Geoffers - OEM INSTRUCTORS!! I hear you. However, in Eurocopter we are addressing this. We now have, for example, 3 EC225 Instructors with extensive offshore experience married to the in depth systems and design operation concept training provided by the OEM.
This is great for new TRs or Recurrent Training. However, the larger Operators continue to favour this training being delivered by their own, or indeed external Instructors, some of whom have never flown the type or ever offshore.
We believe that real progress can be made in the first instance by formally releasing our knowledge to the Industry TRIs and TREs. We are working on a method of offering this service. However, it will require us all to open our minds, (to borrow the words of SAS), "Drop our Shields" and see what progress we can make.
Make no mistake, the divergence between what the aircraft is designed to do and how its is actually used is real, and growing with the introduction of each new type. There are several reasons for this. Not all of them to do with training.
It is easy to blame the CAA. However, there are only 8 FOIs covering the full range of helicopter operations. We must work closely together with CAA to ensure the playing field remains level.......set at the appropriate level.
Some organisations suffer from a lack of intelligent thought. For instance "A manually flown ILS" on an LPC translates to me as an approach in SEMA mode (EC225), and not in ATT. We have to guide and educate the CAA not isolate and castigate. The CAA are not hitting the sea. We are.
DB