Is there a team that visits each civSAR flt every 18 months to check the admin, engineering and the flying like SAR Standards does? That is in addition to an annual cat check, sim trg, IRT and periodic QHI and trg off checks. Exactly what checks do you have complete as a civSAR pilot? IRT and a base and line check?
Crab as Oldlae (hello chap
) above, times and routines may have changed. However.
IRT, usually included instrument base check
Day/Night VMC base check COT.
Day /night decks
Day/Night Line check or role check in the case of SAR
Winch check
Dinghy/escape drills
Plus of course medicals.
There are two missing, perhaps somebody can drag them from the shelf marked 'dust with care'.
The checks are all conducted by a training captain, the only difference between him and a service QHI is the appellation. When I worked with BHL the last two senior standards pilots, responsible for the whole system were a matelot and a crab. All their staff worked for BHL, however, and this point is often overlooked, they were testing on behalf of the CAA.
The training empire grew into a very efficient outfit, especially the one based in Aberdeen. It had to be efficient and thorough, there were in excess of 150 pilots to check and train. Add that requirement into the ongoing everyday flight ops which in the heyday were in excess of 70 flights by BHL alone per day, and you may understand why there had to be such good support and understanding between Operations staff, engineers and pilots. It wasn't always smooth, but it was always interesting.
Go on, get your shiny arse off to Lee and make some friends.
