Aviation Major Hazard Standard - MIRMgate

Major Hazard Standard
MHS 03 - Aviation Standard documen Revision 3
issued 20 August 2001
** Uncontrolled copy. Use latest revision **
• separation of fuel facilities from the landing area
• elimination of projections adjacent to the landing
area which might hazard under-slung loads
Where there is a requirement for a helicopter
(particularly skid fitted) to shut down engines at a
remote or confined landing area, a contingency plan
should be made to provide for access to the location
by another helicopter in the event the first helicopter
becomes unserviceable.
Alternative landing areas should be identified that
are available in the event of an emergency.
Contingency plans should be prepared
Hot Refueling
Hot or rotors running refueling of helicopters shall
not be permitted unless there is an over-riding
operational necessity to do so.
Where hot refueling is required by operational
necessity:
• detailed written procedures for the operation
shall be in place
• the procedures shall be specific to the type of
helicopter
• personnel involved in the operation shall have
received formal training in the refueling
procedures
Load Handling Procedures
The operating procedures shall describe the load
management and handling procedures to be used in
the operation. The responsibilities of the load
handling ground crew and the flight crew should be
specified. The pilot in command of the helicopter
shall have responsibility for the acceptance of the
load handling procedures adopted for the operation.
The procedures should identify the hazards involved
in the load handling operation and the controls
required to be in place to mitigate the potential for
accidents.
Load Planning
A load plan should be prepared for the operation by
the flight crew and the load handling ground crew.
All items to be transported shall be weighed and
marked. Loads should be pre-slung wherever
possible. Loads shall not exceed those approved for
the type of helicopter used.
Load Handling Crew
When picking up external loads, the helicopter
should be attended by a load handling crew
comprising :
• loadmaster - solely responsible for
communicating with the pilot and directing the
helicopter over the load. Communication
between the loadmaster and the pilot shall be by
both radio and hand signals.
• hook operator - to connect the load to the
helicopter’s cargo hook
When dropping loads, only the loadmaster is
required to attend the helicopter. Other personnel
should be kept clear of the drop area.
Only personnel who have received training in load
handling procedures shall form the load handling
crew.
Loadmasters shall wear clothing to distinguish them
from other personnel on the ground and be readily
identifiable to helicopter pilots.
Lifting Equipment
Lifting equipment shall be:
• provided with valid, current test certificates
• dedicated to helicopter external load operations
and kept separate from other lifting gear
• inspected and maintained on a regular basis with
records kept of its maintenance
• rigged with a swivel in the line
All items in the load lifting assembly shall have a
breaking strain of at least four times the weight of
the heaviest load to be lifted.
Helicopter cargo hook release mechanisms should
be tested daily.
Dangerous Goods
Items classed as Dangerous Goods may be carried as
external loads in accordance with the following
guidelines:
• explosives and detonators shall not be transported
on the same flight;
• explosives should be carried as external loads
wherever possible;
• detonators shall be carried only as external loads
but may be combined with compatible or inert
goods;
• the operator shall have approval to carry
dangerous goods.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personnel working around helicopters engaged in
external load operations shall wear protection
against possible hazards (dust, small objects)
generated by rotor down-wash, noise, or accidents
involving loads.
SAF-MHS-03 Rev. 03 Docs: 55221 Issued: 20/08/01 Page 27 of 29