Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Applies New Regulations to Offshore Passengers in UK Airspace.

4 March 2015

From 1^st April 2015, the CAA will apply new regulations to the carrying of passengers offshore in UK air space. This action will prohibit helicopter operators from carrying passengers whose body size is incompatible with the authorised underwater escape exits. Passengers with a shoulder width of or more than 55.9cm (22”) will be classified as extra broad (XBR), while passengers with a shorter measurement will be classed as regular. Although this may affect some offshore workers, the CAA claims that 30% of all helicopter seats are suitable for XBRs.

The Passenger Size workgroup has concluded that the passengers shoulder width is the most reliable measure of body size to establish this.

Occupational health professionals from the industry will be trained in measuring personnel with an approved set of calipers. The measurements will then be recorded to allow future flights to be planned in advance. Non-core and office-based personnel will also have to be measured under the new regulations.

All offshore personnel will be required to be measured before the 1^st April when this action will come into effect. This is an industry applied requirement and hence we expect all people who are intended to travel in helicopters through UK air space for UK operations, to have been measured, size classified and entered into Vantage prior to travelling to heliport.

To find out more about this action please click here to the Steps in Safety website. The site also includes a Passenger Size FAQ PDF which explains the issue in further detail.