Need a bit of feedback and advice from you RW pros.
I have been working in the offshore oil and gas industry for a few years now in safety training and especially as a HLO and HUET instructor. It's pretty standard teaching all over that we only approach or depart the helicopter, when rotors are turning, from the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. Obviously the fwd rotor tilt on S76 and possibly AS365 make any approach from the front extremely hazardous.
However during some unrelated training I undertook recently, the advice given was that you could approach anywhere in the arc of 9 thru 3 o'clock. The importance being that the pilot can see you.
My guess is that the differing advice is relating to different types ie wheeled or skid undercarriage. I remember from my military days with UH1H it was always from 10 and 2 o'clock (maybe to give the side gunners a clear shot if necessary?
So guys, what's your advice on this one? Especially for the Bell drivers. Are you happy for someone to approach from the front or always from the sides?
Thanks in advance.
IJ