Helicopter LOSA

A Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) is a proactive, formal process that requires expert and highly trained observers to observe operations in real-time and to collect safety-related data on environmental conditions, operational complexity, and human performance in the cockpit. Numerous operator and environmental threats exist in the rotary wing environment. These threats can be due to weather, delays, maintenance, procedures, and more. LOSA is an ideal way to identify these threats and understand pilot responses. LOSA also reveals how errors and undesired aircraft states are managed by pilots.

LOSA is complementary to your Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) program. FDM provides excellent data, but the data are limited to the “what” as opposed to the “why” an event happened. LOSA is a great tool to complement your FDM data because LOSAs, which are conducted in real-time using trained observers, allow you to understand the “whys.” LOSA observers see firsthand what’s happening. For example, are unstablized approaches due to ATC issues? A Procedural problem? Checklist flow? These are things that FDM by itself cannot capture. But, by combining FDM with LOSA, you will have a much more robust picture, and thus can take a more pragmatic approach to corrective/preventive actions.

LOSA is not a checkride or a line check. LOSA is confidential and nonpunitive. LOSA is conducted by a non-threatening company employee (typically another pilot) who rides along taking notes on what is happening during the course of a normal flight. Once all the data are collected, then a report is written and recommendations are made to management to both reinforce the positives and improve the negatives. LOSA enables organizations to manage threats and errors so that those threats and errors do not turn into accidents and incidents in the future. With LOSA, you are being predictive—which is the ultimate form of proactive safety! 

For All Types Of Helicopter Operations

• Offshore Oil and Gas Transport
• Charter/Executive Transport  
• Sightseeing/Aerial Tours
• Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)
• Military
• Law Enforcement
• Firefighting
• Search and Rescue
• Utilities 

LOSA is integral to your Safety Management System!

Helicopter operators should have a healthy safety culture, a functional SMS, and a LOSA program. If not, there is a higher likelihood that a significant safety event can happen. The following article highlights the consequences of a "Production over Protection" mindset in a HEMS operation.  

Read the article, "Dying to Save a Life"