Free Helicopter Safety 'Toolkits'

March 19, 2012
Free 'Toolkits' are now available on topics such as safety management systems, training programs, maintenance programs, flight data monitoring systems, and risk assessment.

The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) was formed to lead a government and industry cooperative effort to address factors that were affecting an unacceptable helicopter accident rate. The group’s mission is to reduce the international civil helicopter accident rate by 80 percent by 2016.

With this goal in mind, the IHST has developed various “toolkits” aimed at helping members of the helicopter industry to improve safety and reduce the accident rate. These guides are now available on topics such as safety management systems, training programs, maintenance programs, flight data monitoring systems, and risk assessment. Wherever these documents have been widely distributed and utilized, we have seen a reduction in the accident rate within the civil helicopter community.

The IHST toolkits, along with safety-related videos and analysis reports can be obtained at no cost through the group’s newly reorganized web site at www.IHST.org. The IHST web site is now simpler to navigate for tools and reports, and allows easy access to worldwide data and information.

We invite you to look at our web site once again and see the helpful information and tools you can obtain. Look at our new Presentations sections and our updated calendar of helicopter-related events. In the box on the upper right hand side, click on and access our toolkits in the areas of safety management, training, technology, and maintenance. In this section, please take a moment to participate in our brief, seven-question feedback survey. We are especially interested in your feedback regarding our toolkits and your thoughts about new toolkit topics.

Our mission is challenging, but we know we can reduce the accident rate in the helicopter industry. It will take a strong cooperative effort, so we need your help. Join the team. Join the mission. Help us save lives.

The International Helicopter Safety Team