Risk Management Series

RISK MANAGEMENT SERIES

AERIAL FROSTFIGHTING OPERATIONS

1AIMS:

To ensure all personnel involved in Aerial Frostfighting Operations are aware of all the safety aspects and procedures required to prevent an incident occurring that could compromise either the safety, the operation itself or the anticipated results.

2RESPONSIBILITIES:

2.1COMPANY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Shall ensure that;

1. The operation is sufficiently resourced to provide all fuelling, training and safety equipment.
2. Safety procedures are in place to cover any identified hazards.
3. Procedures are in place to identify any new hazards.
4. A review of procedures is carried out when any new equipment is introduced.

2.2FLIGHT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Shall ensure that;

1. Only pilots that are fully trained or under training in Aerial Frostfighting Operations are rostered to carry out these duties.
2. All pilots tasked with Aerial Frostfightingduties are properly licensed.
3. All staff involved in Aerial Frostfighting Operationsuse the appropriate safety equipment.
4. Any accidents, incidents or occurrences are reported to the company CEO, the Safety Officer and the appropriate authorities.
5. Any hazards that are identified are either eliminated, isolated or minimised.
6. The client is aware of their responsibilities for the safety of the operation including giving the company sufficient warning of requirement, advising of any hazardous obstacles, providing the pilot and crew with appropriate rest facilities etc (see section 2.5)

2.3OPERATIONAL PILOT

Shall ensure that;

1. All the required equipment is on board the aircraft prior to departure from base (see Frostfighting Equipment list)
2. He/she has relevant charts and studies the rules for any controlled air space anticipated.
3. He/she holds current appropriate authority to carry out the operation.
4. He/she is fully aware of the requirements of these procedures particularly in relation ferry flight after Evening Civil Twilight and before Morning Civil Twilight.
5. He/she understands fully all aspects of the operation and is aware of the exact location that the operation is to be carried out at.
6. He/she has completed all the documentation required for the operation including filing a flight plan with ATC or base and completes post operation documentation.
7. He/she is fit to carry out the operation both physically and mentally and is aware of the potential fatigue aspects. It is recommended that the pilot have at least 6 hours rest prior to commencing Aerial Frostfighting Operations.
8. Prior to the commencement of the operation a full briefing has been carried out including;

ia ground inspection of the total area to be treated in daylight

iiidentification and marking of any hazards within the area to be treated and the immediate surroundings.

iiithe location of any stock that may be adversely effected by the operation.

ivthe location of any property or personnel that may be adversely effected by the operation and have notification requirements been met.

vany duties that may be required of personnel on the ground.

viany other hazard that may affect the operation.

1. He/she has formulated a fuel plan and established refueling times and quantities required and co-ordinated these with the Ground Support Crew.
2. He/she carries out a full preflight inspection including instrument, navigation, landing and frost lights; that aircraft windscreen is clear and the mirror has been removed prior to take off on frost ops.
3. He/she fully understands the dangers of losing visual reference with the ground during operations and establishes practices that do not allow this to occur.
4. He/she suspends the operation immediately any hazardous situation arises.

2.4GROUND SUPPORT CREW

Shall ensure that;

1. They have been fully briefed on all aspects of the operation including the area that the operation is to be carried out in.
2. Where possible, they carry out an inspection of the area to be treated along with the pilot in daylight.
3. They carry sufficient fuel for the proposed operation and the return ferry flight.
4. They establish a co-ordinated refueling procedure including the refueling times and amounts required with the pilot.
5. They carry any of the necessary equipment required for the operation.
6. They establish and maintain a continuous radio watch on the appropriate radio frequency and advise the pilot of any potential threat to the safety of the operation.
7. They advise the pilot of any unauthorised personnel in the area of operations.

2.5CLIENT

Shall ensure that;

1. They give the company sufficient notification of impending frost control operations to allow time to prepare and dispatch aircraft in order that they reach the scene of operations with enough time to properly inspect the area to be treated in daylight.
2. They provide an area to park the aircraft adjacent to the block to be treated such that the aircraft is able to hover taxi in ground effect from the parking area to the block.
3. All hazards or potential hazards have been pointed out to the pilot and a method of illuminating them during the operation is established.
4. Provide suitable facilities for rest for the pilot and crew and is aware of the recommendation to have at least 6 hours complete rest before commencing frost operations.
5. Actively discourage the crew from consuming alcohol from the time the callout is made.
6. Where possible, continuous support is provided for the pilot and ground crew during the operation.
7. Any unauthorised personnel are removed from the area during the operation.
8. The pilot is advised of any stock or personnel that may be adversely effected by the operation.
9. Notification requirements to neighbours have been met.

3QUALIFICATIONS:

3.1OPERATIONAL PILOT

1. Must hold a current Commercial Pilot License and a valid Aircraft Type Rating
2. Must hold a current Night Rating
3. Must have completed company Frost Fighting training and have carried out a flight company flight competency check within the preceding 12 months
4. Must have satisfied any other requirements stipulated by the Flight Operations Manager
5. Must be physically and mentally fit to carry out the operation.

3.2GROUND SUPPORT CREW

1. Must hold a current drivers license with Dangerous Goods endorsement.
2. Must have been trained or be in training for helicopter support operations
3. Must meet any other requirements stipulated by the Flight Operations Manager

4OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES:

4.1PURPOSE

The purpose of Aerial Frostfighting Operations is to help protect crops from the adverse effects of low air temperatures.

The crops that are being treated have a critical air temperature below which damage occurs.

The normal procedure requires that warm air from above any ‘inversion layer’ is dragged down to ground level and that any cold air that may ‘pond’ in the treatment area is dispersed.

4.2PROCEDURE

1. Establish the clients requirements;
2. the area to be treated
3. the critical temperature
4. any priority areas
5. establish lead time required to get started once client advise of temperature risk

1. Establish any hazards to the operation by;
2. asking the client
3. visual observation of the area and surroundings in daylight

1. Mark any hazards with lights, frost pots or some other method.

D. Establish a flight plan by;

i. defining a route from the staging site to the operational area

ii. establishing where the low points of the area are (as this is where the cold air will flow down to)

1. establishing a flight pattern around the area to ensure that no part is left for any length of time without being treated
2. establish a refueling plan with Ground Support Crew with refueling times and amounts of fuel required
3. Establishing a flight pattern to avoid any hazards

4 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES Cont.

1. At start of operations;

1. carry out thorough pre-flight inspection including instrument, landing and any frost lights being used
2. Load ballast into helicopter if appropriate.
3. ensure that the windscreen is completely clear
4. Ensure that the mirror has been removed if fitted
5. Ensure that an adequate rest period has been complied with and fatigue is not an issue
6. Ensure that all hazards have been illuminated or otherwise defined

1. Once operational;

1. establish the altitude of the inversion layer by monitoring the outside air temperature
2. continue to monitor the outside air temperature to ensure that the operation is having the desired effect and to establish any areas where cold air may ‘pond’
3. continue the operation until advised by client to stop or some hazard requires the suspension of the operation.
4. Essential crew only shall be carried.

1. On completion of operations it is recommended that no ferry flight back to base is commenced until after Morning Civil Twilight

1. Ensure all documentation relating to the operation has been completed

1. Ensure all equipment such as hazard warning lights have been collected

1. SAFETY EQUIPMENT

1.1OPERATIONAL PILOT

1. Flight Helmet
2. Warm clothing ie. thermal overalls
3. Torch

1.2GROUND SUPPORT CREW

i. Gloves

ii. Warm clothing

1.3FROSTFIGHTING KIT

1. Hazard warning lights and spare batteries
2. Black tape
3. Adjustable spanner
4. Torch
5. Remote outside temperature gauge

1.4GROUND SUPPORT VEHICLE

1. Crash rescue equipment
2. Fire extinguisher
3. Fuel spillage kit

Promoted ByISSUE 1

NZ Helicopter AssociationSeptember 2010

RISK MANAGEMENT SERIES

AERIAL FROSTFIGHTING OPERATIONS

HAZARD REGISTER FROSTFIGHTING OPERATIONS

Hazards Identified / Potential Harm / Significant Hazard
Yes No / E / I / M / Hazard Controls / Hazard Controls in Place
TRAINING Date Date Date Date
REQUIRED Checked Checked Checked Checked
Frost or condensation on windscreen / Serious or fatal / X / X / X / Use covers on screen overnight
Clean windscreen inside and out prior to commencing operations
Mirror left on aircraft / Serious or fatal / X / X / Remove mirror prior to commencing operations
Wires, cables or obstacles in or around operational area / Serious or fatal / X / X / Place warning lights or frost pots adjacent to any obstacles prior to commencing operations
Loss of spatial orientation / Serious or fatal / X / X / Always maintain visual reference with the ground
Don’t carry out cross-country flight to and from the block being treated
Loss of night vision / Serious or fatal / X / X / Avoid looking at bright lights
Fire during refueling / Serious or fatal / X / X / Carry out refueling procedures in accordance with Company Operations Manual
Collision with other helicopters near block / Serious or fatal / X / X / Fly inside your designated area. Display nav and anti-collision lights. Maintain situational awareness in respect to other machines in close proximity.
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Collision with other helicopters transiting for fuel or at local aerodromes / Serious or fatal / X / X / This risk can be eliminated by having sufficient fuel at the work site to meet all requirements
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E = EliminateI = IsolateM = Minimise

Promoted ByISSUE 1

NZ Helicopter AssociationSeptember 2010

RISK MANAGEMENT SERIES

AERIAL FROSTFIGHTING OPERATIONS

HAZARD REGISTER FROSTFIGHTING OPERATIONS

Hazards Identified / Potential Harm / Significant Hazard
Yes No / E / I / M / Hazard Controls / Hazard Controls in Place
TRAINING Date Date Date Date
REQUIRED Checked Checked Checked Checked
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E = EliminateI = IsolateM = Minimise

Promoted ByISSUE 1

NZ Helicopter AssociationSeptember 2010