John, would currency checks and training include situations as tricky as this winching out of a canyon?
I can't speak for CHC, but those pilots and crew that I know who work for them would certainly be exposed to training and checking to achieve that sort of task. Australian conditions need the standards of response that you in the UK are used to from the military, but not always from the civilian sector. I understand that your restrictions are imposed by the CAA, we are blessed here with a (generally) more responsive and understanding CASA. Not all the time, and not overnight, but there are very high standards achieved by our EMS and Police crews with the oversight of CASA plus a high degree of company standardisation.