A better flight plan

The ultimate guide to helideck monitoring systems

Offshore industrial activity is increasing around the world, and helicopter
services are critical for supporting all of them. From wind farm
construction to oceanographic research, organizations depend
on helicopters to transport crew members, assist in moving
equipment, conduct inspections, execute rescue operations
and more.

At the helideck, weather conditions can change

suddenly and catch pilots off guard — risking
personnel safety and causing expensive delays.
Helideck operators, pilots and others need to
know what’s happening on deck so they
can make accurate, timely decisions
to support safety and efficiency.
A helideck monitoring system is
essential for providing critical
weather and environmental Contents
data, when you need it most.
Helicopter services support multiple industries....................................... 3
The importance of a helideck monitoring system...................................4
Industry drivers............................................................................................................5
Wind farms and pilot safety............................................................................. 6
What pilots have to say................................................................................... 7
Vaisala Helideck Monitoring System............................................................. 8
2
Helicopter services Offshore helicopter operations support three main
industries. In addition to personnel transport, each

support multiple industries

industry has its own requirements for weather and
environmental parameters, from the standard HMS
to full offshore weather awareness.

Marine
Services in this sector support commercial, defense and research
vessels for a vast array of activities including shipping, emergency
medical services (HEMS), surveillance, patrol and oceanography.

Oil & Gas

Fixed substations or platforms, moveable offshore drilling units
(MODU) and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO)
vessels depend on helicopters for pipeline build-up, maintenance
and inspection, asset monitoring, surveys and more.

Offshore wind power

Helicopter services support operations on fixed substations or
platforms, wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV), service operation
vessels (SOV) and construction support vessels (CSV/CSOV) for wind
park build-up plus maintenance and other activities.

3
The importance
An effective HMS includes:
of a helideck
monitoring system Sensors built to withstand harsh
Air temperature, barometric pressure,
dew point and relative humidity, wind
offshore environments
speed and direction
Weather conditions have a critical impact
on all offshore operations, especially for
helicopters and helidecks. Most offshore Horizontal visibility Cloud height and coverage
industries rely on helicopters to transport
personnel up to hundreds of kilometers
out to sea, even in challenging conditions Lightning threat zone alerts Vertical velocity and helideck altitude
such as nighttime or fog. In addition,
conditions at the helideck can change after
Repeater lights Software interface and reporting
the helicopter has left the shore — creating
safety risks and sometimes forcing pilots to
turn around. Real-time, secure data access Low maintenance and lifetime costs

As helicopter services expand along with

offshore industries, accurate and reliable
environmental monitoring is becoming
even more critical for ensuring safety and efficiency. A helideck monitoring system (HMS) includes all necessary weather
and environmental parameters, and goes even further to include real-time data access and reporting that support effective
decision-making.

4
 Industry drivers
Along with evolving standards, today’s market drivers and constraints are shaping the
demand for an HMS that works now and into the future1.

Drivers
• Rapid expansion of offshore wind farms, further from the coast
• Autonomous technology and real-time data tracking software for pilots
• Escalating use of specialized ships and vessels

Constraints
• Stringent regulatory norms
• Concerns over data security

Standards
• Helicopter service operators follow stringent rules and regulations, including
CAP 437 standards for offshore helicopter landing areas by the UK Civil
Aviation Authority
• The latest updates to CAP 437 include changes in helideck lighting, markings,
and the provision of meteorological information
• Software advances are shaping more recent guidelines, and CAP 437
certification is now required for all HMS solutions installed in moving or
floating offshore helidecks

What is needed: An integrated, cost-effective solution that can give real-time information of
prevailing weather and environmental conditions in a user-friendly format with secure, easily
sharable data for everyone who needs it (e.g., pilots, on-deck/vessel operators, helideck operators).
This will enhance information transparency and availability, further improving safety and efficiency
across all offshore helicopter and helideck operations.

5
Wind farms and pilot safety
As the booming wind industry expands farther from coastlines, larger
turbines and deeper waters make weather intelligence even more critical for
operational decision-making. Without immediate, accurate data across a range
of crucial weather parameters including wind, thunderstorms, lightning and
sea conditions, operational safety is at risk and costly delays are likely.

Building and maintaining offshore wind turbines are complex processes,

and helicopter operations are essential. Offshore wind parks are built in
the windiest areas for a reason. Demanding weather conditions and tight
schedules leave little to no room for delays.

The risk for pilots

The combination of wind and motion experienced on helidecks is potentially
hazardous, and in extreme conditions there is a significant risk of a helicopter
being tipped overboard. As they land, helicopter pilots must navigate very
close to installations affected by wind turbulence, turbine exhaust and gas
vents. Monitoring wind speed and direction is crucial.

Supporting safer operations

Helideck monitoring systems offer optional helideck motion measuring
equipment with the capability to calculate the helideck acceleration, inclination
and heave. As the helicopter approaches, the pilot checks the landing
conditions from the Helicopter Landing Officer or automatic voice radio
provided by the HMS.

6
What pilots have to say

Based on helicopter pilot interviews conducted by Vaisala, some

of the most important weather parameters for helicopters flying
to and from offshore wind parks include:

• Wind speed and direction: Wind can cause turbulence

between wind turbines; sudden drops in wind speed make it
hard to take off with a heavy, fully-packed helicopter; pilots
can also navigate better when wind is measured at different
altitudes (10-100m) above the helideck.

• Visibility issues caused by local sea fog and clouds, plus

visibility issues caused by turbines

• Lightning – especially triggered lightning

• Icing conditions

“Being a helicopter pilot for the last 23 years with +5500 hours of flight
experience behind, I can say some of the most challenging weather-related
events in operating offshore wind parks include visibility, low clouds due
to heavy rain and unforeseen sea fog. Windspeed and direction can be a
performance issue, especially when the windspeed suddenly decreases.”

John-Michael Assing, nominated person crew training at HeliService International GmbH.

7
Vaisala Helideck
Monitoring System System components
Built for the demanding offshore environment, the CAP
437-compliant Vaisala Helideck Monitoring System gives Automatic weather
you accurate and reliable weather and environmental data, observations
helideck motion and vessel position in real time—desktop
and mobile—for efficient takeoffs and landings without Helideck
compromising safety. Measurements are based on Vaisala’s motion
world-class, reliable sensor technology designed specifically
for offshore weather monitoring. HMS software

Maximize your situational awareness with standard and

optional measurements, and select from turnkey options
to our full Offshore Weather Awareness solution, all on a
scalable platform that grows with your needs.
Data collection
and processing

Key benefits
Make the most informed decisions possible Repeater lights2

Rely on world-class, ICAO compliant Vaisala sensors and

real-time reporting Digital services
View and securely share helideck status from any device • Global Lightning Dataset
GLD360
Focus on what matters with industry standard
compliance • Remote wind measurement

Future-proof operations with turnkey + scalable options • Weather forecast data

Ceilometer

8
The weather affects maritime operations more than
any other factor. We’ll help you master it.
Weather and environmental insights are the greatest catalysts for successful maritime operations— onshore and offshore.

From sensors to systems and digital services, Vaisala provides actionable insights that empower stakeholders to confidently meet new challenges and
harness new opportunities.

Our globally trusted maritime weather solutions enable remarkable efficiency gains, digital transformation, the protection of people and investments while
supporting clean and responsible operations.

Why Vaisala?
We are scientists and explorers driven by passion, relentless curiosity, and the desire to create a better world. Our 85+ years of innovation and global
impact are reflected in our guiding principles for maritime:

Master the weather, master the sea Currents of innovation

Vaisala enables stakeholders to harness incredible new
possibilities while facing increased severe weather risks
driven by climate change. We do this by providing the most
advanced weather and environmental insights available
anywhere. Guided by our weather measurement expertise,
we’re advancing maritime operations and empowering
today’s leaders to master the sea like never before.
Oceans of insight
The maritime industry is a complex ecosystem, with valuable
information to be found everywhere. In the atmosphere.
In the water. In the movements and topographies of the
sea. In complex offshore and onshore hubs of commerce.
Vaisala’s integrated, end-to-end weather solutions are
uniquely capable of transforming oceans of information into
concrete, practical insights to enable better decision making.
These insights turn uncertainty into confidence, risk into
readiness, and potential into power. Our preeminent weather
technologies give maritime stakeholders a new competitive
advantage: the ability to derive previously unattainable
insights from everything around them.
Maritime is evolving, and the currents of innovation are taking
us to a more sustainable and weather-aware industry. Vaisala
is the world’s most trusted partner for helping maritime
leaders navigate this evolution. Fueled by our proven scientific
leadership and innovative spirit, we have led the way in providing
unparalleled weather and environmental solutions across a
multitude of industries for generations. We give maritime
stakeholders the most comprehensive weather intelligence
available so they can innovate across their entire ecosystem to
protect of people, resources, and infrastructures.
Champions for sustainability
Vaisala partners with maritime stakeholders to support a
proactive, informed approach to navigating sustainability
initiatives. Our unsurpassed onshore and offshore weather
intelligence helps the maritime industry achieve cleaner and
more responsible operations, stay ahead of regulatory pressures,
and confidently manage risks related to extreme weather. This
partnership also strengthens the health of Earth’s oceanic
ecosystems and the communities of which we are all part.

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Have confidence in your technology
developed by industry experts.
Vaisala is the most experienced aviation and offshore weather company in the world, with a suite of solutions complemented by industry-proven and ICAO
compliant sensors built on 45+ years of aviation know-how.

With hundreds of HMS solutions deployed around the world over more than a decade, our technology performs to the highest standards and is backed by over
85 years of measurement expertise plus global support.

Learn more about how to improve safety and get a better flight plan for pilots and helideck operators.

vaisala.com/helideck-monitoring

1
Helideck Monitoring System Market, Global Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2021-2028, Fortune Business Insights 2020
2
Required for CAP 437 compliance, optional from Vaisala

Ref. B212483EN-B ©Vaisala 2022

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