Originally Posted by
26500lbs
HC - you are encroaching on a controversial subject here and one that has certainly been the subject of many a heated discussion. Third party training is definitely cheaper to the accountant. Quality can in theory be just as good if controlled properly. Therein lies the problem.
I do not know for sure if type rating courses are done by exclusively by CAE in the UK, but interestingly in CHC HS in Norway they are not involved at all. Company instructors carry out all training including type ratings. Whilst it was the desire of the company to use third party training, it was actually the customer - Statoil - that stopped this and insisted that all pilots flying their contracts will be trained by operational instructors flying in the North Sea and with a minimum of 5 years experience in Norway.
The customer has had to accept that this will ultimately be a more expensive option but they appear to have made this more of a priority, therefore ensuring CHC in Norway conduct and control their own training. They also insisted on increasing the minimum amount of time required in the sim for OPC and LPC training, which has been in effect for 2 years.
Well that's very interesting in itself, especially bearing in mind the theme earlier in this thread about differing accident rates between east and west North Sea. So the idea that things are done pretty much the same on both sides has just been rubbished in a critically important area.
ETA with my personal knowledge of the attitudes in Statoil, limited though they are, vs the attitudes of many of their UK equivalents, gives another massive clue.