Hiya Bert...... Recurrency training??? What's that??
Most Ops Manuals make provision for recurrency training every 6 months, which includes general recurrency training, route checks etc. Not many companies in SA, especially helicopter companies, are willing to pay for their pilots to take a helicopter and get an instructor to do the necessary recurrency training. Normally the pilots have to pay for this themselves. There are however exceptions, where companies that have instructors on staff, allow this to happen. In actual fact, recurrency training forms part of the criteria for the issuance of an aerial work license.
Some time back when we were operating Jetrangers, we had an instructor on staff, and recurrency training would be performed faithfully every 6 months. It would not be just a flight going round the patch, but a flight to ensure total competence from the pilot under normal operation and in case of emergencies such as engine failure etc. This would then be recorded on the pilot's training file kept with the company.
I personally believe that recurrency training is very important, as it makes you aware of the things you've forgotten, and it certainly, in some instances, proves that we're not all perfect, and can screw up an autorotation under simulation from time to time.
In a professional aviating evironment, recurrency training should be a MUST.
