Hi CharlieDontSurf,
The following are facts about INAER training and operation standards (SASEMAR / Coastguard contract).
- Pilot initial training is completed at either AgustaWestland Training Academy or INAER TRTO. In both cases, pilots are issued with a Single Pilot Type Rating. No further Multi-Crew training is completed at a subsequent stage.
- Although the initial (Single Pilot) type rating includes the IR, neither AgustaWestland nor INAER conduct the Instrument Flight section of the skill test in the aircraft under real or simulated IMC (no IF screens or hood). Therefore giving the mild weather of the locations, candidates are checked on their instrument flight skills while they can look out through the window in VMC. But they still receive a type rating that will allow them to fly a AW139 down on an ILS to minima.
- Pilots or crewmen do not receive Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), despite the fact that SASEMAR contract calls for this to be in place. Could this training ahve made a difference in this accident?
- Pilots do not receive MCC training in accordance to JAR-FCL2, hence no Multi crew type rating is in place.
- Pilots do not receive CRM or SAR CRM training (management may argue that CRM training is completed during the initial SAR training, but read below and ask yourself whether that's feasible).
- SAR initial training is limited to five to seven days of training. During these days, you spend a few hours in the crew room with a trainer that tends to be the Commander on-duty, thus his attention to the training tends to be limited. In terms of flight hours, you may complete 7 to 8 hours of training, during which they will try to cover all missions that the SAR service should be prepared for, day and night. After that, you will be on duty with any commander (no a line trainer or SAR instructor) at your new base. No additional training (base familiarisation or line training) is given other than the recurrent training (see below).
- Monthly recurrent training is limited to 2.5 hours day and 2.5 hours night (flown with normal crew members, with no SAR instructors or line trainers). These training hours may be reduced if actual missions are completed. The average pilot logs around 90 flight hours per year.
Now I leave it up to you to decide whether that’s high or low standard. If you wish to find more about these facts, you can PM me.
Regards,
verticalflight