After finishing her cockpit preflight checks, Janne Dethlefsen is ready to go.
Experiences from a pilot’s view
Janne Dethlefsen, a 32-year-old copilot with approximately 1,400 flight hours, shared her journey and experiences in the aviation industry. Her training began at Esbjerg Airport on the R22, pursuing a modular path that allowed her to work while gaining her PPL. She completed her ATPL at Billund Air Center and returned to Esbjerg to finish her CPL on the R44. Afterward, she focused on sightseeing flights for five years, aiming for her dream of flying offshore although she needed more hours. She obtained her IR and FI before starting training on the H175 with Babcock in 2021. She flew with Babcock and CHC until 2023 when she transitioned to NHV, where she continues to fly the H175.
Dethlefsen chose NHV because it uses the same H175 model for which she was rated, and she’d heard positive reviews about the company. At NHV, she works as a copilot flying offshore to oil and gas
platforms. She emphasized the
teamwork that involves working closely with the pilot-in-command to ensure safe operations. Typically she flies
around 600 hours annually on the H175, conducting preflight checks, reviewing weather information, and preparing for each flight. The aircraft can carry up to 16 passengers with a maximum payload of 4,471 pounds (2,028
kg.), though
this depends on weather conditions and other factors.
The H175 is noted for its comfort and advanced
features including high
automation, low vibration, and excellent air conditioning and heating.
The
autopilot system, with “auto hover” and “auto land” capabilities, enhances safety and precision. The aircraft’s range of 650 nautical miles allows Dethlefsen and her crew to reach all the oil and gas installations in the North Sea.
Flying to offshore installations involves assessing risks before landing. Dethlefsen and her crew evaluate potential threats such as wind direction, turbulence, exhaust gases, and nearby vessels, and decide on countermeasures. She strives to maintain the highest level of skill and safety with each flight, ensuring that all risks are mitigated.
For offshore flights, NHV equips its helicopters with floats that are armed during sea flights. These floats can be inflated if needed for an emergency water landing. All crew members undergo annual SIM training that includes ditching scenarios both with and without engine power. Every third year, crew members practice helicopter evacuation procedures in water at RelyOn Nutec, simulating a
real-life submerged emergencies helicopter. with Passengers
also undergo this training before flying offshore, to ensure their safety in the unpredictable weather of the North Sea.
Night flying presents additional challenges, such as maintaining night vision, dealing with the autokinetic effect (an illusion of moving lights) and false horizons.
Dethlefsen explained how
reliance on instruments and constant scanning helps mitigate these risks, especially when landing on offshore platforms with minimal lighting.
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