OSI Maritime Systems displays its Ship Helicopter Operating Limit (SHOL)
At UDT 2017, OSI Maritime Systems displays its Ship Helicopter Operating Limit (SHOL), a tool developed to facilitate the landing of naval helicopters on ship deck. “Whereas previously the landing of one or multiple helicopters on a naval platform required a number of people to determine the right conditions,” says Peter Hodgkinson, director of business development (Europe) at OSI Maritime Systems, “the SHOL takes into account all the elements needed to make an accurate estimation of the conditions and platform position speed and heading to safely land.”

The SHOL screen displays the ship’s name, the selected aircraft type’s all-up mass (AUM) band and operation mode, as well as the ship’s maximum pitch and roll limit and the direction and speed values of the wind on deck. The SHOL pattern is displayed as a magenta zone whereas the relative wind indicator is a green circle when the helicopter is within the SHOL pattern, where it is safe for it to land, and a yellow circle when it is outside the SHOL pattern, where landing is not recommended. “The screen can display multiple helicopters at once, which greatly reduces workload for the crewmen and improves bridge efficiency even for platforms that can carry multiple helicopters,” continues Mr Hodgkinson.

Once the SHOL pattern has been elaborated, the programme then provides adaptable flying courses for the helicopters, based on various ships speed. “A window also offers a view of the SHOL pattern together with a chart of the surrounding area,” concludes Mr Hodgkinson, “because before the ship’s commander decides on a course that will lead the ship to the ideal meeting point with the helicopter, it is important to know whether surrounding elements (such as coastline, ports) may limit certain routes compared to others.”

Dr. Alix Valenti