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UK CAA hosts successful meeting on equipment needs of search and rescue for offshore helicopters
Key organisations involved in the operation and regulation of offshore helicopter operations met with representatives from the UK’s search and rescue services yesterday at a meeting initiated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to discuss the operational needs of search and rescue organisations, and the role of Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT).
In a search and rescue situation it is important that all emergency locator transmitting devices work successfully without compromising the safe operation of the helicopter in which they are carried.
Following the Super Puma accident in February of this year, it was suspected that PLBs issued to passengers interfered with the primary Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) fitted to the helicopter and liferafts. As a result, the carriage of PLBs was restricted.
Following yesterday's very constructive meeting, a way to progress the re-instatement of PLBs in offshore helicopters was agreed.
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