HUET Provider Observations
Hi Mickjoebill
Speaking as the chairman of the Asia Pacific Training Providers Advisory Group, a body made up of leading HUET providers in the region that train to the international OPITO standard; can I reinforce that training providers, like aviation companies, are subject to many regulations and their associated audit process – simply put, we train to the standard or loose accreditation.
However, twice yearly TPAG’s meet to discuss ways of improving offshore safety training, and as of last year this now includes a global safety conference involving our regional counterparts from the other OPITO regions: Middle East Africa, Europe and The Americas.
At the global conference held in Abu Dhabi last November, where sixty training provider representatives were in attendance, the MEA and AP TPAG’s submitted a proposal to increase HUET training standards to include cross-cabin escapes as an option when individuals requested “more realistic” training (current drills and trainee contact-time do not permit additional [non-OPITO] exercises being undertaken in a standard training day). This proposal was rejected with the rationale that change must be generated by oil companies.
Although frustrating for training providers, we; like aviators, are obliged to operate within the confines of documented standards. Notwithstanding this point, many providers can tailor HUET to individual client requirements if the client chooses not to undertake an internationally recognised course.
An example of this was HUET training provided to the Red Bull Air Race pilots prior to the last Perth race where an aircraft ended up in the Swan River inverted and the pilot made a successful escape using an emergency air supply. In this instance a Shark product would have been impractical due to the high ‘G’ associated with racing, so an appropriate solution was identified and a training course developed.
Of course another option to generate change would be for aviation companies to lobby oil companies, but how do you think that would work out?
PS: should any aviation representative wish get a better understanding of how international HUET standards evolve, please don’t hesitate to contact me.