Safer Standards for Helicopter Operations

Maritime Aviation reviews the newly released Guidance Note REG-GN 001 (Rev.1) from the Red Ensign Group regarding Heliports on Large Yachts.

The Guidance Note REG-GN 001 (Rev.1) clarifies several operational and design aspects of shipboard heliports, ensuring alignment with the REG Yacht Code (YC) Annex H and SOLAS requirements. Whether you are managing a commercial charter vessel, building a new project, or operating a private yacht, understanding these expectations is paramount. Here are the key takeaways from the latest guidance:

• Design Must Follow Operational Intent: The guidance stresses that heliport design should not begin with deck diameter, but rather with a clear understanding of operational intent. Early consultation with independent aviation experts is highly recommended. Designers need to be more aware of aviation operational objectives.

  
  

• The Myth of "Touch and Go": CISR explicitly states that the term "touch and go"—referring to a landing where the helicopter does not power down before taking off again—is not recognised by large yacht aviation experts or regulators. If operations are intended where the aircraft isn't fully shut down, a comprehensive risk assessment must be conducted, declared, and assessed for certification.  

  
  

• Advancements in Firefighting: For fixed firefighting systems, the registry highlights a preference for remotely controlled Fixed Foam Monitors (FFMs) and Deck Integrated Firefighting Systems (DIFFS). Maritime Aviation suggests that DIFFS should be a 'given' on any large yacht operating a helicopter.

  
  

• Harmonised Periodic Inspections: The 5-year shipboard Helicopter Landing Area Certificate (HLAC) should be harmonised with Flag and Class renewal survey dates. Annual inspections are mandatory, and ideally, these should occur simultaneously with annual Flag and Class surveys.  

  
  

• Safer Standards for Private Use: Even if a pleasure yacht operates strictly for private use, the Owner has a primary obligation to ensure the safe operation of the vessel. CISR recommends private vessels maintain commercial standards to protect everyone on board and limit liability. Minimum expectations include an aviation safety audit, a bespoke Shipboard Heliport Operations Manual, appropriate firefighting equipment, and crew training equivalent to the Large Yacht Heliport Safety Training Syllabus.  

  
  

• Heliport Crew Training: Large Yacht crew operating on a heliport should be trained in accordance with the MCA Large Yacht Heliport Safety Training syllabus. That means that those crew members undertaking low cost on line courses would not meet the syllabus requirements.

  
  

As superyacht helicopter operations become increasingly sophisticated, these guidelines serve as an essential framework for standardising safety and efficiency. We encourage all owners, managers, captains, and designers to review the complete guidance note and engage with Maritime Aviation to achieve a better understanding of achieving safe and efficient heliport operations. Click for the Guidance Note REG-GN 001 (Rev.1)

Maritime Aviation are able to provide:

• Aviation Safety Audit / Aviation Capability Review

• Facilitation of Helicopter Landing Area Inspections/Certification

• Shipboard Heliport Operations Manual

• Large Yacht Heliport Safety Training

• Heliport Equipment

Contact Maritime Aviation