1. Fire in the hold
Disclaimer: this safety moment is designed to prevent similar incidents occurring. All guidance herein is provided in good faith and Step Change in Safety nor its member companies accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions contained within this safety moment.

2. What may have been the consequences if this happened in flight?
This fire happened whilst the bag was on the helipad prior to baggage loading.
What may have been the consequences if this happened in flight? DISCUSS
This fire happened whilst the bag was on the helipad prior to baggage loading.
What may have been the consequences if this happened in flight?
Fire in the hold

3. Fire detection in the cargo hold could result in the helicopter requiring to land immediately. This may be on water (regardless of the weather conditions), the nearest land or nearest installation.
Fire in the hold

4. How are personal electronic devices (PEDs) transported?
Aircraft
PED Transported
Fire Suppression in Hold
HAND
LUGGAGE P
HOLD
ON PERSON O
HOLD
Airplane – PEDs can be carried in the hold and in hand luggage
Helicopter – PEDs can be carried in the hold and on your person
Did you know that airplanes have fire suppression in the hold – helicopters do not.
Fire in the hold

5. Which of these items can be transported on a helicopter?
Battery operated e-cigarettes
Spare batteries (Lithium or Ni-Cad) not inside equipment
Tablet (e.g. iPad)
Electric shaver
Mobile phone
Laptop
Power pack / portable charger O P
Battery operated e-cigarettes are not allowed because they are prone to spontaneous combustion
Spare batteries are not allowed because they can short circuit and overheat / combust
Tablets (e.g. iPad) are allowed to be transported, provided they are in flight mode, completely powered down and not on charge through a power pack.
Electric shaver are allowed if switched off and not on charge through a power pack.
Mobile phones are allowed to be transported, provided they are in flight mode, completely powered down and not on charge through a power pack. If they are not in flight mode first, any alarms set on the phone will switch the phone back on again.
Laptops are allowed to be transported provided they are completely powered down (be careful that they are not ‘asleep’ or ‘hibernating’) and not on charge through a power pack.
Power pack / portable charger can be transported if it is not in use – these are considered spare batteries and therefore have to be carried on your person.
(on person only)
Fire in the hold

6. ? Baggage leaving heliports is scanned & searched.
PEDs are detected and non- compliance is prevented. ?
Baggage leaving installations is not routinely scanned or searched.
Fire in the hold

7. Number of bags searched Estimated finds if all bags were searched
Spare lithium batteries, powerbanks & PEDs found switched on in hold bags and on person on inbound baggage search
Month
Number of bags searched
Total finds
Estimated finds if all bags were searched
Jan 19
427 6
116
Feb 19
421 5 89
Mar 19
525 12
180
Apr 19
823
127
May 19
934
131
Jun 19
853 10
111
Jul 19
840 9
113
Total
4823 66
867
These random searches have been done after the flight arrives onshore.
Whilst the detection rate is low, this rate mounts up to approximately one non-compliance event per every five flights.
The personal declaration could hold you legally responsible in the event of an incident.
data from one UKCS helicopter operator
Fire in the hold

8. Baggage Dos and Don’ts Don’t pack or carry electrical items on charge
Don’t pack or carry spare batteries
Do turn mobile phones to flight safe mode and switch off
Do check that laptops are fully powered down and not just on sleep mode
Do take measures to protect devices from damage and prevent them from being turned on
Do ask the question if you are unsure
Do challenge another passenger if you see them putting an unsafe electronic device in their bag
Don’t pack or carry electrical items on charge
Don’t carry spare batteries
Do turn mobile phones to flight safe mode and switch off
Do check that laptops are fully powered down and not just on sleep mode
Do take measures to protect devices from damage and prevent them from being turned on
Do ask the question if you are unsure
Do challenge another passenger if you see them putting an unsafe electronic device in their bag
Key Point – the purpose of this alert is to raise awareness of the issue to reduce non-compliance. We need your help to do this.
Fire in the hold

9. Non-compliance could be subject to disciplinary and legal action
Failure to comply with dangerous good regulations endangers you and everyone else on the helicopter.
Non-compliance could be subject to disciplinary and legal action
Fire in the hold