New Compressor at AIS puts the brakes on a good dunking

The HPC 4KW compressor, model SX6RM10SCB, was selected to provide totally reliable power to control the braking system on a mock helicopter ditching rig. Up to 5 trainees, working in the offshore oil, gas, wind or maritime sectors can be strapped into the rig, which is raised and lowered by a 5 tonne crane. 

Once lowered into the Survival Centre's environment pool a combination of buoyancy aids and the compressed air-operated braking system is used to rotate, control and self-right the unit, providing its "passengers" with vital experience of how to survive a helicopter emergency at sea. 

Paul Attrill, the AIS Group Strategic Development Manager, is happy to rely on Thorite's renowned pneumatics knowledge and expertise throughout the Survival Centre and said: "The new compressor is just the latest of many items to be provided by Thorite over the years. They are also our approved service engineers for all our compressed air equipment on site and have installed a number of other compressed air systems in our other engineering and training facilities. They are very responsive to our needs and always provide a first class service." 

AIS was established in 2007 and has now grown into one of the leading suppliers to the global oil, gas, wind, maritime and heavy industry sectors. The company provides more than 80 industry-approved technical training courses and competency assessments, in skills such as rope access, bolt tensioning and banksman slinging, from its state-of-the-art 150,000 sq ft training complex on North Tyneside. 

AIS's new survival centre includes an environment pool, fire training facility plus a lifeboat and davit system, providing a lifelike setting where offshore industry workers can learn how to escape from a helicopter crash, survive at sea, escape from smoke filled environments and evacuation via a lifeboat.