Vaisala’s Helideck Monitoring System now complies with updated CAP437 standards to improve pilot safety and offshore flight planning operations

Built for demanding offshore environments, Vaisala’s Helideck Monitoring System delivers the most accurate and reliable weather data, helideck motion, and vessel position in real time for safe, efficient helicopter takeoffs and landings. 

Vaisala, a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements, today announced its latest Helideck Monitoring System (HMS) revision now complies with the updated CAP437 standards for offshore helicopter landing areas issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). With its recent enhancements, the system exceeds the standard in delivering accurate, real-time, secure, and easily shareable weather data to ensure optimal operations for takeoffs and landings without compromising safety. 

Leveraging world-class, ICAO-compliant sensor technologies, Vaisala’s HMS delivers the most reliable key weather and environmental parameters needed to enable full situational awareness for better decision-making in the face of changing weather conditions. Unique features include the following: 

· Real-time, secure, and shareable data for optimized weather awareness: The new user-friendly interface includes a real-time data display, reporting tools, and critical alarms that empower decision-makers to quickly check data and helideck status from anywhere via a PC, tablet, or mobile device and securely share information with other offshore stakeholders during critical weather situations.

· Built-in regulatory compliance: Users can utilize the CAA-certified software, including preapproach and on-deck displays, on-deck stability, and RWD (relative wind direction)-warning schemes with integrated repeater lights, as well as configure the software for compliance with other international aviation regulations for offshore helicopter operations.

· Scalable platform, turnkey options, and a rugged design to minimize lifetime costs: The rugged design of Vaisala HMS is proven to withstand freezing, corrosion, vibration, or shock over long-term use. From turnkey options to a full Offshore Weather Awareness solution, Vaisala’s HMS is highly scalable, allowing users to choose the right setup to address their unique situation now and in the future. 

· High-quality, accurate weather and environmental information to enable the most informed decisions possible: Vaisala’s HMS delivers mandatory measurement features, including wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, air temperature, dew point, relative humidity, horizontal visibility, cloud height and coverage, helideck motion, as well as integration with repeater lights. Optionally, it can cover wave height and direction, ocean current measurements, lightning data, weather forecast, and remote wind measurement. 

“Offshore helicopter operations can be challenging, especially in landing locations such as floating installations and wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) that are at the mercy of changing weather conditions,” said Mikko Nikkanen, Head of Maritime at Vaisala. “To guarantee safety and efficiency while avoiding costly delays, helicopter pilots and operators now have real-time access to Vaisala’s reliable data on prevailing and near-term weather and environmental conditions to make the most informed decisions possible.” 

Leveraging more than 85 years of measurement expertise, including 45-plus years in aviation weather and over a decade of experience from demanding offshore weather applications, Vaisala’s robust global support team has successfully delivered hundreds of Helideck Monitoring Systems to partners around the world. 

For more information about how Vaisala’s HMS solution helps safeguard personnel and avoid costly and frustrating flight interruptions, visit vaisala.com/en/industries-applications/maritime/helideck-monitoring.

About Vaisala
Vaisala is a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements. Building on over 85 years of experience, Vaisala provides observations for a better world, with space-proof technology even exploring Mars and beyond. We are a reliable partner for customers around the world, offering a comprehensive range of innovative observation and measurement products and services. Headquartered in Finland, Vaisala employs over 1,900 professionals worldwide and is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.
 

Photo credit: Arctia/David Goldman