The new category A emergency breathing system (EBS) for the offshore workforce has been put through rigorous testing trials, Step Change is Safety today confirmed.
Testing of the new system included equipment compatibility trials in Blackpool, work of breathing at the QinetiQ centre in Farnborough, in-cabin layout compatibility trials in Aberdeen and cold water equipment testing and trials at Portsmouth University.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) were both on-hand during for the demonstrations and are currently reviewing trial footage. CAA approval of the test results is expected to be announced in June.
The final trial – cabin layout trials on smaller aircrafts based in the Southern North Sea – is due to be carried out later this week.
Step Change will now focus on defining the training required for deployment and the longer-term inclusion into BOSIET/FOET courses.
“There is still much work to do on scenario planning but at this time it is expected that deployment will commence firstly to offshore installations being served directly by Scatsa and Sumburgh, followed by installations in the southern sector and finally those embarking out of Aberdeen,” the statement said.
“Our current plan shows that we could commence deployment mid-July. This is a challenge but we are working very hard to achieve it.”
Earlier this year, the CAA announced that it would significantly bring forward the date from which the improved emergency breathing system will be compulsory, now January 1 next year, rather than the initial April 1, 2016 deadline.
[f
Recommended for you
