The June issue of Pilot has two letters in response to Norman's. The second is a slightly edited version of mine - see previous page. The first is reproduced verbatim from the pages of Pilot ( thanks, I'm working on the principle that it's easier to ask forgiveness ! ).
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Does Norman Osment really believe that the cost of helicopter training would be acceptable if undertaken in an eight-seater ?
I can bet a year's (meagre) salary that any student training in an R22 and paying out of his own pocket would give it up if all training was suddenly required to be on a A119! I think £200+ per hour is just about affordable but using an A119 for training is ridiculous.
He states that 'students require room for handling errors' and 'having to deal with engine failures associated with carb icing not being acceptable' - I find this mentality hard to believe. Carburettor icing can and does occur but correct training and practice takes this risk out of the equation.
A prospective student should be able to make up his or her own mind as to which machine they wish to learn to fly in. If the risks are pointed out before training commences and then the instruction is of a high standard, accident statistics should reduce. Any flying machine in the wrong hands is dangerous. Don't all pilots know that ?
Michael Georgiou