2022 Helicopter Safety Technology Survey

Help improve helicopter safety by completing this survey!

Thank you for taking this survey. Your confidential responses will help the non-profit Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST) better understand the adoption of safety-related technology.

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* 1. What is your current age?

Under 20

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

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* 2. What rotorcraft pilot certificates do you hold? (choose all that apply)

CFII

CFI

Airline Transport

Commercial

Private

Military Only

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* 3. Are you actively employed as a commercial pilot?

Yes

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* 4. Are you instrument rated?

Yes

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* 5. How many logged rotorcraft flight hours do you have?

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* 6. Of those how many hours are

Actual Instruments

Simulated Instrument

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* 7. Where do you primarily fly?

Western U.S.

Central U.S

Eastern U.S.

Southern U.S.

Alaska

Hawaii

Canada

Central America

South America

Southern Europe

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Australia

New Zealand

Asia

Africa

Other (please List)

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* 8. What types of helicopters do you fly? (please list make/model)

Airbus Helicopters H120 / EC120

Airbus Helicopters H125 / AS350

Airbus Helicopters H130 / EC130

Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135

Airbus Helicopters H145 / EC145 / BK117

Bell 206 / 206L

Bell 407

Bell 429 / 427

Bell 505

Bell UH-1 / 204 / 205 / 212 / 412

Enstrom 280 / F-28

Enstrom 480

Guimbal Cabri G2

Leonardo AW109

Leonardo AW119

Leonardo AW139

Leonardo AW169

Leonardo AW189

MD 500 / 369

MD 600N

MD 900 / 902

Robinson R22

Robinson R44

Robinson R66

Schweizer 269 / 300 / TH-55

Scott's Bell 47

Sikorsky H-60 / S-70

Sikorsky S-61

Sikorsky S-76

Sikorsky S-92

Hiller UH-12 / H-23

Other (please list)

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* 9. What percentage of the time do you fly these mission segments? (Do not include the % sign. Must add up to 100.)

Aerial Application

Aerial Firefighting

Air Tour

Corporate / VIP

Flight Training

HAA / EMS

Law Enforcement

Offshore

Personal / Private

SAR

Other

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* 10. What types of the following safety risk assessment tools/aeronautical decision making tools do you use (please select all that apply)?

Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)

En Route Decision Point (EDP)

Threat and Error Management (TEM)

Personal Minimums

IMSAFE

PAVE

Other (please list)

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* 11. Does your organization have a Safety Management System (SMS)?

Yes (and it's been approved or accepted by our regulatory authority)

Yes (it's voluntary and/or not approved or accepted by our regulatory authority)

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* 12. If Yes to Previous SMS Question, how do you rate the effectiveness of your SMS on the overall safety of your operation ? 0 being not effective and 100 being highly effective

100

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 13. Does your operation allow IFR flight (i.e., the operation is certified for IFR and pilots keep current)?

Yes

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* 14. What are your personal or company lowest minimums for ceiling and visibility for VFR flight operations?

Ceiling (in feet):

Visibility (in statute miles, decimals OK):

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* 15. What are your personal or company lowest minimums for ceiling and visibility for IFR flight operations?

Ceiling (in feet):

Visibility (in statute miles, decimals OK):

N/A – not IFR rated or don't fly IFR (Enter "0" for all 3 answers)

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* 16. What is your typical airspeed and altitude flown with what weather (i.e. ceiling and in what visibility) before you decide to transition from VFR to IFR (in flight)?

Airpeed (in knots):

Altitude (in feet):

Ceiling (in feet):

Visibility (in statute miles, decimals OK):

N/A – not IFR rated or don't fly IFR (Enter "0" for all 5 answers)

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* 17. Do you have access to or use a qualified full flight simulator or flight training device for VFR training?

Yes

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* 18. Do you have access to or use a qualified full flight simulator or flight training device for IFR training?

Yes

N/A – not IFR rated

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* 19. Are there any elements of VFR or IFR training that you feel could be improved?

VFR Training (please explain)

IFR Training (please explain)

Other (please explain)

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* 20. In your opinion, what are the main barriers that keep you from flying IFR? (Please select all that apply.)

Radio Reception Altitude for Tracking/ATC Surveillance Coverage

Icing

Lack of Procedures, Routes, Airways

Training Requirements

Operational Specifications

Helicopter IFR Certifications

Lack of IFR Infrastructure (i.e. Heliport Lighting, Markings, Signage, etc.)

Pilot Proficiency

No IFR rating

Other (please List)

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* 21. For the purposes of enhancing safety of VFR operations, what technologies would you describe as useful? (Please select all that apply, and list in order of effectiveness the following equipment — with "5" being the most effective and "unk" indicating that you are not familiar. More details on vision systems are available.)

	0	1	2	3	4	5	unk
Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS)	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 0	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 1	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 2	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 3	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 4	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 5	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) unk
Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD)	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 0	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 1	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 2	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 3	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 4	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 5	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) unk
Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS)	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 0	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 1	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 2	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 3	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 4	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 5	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) unk
Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS)	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 0	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 1	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 2	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 3	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 4	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 5	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) unk
Combined Vision Systems (CVS)	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 0	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 1	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 2	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 3	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 4	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 5	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) unk
Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS)	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 0	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 1	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 2	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 3	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 4	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 5	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) unk
Night Vision Goggles (NVGs)	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 0	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 1	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 2	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 3	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 4	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 5	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) unk
Radar Altimeters	Radar Altimeters 0	Radar Altimeters 1	Radar Altimeters 2	Radar Altimeters 3	Radar Altimeters 4	Radar Altimeters 5	Radar Altimeters unk
Stability Augmentation System (SAS)	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 0	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 1	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 2	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 3	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 4	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 5	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) unk
Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS)	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 0	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 1	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 2	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 3	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 4	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 5	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) unk
Autopilot (2-Axis)	Autopilot (2-Axis) 0	Autopilot (2-Axis) 1	Autopilot (2-Axis) 2	Autopilot (2-Axis) 3	Autopilot (2-Axis) 4	Autopilot (2-Axis) 5	Autopilot (2-Axis) unk
Autopilot (3-Axis)	Autopilot (3-Axis) 0	Autopilot (3-Axis) 1	Autopilot (3-Axis) 2	Autopilot (3-Axis) 3	Autopilot (3-Axis) 4	Autopilot (3-Axis) 5	Autopilot (3-Axis) unk
Autopilot (4-Axis)	Autopilot (4-Axis) 0	Autopilot (4-Axis) 1	Autopilot (4-Axis) 2	Autopilot (4-Axis) 3	Autopilot (4-Axis) 4	Autopilot (4-Axis) 5	Autopilot (4-Axis) unk
ADS-B In	ADS-B In 0	ADS-B In 1	ADS-B In 2	ADS-B In 3	ADS-B In 4	ADS-B In 5	ADS-B In unk
Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.)	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 0	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 1	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 2	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 3	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 4	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 5	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) unk
Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot)	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 0	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 1	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 2	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 3	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 4	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 5	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) unk
Wire Strike Avoidance Systems	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 0	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 1	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 2	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 3	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 4	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 5	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems unk
Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 0	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 1	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 2	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 3	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 4	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 5	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems unk
WAAS GPS	WAAS GPS 0	WAAS GPS 1	WAAS GPS 2	WAAS GPS 3	WAAS GPS 4	WAAS GPS 5	WAAS GPS unk
Flight Management System	Flight Management System 0	Flight Management System 1	Flight Management System 2	Flight Management System 3	Flight Management System 4	Flight Management System 5	Flight Management System unk
IFR Certificated Aircraft	IFR Certificated Aircraft 0	IFR Certificated Aircraft 1	IFR Certificated Aircraft 2	IFR Certificated Aircraft 3	IFR Certificated Aircraft 4	IFR Certificated Aircraft 5	IFR Certificated Aircraft unk

Other (please list and rank as per above)

Question Title

* 22. For the purposes of enhancing safety of IFR operations, what technologies would you describe as useful? (Please select all that apply, and list in order of effectiveness the following equipment — with "5" being the most effective and "unk" indicating you are not familiar. More details on vision systems are available.)

	0	1	2	3	4	5	unk
Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS)	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 0	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 1	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 2	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 3	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 4	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) 5	Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) unk
Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD)	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 0	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 1	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 2	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 3	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 4	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) 5	Head-Worn Display (HWD)/Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)/Heads-Up Display (HUD) unk
Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS)	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 0	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 1	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 2	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 3	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 4	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) 5	Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) unk
Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS)	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 0	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 1	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 2	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 3	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 4	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) 5	Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) unk
Combined Vision Systems (CVS)	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 0	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 1	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 2	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 3	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 4	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) 5	Combined Vision Systems (CVS) unk
Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS)	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 0	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 1	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 2	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 3	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 4	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) 5	Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) unk
Night Vision Goggles (NVGs)	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 0	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 1	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 2	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 3	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 4	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) 5	Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) unk
Radar Altimeters	Radar Altimeters 0	Radar Altimeters 1	Radar Altimeters 2	Radar Altimeters 3	Radar Altimeters 4	Radar Altimeters 5	Radar Altimeters unk
Stability Augmentation System (SAS)	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 0	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 1	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 2	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 3	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 4	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) 5	Stability Augmentation System (SAS) unk
Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS)	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 0	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 1	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 2	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 3	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 4	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) 5	Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) unk
Autopilot (2-Axis)	Autopilot (2-Axis) 0	Autopilot (2-Axis) 1	Autopilot (2-Axis) 2	Autopilot (2-Axis) 3	Autopilot (2-Axis) 4	Autopilot (2-Axis) 5	Autopilot (2-Axis) unk
Autopilot (3-Axis)	Autopilot (3-Axis) 0	Autopilot (3-Axis) 1	Autopilot (3-Axis) 2	Autopilot (3-Axis) 3	Autopilot (3-Axis) 4	Autopilot (3-Axis) 5	Autopilot (3-Axis) unk
Autopilot (4-Axis)	Autopilot (4-Axis) 0	Autopilot (4-Axis) 1	Autopilot (4-Axis) 2	Autopilot (4-Axis) 3	Autopilot (4-Axis) 4	Autopilot (4-Axis) 5	Autopilot (4-Axis) unk
ADS-B In	ADS-B In 0	ADS-B In 1	ADS-B In 2	ADS-B In 3	ADS-B In 4	ADS-B In 5	ADS-B In unk
Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.)	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 0	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 1	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 2	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 3	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 4	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) 5	Electronic Flight Bags (e.g., Foreflight, Garmin Pilot, etc.) unk
Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot)	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 0	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 1	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 2	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 3	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 4	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) 5	Cognitive Assistance Technologies (i.e. Digital Copilot) unk
Wire Strike Avoidance Systems	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 0	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 1	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 2	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 3	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 4	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems 5	Wire Strike Avoidance Systems unk
Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 0	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 1	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 2	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 3	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 4	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems 5	Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems unk
WAAS GPS	WAAS GPS 0	WAAS GPS 1	WAAS GPS 2	WAAS GPS 3	WAAS GPS 4	WAAS GPS 5	WAAS GPS unk
Flight Management System	Flight Management System 0	Flight Management System 1	Flight Management System 2	Flight Management System 3	Flight Management System 4	Flight Management System 5	Flight Management System unk
IFR Certificated Aircraft	IFR Certificated Aircraft 0	IFR Certificated Aircraft 1	IFR Certificated Aircraft 2	IFR Certificated Aircraft 3	IFR Certificated Aircraft 4	IFR Certificated Aircraft 5	IFR Certificated Aircraft unk

Other (please list and rank as per above)

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* 23. Most equipage and safety decisions are driven by Return on Investment (ROI) for operators. Which of the technologies that you listed for IFR/VFR operations is most likely to be considered if costs were not a consideration ?

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* 24. In your opinion, what is the most effective way to spread the use of technologies that encourage the additional use of IFR for Rotorcraft?

Simplify IFR aircraft certification requirements

Create a new class for aircraft IFR certification to allow IFR enroute operations with basic VFR weather

Allow Enhanced VFR Operations

Reduce Alternate Weather Requirements

Reduce Complexity, Time, and Cost of Point In Space (PInS) procedures

Expand IFR infrastructure (i.e. routing, surveillance, weather)

Other (please specify)

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* 1. What is your current age?

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* 2. What rotorcraft pilot certificates do you hold? (choose all that apply)

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* 3. Are you actively employed as a commercial pilot?

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* 4. Are you instrument rated?

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* 5. How many logged rotorcraft flight hours do you have?

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* 6. Of those how many hours are

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* 7. Where do you primarily fly?

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* 8. What types of helicopters do you fly? (please list make/model)

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* 9. What percentage of the time do you fly these mission segments? (Do not include the % sign. Must add up to 100.)

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* 10. What types of the following safety risk assessment tools/aeronautical decision making tools do you use (please select all that apply)?

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* 11. Does your organization have a Safety Management System (SMS)?

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* 12. If Yes to Previous SMS Question, how do you rate the effectiveness of your SMS on the overall safety of your operation ? 0 being not effective and 100 being highly effective

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* 13. Does your operation allow IFR flight (i.e., the operation is certified for IFR and pilots keep current)?

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* 14. What are your personal or company lowest minimums for ceiling and visibility for VFR flight operations?

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* 15. What are your personal or company lowest minimums for ceiling and visibility for IFR flight operations?

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* 16. What is your typical airspeed and altitude flown with what weather (i.e. ceiling and in what visibility) before you decide to transition from VFR to IFR (in flight)?

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* 17. Do you have access to or use a qualified full flight simulator or flight training device for VFR training?

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* 18. Do you have access to or use a qualified full flight simulator or flight training device for IFR training?

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* 19. Are there any elements of VFR or IFR training that you feel could be improved?

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* 20. In your opinion, what are the main barriers that keep you from flying IFR? (Please select all that apply.)

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* 23. Most equipage and safety decisions are driven by Return on Investment (ROI) for operators. Which of the technologies that you listed for IFR/VFR operations is most likely to be considered if costs were not a consideration ?

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* 24. In your opinion, what is the most effective way to spread the use of technologies that encourage the additional use of IFR for Rotorcraft?

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* 25. Do you have any additional comments ?