General safety

HeliCentre works extremely hard to ensure the process of flying helicopters runs as smoothly and safely as possible. Do do so, we need your help as well. This page is dedicated to finding out how you can contribute to your own safety.

GENERAL

Smoking and open fire in the vicinity of a helicopter are strictly prohibited. A helicopter contains 4 potentially dangerous parts:

• Main rotor. The poorly visible rotor blades on top of the helicopter can instantly injure bystanders should their air either draw you in or blow you away, or if the blades touch you;
• Tail rotor. The almost invisible rotor on the helicopter’s tail fin know the same risks as those associated with the main rotor;
• Engine. Exhaust fumes reach a temperature of approximately 600 degrees centigrade. Depending on the direction of the landing and the course of the wind, these temperatures are clearly noticeable when you are close to the helicopter;
• Fuel. De helicopter carries a considerable amount of fuel in its tank.

Please bear this information in mind when you are within close proximity of a helicopter.

Walking towards the helicopter (boarding)

• Stay at a safe distance of the helicopter when its blades are rotating. Only start walking towards a helicopter after you have been given explicit permission from the pilot or the ground crew;
• Always wait until the pilot or the ground crew has given you a signal;
• Walk forwards, though diagonally, when approaching the helicopter;
• Always keep eye-contact with the pilot while approaching the helicopter;
• Stay away from the back and the sides due to moving parts that are cannot be seen.

Walking away from the helicopter (getting out)

• After getting out, walk away towards the front of the helicopter;
• Stay away from the back and the sides due to moving parts that are cannot be seen;
• When the helicopter is parked on a slope, always approach it from the low side;
• Stay away from protruding parts of the helicopter (they can be extremely hot);
• Hold on well to loose items of clothing due to the strong wind (such as hats, scarves and glasses).

Tidy landing spot

When a helicopter lands, the pilot will always choose the best landing spot, with ample space. Make sure you keep a good distance (minimum of 25 meters) from the helicopter. The landing space may never be marked with tape or traffic cones due to the strong winds the helicopter produces. Remove loose materials and waste that is twirling around before the helicopter lands or takes off (e.g. garden furniture, parasols or other loose plastic waste). Never open an umbrella close to a helicopter (not even when it is raining).

Safety instructions by HeliCentre personnel

HeliCentre regularly organises sightseeing flights. During these flights, the safety of passengers and bystanders is extremely important. In order to ensure your and their safety, HeliCentre has created a list of safety instructions for sightseeing flights.

Procedures

To run these flights safely, the HeliCentre ground crew will assist you with boarding and getting off the helicopter. Never approach the helicopter on your own, only when supervised by the HeliCentre ground crew.

Getting in- and off

A helicopter has a number of potentially dangerous parts. One of these is the tail rotor. This tail rotor needs to be avoided at all times! Please do so by:

• Approaching the helicopter via the front when getting on and off. Stay away from the rear because of the almost invisible rotating parts;
• Avoid the base of the helicopter, the frame. Do not stand or sit on it.

When leaving the helicopter

When you have left the helicopter, please stay at a safe distance. The ground crew will assign you a safe place where you can stay and observe the helicopter and its surroundings.
We would like to ask you to respect the above rules, and we wish you a pleasant (sightseeing) flight.