Two points :
1. Whilst I am a strong advocate of the values of simulator training - greater scope for emergencies and malfunctions, ability to freeze, rebrief and retry to mention but a couple, we should guard against forcing ourselves down the road of complete reliance on the simulator for purely commercial reasons. In the specific case of the S76 vertical procedures, with the exception of the Bristow S76 simulator in Aberdeen, simulator profile models are mostly unable to reproduce accurately the performance of the aircraft during these exercises. Consideration should be given to allowing the aircraft to be used under closely controlled conditions to give real time handling experience, perhaps on an alternate check basis. It may already be too late as oil companies are unwilling to agree to any increased risk to their allocated aircraft.
2. The Queen`s Flight job has to be the pinnacle of the corporate sector, certainly in the UK - best aircraft. best maintenance, to the minute scheduling ( no waiting in cold wet fields waiting for inebriated passengers who turn up late) someone to meet you at each landing site with on the spot weather reporting, fuel on hand whenever you want it, what`s not to like ? Perhaps a few grand on the salary would go down well. :