Sectors

At HCA, we are a helideck industry leader with decades of experience. We use our expert knowledge to deliver quality services to an array of different industries, ensuring the safety of helideck operators and conformity to the necessary regulations.

Oil & Gas

We deal with many offshore helidecks and are a partner to the majority of the world’s leading players in offshore oil and gas operations. Ensuring the correct regulations are being followed on oil rig helidecks is crucial and we have a long track record of support in this area.

We deploy our expertise on fixed platforms, mobile offshore drilling units, drill ships, FPSO assets and tankers, as well as support and survey vessels.

We’re responsible for conducting helideck inspections and issuing certification to all offshore vessels and installations operating in the UK and Norwegian waters, which stands at more than 700 overall. At HCA, we use the criteria in UK CAP437 or Norwegian Civil Aviation Regulations BSL D 5-1 as the basis for our helideck inspections.

We also inspect and certify helidecks on a global basis for clients using nationally recognised criteria. These include CAP437 and the international standard for helidecks as laid out in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) publication Annex 14 Volume 2.

We also provide thorough competency assessments for offshore helideck crew in the oil and gas industry and offer complementary training. Our Dangerous goods By Air Awareness e-learning course can be utilised by helideck operators across the globe and is well respected within the industry.

Renewables

Over the years we have become a leading helideck service provider to the ever-expanding renewables sector. We have partnered with several major players in the industry to ensure their helideck regulations are being met. Our long-standing clients include Ørsted A/S and its 108-turbine West of Duddon Sands Offshore Windfarm in the East Irish Sea.

Helicopter operations are often central to wind farm servicing and repair work. At HCA, we have a proven track record in providing excellent services for the industry, including helideck inspections and issuing certifications for the central landing areas of the development and for the hoisting platforms on individual wind turbines.

We pride ourselves on offering expert consultancy and advice on the design and layout of the landing and hoisting facilities.

Onshore

At HCA, we provide a highly professional service offering helideck inspections, advice and certification to clients in various onshore locations. These include (but are not limited to) hotels, hospital facilities, sporting venues and private sites.

In the case of hospitals, helicopter landing sites are a critical element of their infrastructure and must remain fit for purpose in terms of physical condition and adhere to safe operating practices.

We routinely audit helicopter landing sites and advise on issues such as markings, clearance space and downdraft obstacles. We also focus on awareness training for ground support personnel who are responsible for ensuring the safety of nearby staff and visitors at the time of any helicopter activity.

We advise on potential obstacles that may impact helideck operations in ever-changing urban landscapes. For example, a new building adjacent to a helicopter landing area may present a hazard that will require the identification of a different route to and from the helipad.

Our helideck consultancy services are applied to private landing sites at hotels, country houses and sporting venues. We provide expert guidance on both temporary and permanent sites and offer ground support management for specific events.

Super Yachts

At HCA, we have superyacht clients located all over the globe for whom we provide helideck inspections, advice and certification. We apply nationally recognised criteria or the applicable formal international safety standards. Our inspectors travel worldwide to inspect and certify our current portfolio of approximately 100 superyachts.

We regularly provide initial input on the design, layout and location of superyacht helidecks. We liaise closely with naval architects and shipyards to offer advice and insights that can help avoid problems or costly alterations at a later date.

The position of a helideck on a superyacht is often driven by aesthetics, but there are regulations that need to be adhered to in order for the deck to be fully functional. Potential hazards such as turbulence and motion, issues of obstacle clearance and structure strengthening all need to be carefully factored into the design process.

We also provide Dangerous Goods By Air Awareness Training for superyacht crew and make sure they are up to date with safety procedures.

There’s always an opportunity to glean extra value from our partnership with HCA. It’s hugely experienced in delivering conventional inspection and certification work, but its capabilities extend well beyond those and into other key areas such as consultancy and training. That breadth of service provision is certainly reassuring.

Operations Director, O&G Sector