Jones Act Maritime Lawyer : Houston Jones Act & Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Offshore Injury, Maritime Law : Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

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A new satellite-based GPS, already operational in parts of Florida, could lead to fewer helicopter accidents as oil rig workers are transported to and from platforms.

The ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) $20 billion plan to revamp the country’s antiquated air traffic control system over the next decade. The system is expected to be in place within the next 5 years, but in parts of Florida, pilots are already using the satellite-based GPS data to obtain the same information air traffic controllers can see on their monitors. The GPS allows controllers to locate the position of an airplane far more accurately than they currently do with data from ground-based radars. With the new system, pilots and air traffic controllers will be able to access data generated by the second.

The ADS-B system will be especially beneficial in the Gulf of Mexico, where helicopter flights carrying oil rig workers currently operate without air traffic control monitoring. With an ADS-B system installed on a helicopter, the pilot will be able to observe the movement of other aircraft in the vicinity, thus reducing the risk of accidents. In addition to making offshore helicopter travel safer, the new system will also increase efficiency.

Helicopter Safety

Helicopters have replaced watercraft as the primary means of ferrying oil rig workers to and from shore. Using these helicopters has lead to greater efficiency and reduced travel time, however, as offshore helicopter traffic in the Gulf of Mexico has increased, so has the number of accidents. Earlier this year, a Sikorsky helicopter carrying offshore rig workers crashed in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The helicopter was carrying nine oil rig workers from Louisiana to a Shell oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2007, a Bell helicopter crashed south of Sabine Pass; five oil rig workers including the pilot were killed in that accident.

Offshore helicopter operators will benefit greatly from installing the new system on their fleet. They stand to gain from greater safety, increased efficiency, and fewer maritime accidents and injuries.

If you've been injured in a helicopter crash or other maritime accident, you may be able to recover compensation with he help of a maritime lawyer. Contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.