The International Helicopter Safety Team (www.IHST.org), in cooperation with safety experts from throughout the civil helicopter industry, has released two new safety bulletins aimed at enhancing helicopter operations and reducing accidents.

The IHST family of safety bulletins provides important information for helicopter pilots, operators, and instructors as they prepare for flight.  The newest safety bulletin topics focus on risk assessment and professionalism.

•A Flight/Ground Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT/GRAT)

•Setting the Right Example: Flying Safely Even When No One is Watching

The IHST now offers a total of 19 safety bulletins that individual pilots and instructors, and operators with small fleets can use to improve safety awareness and reinforce good safety habits.  Each two-page safety bulletin delivers a wealth of concise information that helicopter operators will be able to use for general reference and as a training tool.

The documents are accessible within the “Resources” section of the IHST web site (http://www.ihst.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3089&language=en-US) and are organized within the safety topics of:

– Visibility,
– Loss of Control,
– Controlled Flight into Terrain,
– Autorotations,
– Training,
– Safety Management, and
– Professionalism.

The IHST promotes safety and works to reduce accidents and fatalities.  The organization was formed in 2005 to lead a government and industry cooperative effort to address factors that were affecting an unacceptable helicopter accident rate.  Prior to 2006, the number of worldwide civil helicopter accidents was rising at a rate of 2.5 percent per year.  Since 2006, the number of accidents worldwide has been decreasing by an annual rate of 2 percent.  More information about the IHST, its reports, safety tools, and presentations can be obtained at its web site at www.IHST.org and on the IHST Facebook page.