Hi,
Have tried to find some numbers or guidelines on what could be considered insufficient flying time annually for a proffessional pilot in a HEMS/SAR role. Lets say for example for an operation includining a complex aircraft(helicopter), multi-engine, multi-crew in JAA land.
It can be read in the JAA Atpl theory books by Oxford in Human Performance and Limitations (revised edition) the following:
A. Organisational Stress Suorses in Pilots;
- Insufficient hands-on flying. Of significance is insufficient flying. A pilot flying the maximum allowable duty hours may obtained as little as one hour actual hands-on control per month.
B. Human Reliability, Errors and their Generation;
- Error Generation can be caused by internal or external factors. Among internal factors is: Lack of practice (deterioration effect).
Also, a NATO Review from Autumn 2002 states; "In 2000, Romanian Chief-of-Staff General acknowledged that 70 per cent of Romania's air force pilots were not operational due to insufficient flying time. Hungarian pilots fly an average of between 50 and 75 hours a year. In comparison, the US Air Force considers
100 hours flying time a year a dangerously low amount."
Insufficient flying time/lack of practice is a topic in the JAA theoretical syllabi. But from where could a pilot or organisation get some further guidelines of safe limits of annual flight time, so we could have a chance to deal with this issue in a safe way??
Thanks
