Equal time rosters and training days
HC and Keithl,
When the equal time roster was constructed in BHL, six training days were 'built in' - the same number of training days as in the previous roster. This was agreed on by both the management and BALPA. The ET roster also gave BHL management the increase in productivity they demanded before they would even consider its introduction - on average, well over 50 hours per pilot per year. If you are now saying that more training days are required, then there should be no problem in scheduling those days within the 182/183 days on, still leaving an increased productivity over the old roster.
However, I seem to remember that the running of the roster deteriorated badly after the first couple of years, with many of the advantages of ET being eroded. And of course, management also took the increase in pilots' hours as 'the norm' and wanted more.
As someone has already posted, the CAP371 limits have become targets, rather than a fatigue safety issue. Perhaps this is another subject that should be included in the independent 'full and wide ranging review' of North Sea helicopter operations, alongside:
Helicopter design and certification;
Operational limits;
Management culture in oil companies and helicopter operators;
Role of the regulators - CAA, EASA, HSE;
Pilot training;
Passenger survival training;
Role of all media in reporting incidents/accidents;
Role of all unions in North Sea operations.
There are probably more aspects that need to be included and I'm sure other Rotorheads will suggest them. So rather than waste posts slagging each other off, why not use this fantastic thread to look at what we need to do to advance safety in our operations.
bondu