Civil & Military helicopters are required to operate in hostile environments. The Rhodium Helideck Monitoring System (HMS) is designed to improve flight and passenger safety in these conditions by providing real-time monitoring of weather conditions and helideck motion.
The Rhodium HMS processes and presents helideck meteorological data in a clear, easily readable graphical user interface. An automatically generated helideck report that can be sent by e-mail to the helicopter operator is included. The Rhodium HMS is fully compliant with the prevailing recommendations issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK (CAP437) and Norway (BSL D 5-1).
The Rhodium HMS is developed to provide full information concerning weather data, vessel position and offshore helideck movements to the bridge or radio room. All data is processed in the integrated software and is displayed in an easy-to-read graphical interface. The Rhodium HMS processes and presents helideck meteorological data in a clear, easy to read graphic user interface. Optionally motion, cloud height and visibility and significant wave sensors can be added to the system.
The Rhodium HMS can generate automatically a helideck report that can be sent by e-mail to the helicopter operator. This Pre-flight Weather Report (PWR) includes vessel information, motion data, meteorological data and logistic information vital for helicopter operations.
Multiple standard weather conditions are selectable for inclusion in the report; i.e., lightening present, heavy rain, fog, hail, etc. Furthermore there is a Remarks section for a free-form text message. The PWR can be send by e-mail to the helicopter operator. Note that this requires a VSAT connection.
The Rhodium HMS can be interfaced with a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB). An NDB is a ground-based, low frequency radio transmitter used as an instrument approach for airports and offshore platforms. The signal is transmitted on an uninterrupted 24/7 basis.
An audible Morse code call sign of one or more letters or numbers is used to identify the NDB being received. All parameters of the Southern Aviation Company (SAC) NDB can be monitored during operation.
The Rhodium HMS is fully compliant with the prevailing recommendations issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK (CAP437 Standards for offshore helicopter landing areas), HCA 9.x ‘Standard Helideck Monitoring Systems’ and Norway (BSL D 5-1 Regulations relating to flights on the continental shelf - commercial aviation to and from helicopter decks on permanent and mobile offshore installations).
The Rhodium HMS system offers full integration with the IMT helideck lighting system. All helideck lights can be controlled and monitored from the Rhodium HMS system during helicopter operations. The burning hours of the lights is logged by the system.
For more information about our Rhodium Ship automation products:
Product Manager Ship Automation