12/08/2023

I was at the airport yesterday and noticed something very concerning. It's extremely dangerous to stand or walk near the tail of a helicopter just after it has landed or is about to take off, because the blades are still spinning at high speed. People getting too close to the tail while exiting the helicopter could be caught in the rotor thrust and suffer fatal injuries.

Currently, there's no alert system or guidance in place to prevent this.

Helicopters are frequently used in emergency scenarios, and in these high-pressure situations, people, especially rescue teams/soldiers, might be in a hurry and overlook the danger. There have been incidents where passengers and bystanders were injured or killed by a rotating helicopter rotor.

I am planning to design an alert system or an external 3D projected boarding/ leaving guide to instruct passengers in proper safety procedures. I intend to start the research at John Wayne Airport in Orange County in March, 2024.