Viscom - the Last Word in Safety
11 March 2009
Since their formation in 1987, Viscom have supplied helicopter passenger safety briefings to the oil and gas-related helicopter transport sectors in the North Sea and worldwide.
Viscom currently produce all the briefings used by Bond Offshore Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters and CHC Scotia. The briefing seen by passengers on the Bond Super Puma had been amended in June 2008 to incorporate guidance from the CAA regarding clarity of advice about exit positions and is approximately five minutes long..
It is a legal requirement for all passengers to view a briefing for the aircraft they will travel on before flying and again after 24 hours if they have not flown in the interim.
Viscom's briefings use a combination of footage filmed on the actual types of aircraft used and 3D animated graphics which illustrate relevant exits and positions of liferafts.
The company works with helicopter companies, oil operators, equipment manufacturers, the Civil Aviation Authority and various safety research organisations and training providers, to ensure that all briefings are completely up to date regarding procedures and techniques.
The content of each briefing depends on customer requirements regarding aircraft type, seating and harness type and relevant survival equipment.
Bruce Milne, General Manager of Viscom stressed the importance of producing an accurate briefing which was specific to individual craft.
He said: "Viscom has been producing helicopter passenger safety briefings for use in the North Sea for over 20 years. All briefings are updated frequently to ensure accuracy of content and adoption of advice as the result of incidents or changes to equipment specification.
"We never lose sight of the fact that this is usually the last piece of safety advice passengers are exposed to before boarding a helicopter, so we continually strive to ensure that the information is precise, easily understood and remains with the viewer, so they can remember how to act in an emergency situation"
The full article as carried in the Press and Journal can be downloaded here in pdf format.
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