Simulators are excellent training devices....and well planned and executed programs of training in Sim's is far safer, cheaper, and more dependable than using real aircraft....no doubt! I am an advocate of Simulator Training....and have always been.
My criticism of what went on in those days is based upon having been a Sim Instructor before returning to Operational Flying. When forced to utilize Sim Training the usual attitude of doing the minimum on the cheap attitude presented by the Operator was such a sad thing. What could have been a golden opportunity to lead the industry became an exercise in searching for the bottom of compliance.
LOFT scenario's for Nigera based crews would have been interesting.....lots of ILS, VOR, GPS approaches......to what end.....considering the state of Nigerian NavAids in those days!
I would like to see Helicopter Sim's reach a point such that the first flight in the actual aircraft would be an Operational Revenue flight. Where all training is done in a Sim.
The question is why are we not there yet?
With the expense of operation of large aircraft such as the 225, 92, 412, 76, and 155.....it would seem there would be a move to that capability.
When I did a marketing study for American Airlines Training Corporation that was then the 76 Sim Operation at the Sikorsky Facility in West Palm Beach....loacation of the Sim's was the major problem. To make it reasonable in costs for the customer we would have to locate Sim near their major bases.
That for AATC killed the deal.....as their concept was to have one central facility (remembering their airline connection to American Airlines).
Fleet size also entered into the equation....sheer lack of numbers of 155's for instance would make customer support for a Sim difficult.
But back to the point of the thread.....rather than make Sim training "Mandatory" as an edict of CASA or any other Authority....I would rather see a concerted effort by the Helicopter Industry as a whole to voluntarily improve the Sim Standards and move as an Industry to as much Sim training as possible.