Development of a Technical Standard for Emergency Breathing Systems (CAP 1034)

Abstract

This paper reports on the experimental work performed in support of the development of a technical standard for helicopter emergency breathing systems (EBS), and also contains the resulting technical standard. The work was commissioned by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and was funded by the CAA, the UK Health and Safety Executive and Shell Aircraft International. The project formed part of the joint-industry Helicopter Safety Research Management Committee (HSRMC) programme of work and was performed by Dr Susan Coleshaw, an acknowledged expert in the field of offshore safety and survival. The work follows on from the review of EBS implementation and use reported in CAA Paper 2003/13, also performed by Dr Coleshaw.

EBS is considered to have the potential to mitigate the safety risk associated with water impact/post ditching capsize in the short to medium term pending availability of the side-floating emergency floatation systems (see CAA Papers 97010, 2001/02, 2001/10 and 2005/06), and in the long term if and where retrofit of the side-floating scheme is judged to be impractical. The CAA concluded from the review of EBS reported in CAA Paper 2003/13 that, given the benefits and potential issues with EBS, there is no compelling case to either mandate or ban the use of EBS. If EBS is to be used, however, care must be taken to ensure that the equipment and associated training are designed and implemented in a manner that will truly provide a net
safety benefit; compatibility with other safety and survival equipment and systems is particularly important. The equipment should also be fit for purpose and the its limitations should be made clear to users.
It is for this reason that the CAA believes that a technical standard is needed, and that any EBS deployed should meet the technical standard.