RASO-WA Aviation Safety in UNMIL Aircraft Operation

1. RASO-WA Aviation Safety in UNMIL Aircraft Operation

2. UNMIL Aviation Fleet Composition • aircraft operating in UNMIL • MI-8 MTV/AMT: 9 • MI-8 MT: 3 • MI-26 T: 1 • MI-24: 3 • B-757 (fixed wing): 1 • Dash-7 (fixed wing):1 • Beech-200 (fixed wing): 1 • CRJ-200 (fixed wing) 1

3. DPKO Aviation Safety Structure Aviation Safety Section UNHQ SRSG Aviation Safety Unit DMS Other DMS Sections CISS CAS Aviation Section • Accidents are wasteful in human lives, finance, transport resources and property, and are a serious handicap to the political and operational effectiveness of Peacekeeping Operations. • The UN will make every effort and pursue all available means to prevent aviation accidents and incidents during operations, which are conducted by civilian air operators, military forces or Member-States, on its behalf.

4. The goal of Aviation Safety Unit To prevent aircraft accidents and thereby preserve life and property of UN staff as well as others who may have been placed in the Organization`s care. This goal shall be perused through a combination of comprehensive practices for aeronautical operations, and an effective Aviation Accident Prevention Program.

5. The Basic Philosophy of Ensuring of Aviation Safety The approach to ensuring of aviation safety is based on the philosophy that it is irresponsible and wasteful to wait for an accident to happen, then figuring out how to prevent it from happening again. We manage risk to make our chances of success as great as possible, while making our chances of failure, injury or loss as small as possible. It is a common sense approach to balancing the risks against the benefits to be gained in a situation and then choosing the most effective course of action.

6. What is Safety? In aviation the complete elimination of incidents and accidents is unachievable. Failures will occur, in spite of the most accomplished prevention efforts. So, control of risks and control of errors are acceptable in an inherently safe system. For this fundamental reason, ICAO defines safety as the state in which the risk of harm to persons or property damage is reduced to, and maintained at or below, an acceptable level through a continuing process of hazard identification and risk management.

7. What are hazard and risk? Hazard– condition or object with the potential of causing injuries to personnel, damage to equipment or structures, loss of material, or reduction of ability to perform a prescribed function. Risk– the assessment, expressed in terms of predicted probability and severity, of the consequence(s) of a hazard affecting an air asset, taking as reference the worst possible situation. Probability– the likelihood that an unsafe event, or condition might occur. Severity– the possible effects of an unsafe event or condition, taking as reference the worst possible situation.

8. Principles of Aviation Operational Risk Management (ORM): • Do not accept unnecessary Risk • Accept risk only when the benefits outweigh worst possible outcome • Make risk decisions at the appropriate level • ORM process is fully integrated at all levels of Planning and Execution

9. Minimum Aerodrome Safety Management Systems Requirements: • Identification of hazards • Remedial action to maintain an acceptable level of safety • Continuous monitoring and regular assessment of level of safety achieved • Continuous improvement to the overall level of safety In most of UNMIL landing sites, ALO is the only one representative of UNMIL Aviation Staff and in this case ALO is responsible for identification of hazards to safe and regular operation of Aviation, evaluation of risks provided by those hazards and for their mitigation thereby preventing accidents and incidents, preserving human lives and saving funds of the UN.

10. ALO must always assume in his (her) operation that accidents and incidents must be prevented by mitigating of any unsafe conditions, operations and procedures in order to reduce the risk level to as low as reasonably practicable.

11. Most of the functions of ALO are connected to managing of his (her) landing site including the assessment of area itself, processing of passengers movement and of cargo handling, managing of movement of vehicles around and in service area of landing sites, observing of weather conditions, monitoring and ensuring of security situation around landing sites, providing advisory information to flight crew by VHF radios.

12. ALO must provide in-time reporting about all flights, meteorological conditions and security situation to Air Operations Duty Officer, to Meteorological officer and to Flight Following Officers. • ALO is also responsible for immediate reporting to Aviation Safety Unit of any observed hazards, unsafe practices and procedures and about any occurrences connected with operation of UNMIL Aviation. • ALO should never forget that he (she) is under the command of DCOO (military), Air Ops Officer and must report about all hazards, security issues and incidents to him as well. The situation when military Air Ops officer is the last person to know about any hazards and occurrences is unacceptable.

13. According to UNMIL Aviation SOP Chapter 4 “Associated Staff Personnel”: Where there is no Aviation or MOVCON representative. The ALO’s responsibilities include (but not limited to): • Monitoring of all aviation procedures and techniques as well as aircraft in regard to potential safety hazards. • Coordination on all matters related to safety and security at the landing sites. • Securing with adequate security well in advance of arrival time of UN aircraft. • Maintaining radio communication with aircraft within his area of responsibility. • Providing pilots with traffic information and essential aerodrome information. • Management of cargo and personnel at the helipad (Ramp control). • Ensuring of operational availability and readiness of fire fighting services. • Assistance to aircrew in solving of problems that may occur. • Monitoring of physical condition of landing sites. • Notification of Airfield Management Unit of any problems at the landing sites. • Coordination of all matters related to safety and security on the landing sites. Maintaining radio communication with aircraft within his area of responsibility and advising of Pilotin Command while landing / taking-off about obstacles, other movement, etc. • Ensuring of operational readiness of firefighting equipment. • Controlling of cargo and passengers movement at the landing sites. • Notifying MOVCON on any changes in cargo/passengers/manifests.

14. Safety on the Apron, Helicopter Landing Site Useful Definitions: • Aircraft isany machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface. • Aero plane is a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, deriving its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight. • Helicopter or rotorcraft isa heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power driven rotors on substantially vertical axes. • Apron isa defined area, on a land aerodrome, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance. • Heliport or helipad isan aerodrome or a defined area on a structure intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters. • Most heliports or helipads used by UNMIL are small sizes, suited for landing and servicing of one helicopter, without extended infrastructure and with minimum of servicing personnel. For operational use they are most often named as “Helipads”, or “Helicopter Landing Sites” (HLS).

15. Functions of ALO at Landing Sites • An Air Liaison Officer (ALO) is designated at landing sites where troops are stationed in order to improve the effective, efficient and safe operational aviation support. Where there is no Aviation or MOVCON representative, the ALO is the focal point on all matters related to the transportation of personnel and cargo on UNMIL aircraft. • ALO is the focal point on all matters related to his area, but he (she) must always remember that Pilot in Command has the primary responsibility for everything which may be connected to any aspect of operation of his aircraft. That is why no access to, or contact with an aircraft or its contents is permitted unless approved by the pilot-in-command or his (her) representatives.

16. Apron (HLS) is a Hazardous Area

17. Apron (HLS) is a Hazardous Area • It is always hazardous to be near an aircraft with the engines running. • Take special care when working near the engines of propeller aircraft or helicopter. • Stay clear of the propeller blades, as you may not be able to hear or see them when they start rotating. • Never approach jet engines when they are operating. The suction is so powerful in front of and next to the air intake that loose objects or even persons can be sucked in quite easily. Always keep a safe distance from the engines. Beware of the blast from both jet and propeller engines. • Always accept stationary engines and rotors as if they are running and take all the same precautions; • Smoking and open fire is prohibited on the apron or HLS area even if you are inside a car;

21. Personal Protection And Signaling Equipment (PPE and SE). • You must always wear ear protectors when you are in the vicinity of an aircraft with its APU or main engines operating. • The noise level on the Apron is often so high that it is a requirement that you use hearing protection whilst working near aircraft. • If you do not use ear protectors, you risk impairing your hearing. This may happen gradually but cannot be cured. You should limit the use of, and your time near noisy equipment. • Always wear a reflective vest in HLS area in order to be clearly seen by air crew and drivers of vehicles. • When marshalling use wooden wands for daytime or illuminated wands for night time. • In the absence of illuminated wands, bats or torch lights should be used. • Always have your radio handset with you.

22. Aircraft anti-collision lights • When aircraft have their anti-collision lights on, everybody on the landing site must pay special attention. • The anti-collision lights are the flashing red lights on the top and bottom of the aircraft and are activated when the aircraft engines are about to start and when they are running. • This is a signal to all ground traffic in the vicinity to keep clear of the parking bay and to give way to an aircraft being maneuvered. • The view of the ground from the aircraft cockpit is usually quite restricted. • Drivers and others on the landing site must keep this in mind and stay clear whenever aircraft are moving.

23. Vehicles and handling equipment • Random parking of vehicles and handling equipment outside the designated parking areas represents a safety hazard to both aircraft and other traffic. • Only essential vehicles are permitted to apron, or HLS. • Vehicle access into the airside (including VIPs cars) and movement on the ramp shall be strictly controlled and monitored. Gates at entry and exit points shall be closed immediately after the vehicle has passed irrespective of the duration the vehicle will take in the airside. • Access points to the ramp will be manned or sealed at all times. • Maximum vehicle speed not more than 15 km/h. • Hazard lights must be on all vehicles to enable other people and crew to see them easily. • No passing is acceptable under any part of an aircraft including rotor blades. • The distance of at least 50 meters must be maintained behind the aircraft with running engine(s). • The minimum clearance between a helicopter using a helicopter stand with its engines running and an object or any aircraft on another stand shall not be less than half the greatest over-all width of the helicopters that the stand is intended to serve. This minimum clearance also applies for two aircraft with the engines running. • Vehicles or handling equipment must not be parked or left in places where they should not prevent other vehicles from moving forward and away in case of an emergency. • The path of a fuel service truck must always be free. • REMEMBER: - Aircraft always have the right of way.

24. Parking of vehicles • Use designated parking zones (whenever possible) • Don’t park where it will cause an obstruction. • Never obstruct the path of a fuel service truck (they must be able to drive away without obstruction in case of fire)

25. Vehicle approaching the aircraft • Do not move without crew permission. • Maximum speed – 15km/h. • Stop no closer to aircraft than 3 m except when required for loading/unloading or serving aircraft. • Follow instructions of load master/crew member whilst loading/offloading. • After stopping – use wheel chocks • Do not pass under any part of an aircraft • Driving at the airport can be dangerous

26. Foreign Object Debris (FOD) • FOD is an aviation safety hazard: for the aircraft engines, for personnel (when hit by air blast), for another aircraft or vehicle • FOD is the acronym for Foreign Object Debris and or Foreign Object Damage. Loose material and debris (cardboard packing, plastic bags, paper, oil cans, nylon tape, bolts, screws, stones, pipes, wire and the like) on the movement areas may be sucked in to the aircraft/helicopter engines or damage the tires of the aircraft/helicopter and cause a major disaster resulting in loss of human lives or damage to very expensive aircraft components. This has happened before and may very well happen again. Please assist actively in preventing FOD. • Pay attention when you operate in the apron/HLS area. Collect any waste materials you see lying about and put them in the waste containers; do not leave tools lying about. Make sure all construction materials are stored so that they cannot be blown away. Generally keep a clean and tidy landing area . • Each day make sure that you leave landing site in a clean and safe state. • Airside waste containers must always have lids to ensure that material which may cause FOD is not blown out of the containers. • Goods and materials, which are stored on Airside, must be shielded against high winds or aircraft engine blast.

27. Rotor Wash Effect. Helicopters with running engines in the proximity of ground surface create additional hazard of rotor wash effect which may cause significant damages of ground infrastructure, reduced visibility due to dust washed out by rotors and injures to people.

29. Transportation of Personnel • ALO has to check-in the passengers using the manifests prepared by the MOVCON Booking Office and to assemble them for the pre-boarding safety briefing. • When transporting passengers, the ALO loading staff should ensure that : • Passengers are properly briefed, cell phones switched-off, caps/beret off • They are grouped together and position in a secure safe place, • They face away from the helicopter during take-off and landing, • They are grouped in pairs, and ready to board in turn when the pilot gives the boarding signs, • Passengers with ammunition are made to clear their weapons before boarding.

30. Weapons Must Be Unloaded

31. Safety Inside an aircraft • As far as practicable, hearing protection devices will be provided and used by all passengers. • Smoking is strictly forbidden while on the airside (on the ramp) at Spriggs Payne or at Roberts International Airports, or on board the aircraft. On other helipads a person may not smoke within fifty meters of the aircraft. • Passengers must be disembarked and have to move a minimum of 50 meters away from the aircraft while refueling operations are in progress. • Photography on board UNMIL aircraft is forbidden unless the express permission of the flight crew is obtained and only with the conditions given. • Passengers proceeding to board or while on-board the aircraft should behave in a manner that will not endanger the safety of other passengers, the aircraft or their own safety. • Passengers are not allowed to leave their seats while the aircraft is in flight, unless approved by Pilot-in-Command. In all UNMIL aircraft, passenger must remain seated and strapped by seat belts at all times from start-up to shut-down of engines. • Only aircrews have access to the cockpit of the aircraft and where a door is provided, it will be kept locked at all times during the flight. Entry of other personnel to the cockpit is by the express permission of PIC. Such authorization shall be granted to personnel intending to perform flight or evaluation duties while in the cockpit.

32. Dangerous Goods

33. Dangerous Goods • Never allow any of these items on board any UNMIL or any aircraft. • For any of these items to be loaded on board an aircraft, there must be the following”: • Proper packaging and labeling with international signs • Valid Dangerous Goods certificate of transportation duly signed • The pilot has accepted it on board. Transportation of Animals Carriage of animals on board UNMIL aircraft is prohibited and the only exception is the carriage of dogs as part of canine units with formed police units.

34. Examples of Good Practices

35. Examples of Good Practices

36. Examples of Good Practices

37. Examples of Good Practices

38. Examples of Unacceptable Work

39. Examples of Unacceptable Work

40. Examples of Unacceptable Work

41. Examples of Unacceptable Work

42. Reporting System Sound safety management and effective accident prevention is based on a full, accurate and timely reporting system of all occurrences and hazards, followed by a timely investigation of the incident, a dissemination of the recommendations and required actions to all involved. This is a basic requirement that places a great responsibility on the safety of the organization at all levels. Observed Hazard Report In general, people are the most important aspect in the process of identifying, reporting and controlling hazards. The Observed Hazard Report (OHR) is a tool that allows all UN personnel to report hazards to the appropriate areas as soon as they become aware of them, therefore contributing to the general safety level of the Organization

43. Observed Hazard Report Form

44. Reporting System • Purpose: Report to Aviation Safety Unit any hazard or safety concern by anyone who observes it; • Timing: As soon as observation is made; • Forms have to be available / easily accessible to all Mission staff; awareness is a key to success; • Variety of communications means – in person, fax, email, web or Lotus based access, etc.

45. Example of Subject To be Reported

46. Example of Subject To be Reported

47. Example of Subject To be Reported

48. Example of Subject To be Reported

49. How to report • Use on-line form in Intranet (Quick Link UNMIL Forms); • Lotus Notes, E-mail; • Phone call, verbal report; Ext: 7347, 7395, 7396, • Cell: (0531) 9282, 9525, 9646 • By mail (hard copy). OFFICE: AVIATION SAFETY UNIT EXECUTIVE HANGAR SPRIGGS PAYNE AIRFIELD MONROVIA. ALL INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON SUBMITING A REPORT TO US IS ALWAYS TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL.

50. Unruly Passengers Are the Passengers Behaving in The Following Manner: • Physical assault, verbal abuse or sexual harassment. • Behaving recklessly or negligently in a manner likely to endanger aircraft or an occupant. • Smoking in any compartment where smoking is prohibited. • Disobeying lawful commands from the commander of the aircraft. • Behaviour which is violent, argumentative, threatening, intimidating or disorderly, including harassment. All unruly passengers shall be denied boarding any UNMIL aircraft and shall be reported immediately to Aviation Safety Unit.