yellow fuel select levers in position to open fuel supply to engines . Push stat button on the black engine control levers to start the engines .
Switch on the electricical power both AC ( alternating current ) and DC ( direct current ).
Both engine temperatures , speed and torque levels . Weather radar is scanning the clouds ahead e . g . red means heavy rain .
Artificial horizon - shows the altitude of the aircraft
Six radios working on different frequencies Four VHF - two for navigation and two for communication . One radio for ADF ( automatic direction finder ) and one for transponder .
10 OilCityMagazine www . oilcityghana . com 11