Enhancing Antarctic Airbridge Safety: Air TA’s Role in the Future Aircraft Capability Project

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Air Unit operates a De Havilland Canada (DHC)-7 short take-off and landing aircraft to deliver Airbridge support (personnel and freight) between Punta Arenas, Chile and Rothera Research Station, Antarctica. To mitigate increasing obsolescence and reducing spares availability, United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) instigated a procurement process for a Future Aircraft Capability (FAC).

Background and requirements:

In 2021, Sagentia Aviation, formerly Osprey Consulting Service Ltd, were contracted to support the FAC Project as Air Technical Adviser (Air TA). Teaming with aviation Test and Evaluation partners from Nova Systems, Air TA initially provided independent review of the technical and certification aspects of Bidder Proposals and the procurement process.

Approach:

Following UKRI’s award of a contract to Field Aviation for provision of a suitably modified DHC-8, Air TA began detailed aircraft system technical analysis, produced a Project Safety Management Plan (SMP) and designed the format of an Operating Safety Case (OSC).

Sagentia Aviation led Air TA continue to provide independent technical system safety analysis and review of modification certification plans. Air TA are instrumental in delivering the aviation safety processes described in the Project SMP including populating the OSC, running Project Safety Working Groups, supporting Air Unit Accountable Manager chaired Project Safety Committee meetings and conducting Airbridge operating risk assessments.

Outcome:

Today, Air TA continues to support the FAC Project development of aircraft acceptance criteria and methodology.

Image – Dash-7 aircraft – British Antarctic Survey

Image: Creator unknown – Credit:@Royalty-Free/Corbis, Copyright: @Mike Shortt