Originally Posted by
terminus mos
Our Offshore facilities are in the Tropics and we don't routinely fly passengers at night. As a client, we have to pay for our Contract Pilots to remain current for night flying in case of emergency, which we are happy to do.
With offshore facilities are > 200nm from our operating base, there is not a closer deck to use, we have some significant transit time each way. When our Pilots complete their 3x landing in 3 month night deck landing currency, we have a requirement that we take 3 crew to maximise the benefit.
Since its revenue flying without passengers, we specify the outbound and inbound sectors are used as much as is reasonable to practice manual flying skills. We also encourage crews to take a slightly extended routing to land and take fuel onshore rather than offshore so that they have another landing at night at a different place for some variety.
Very commendable. Was this before or after you demanded a 20% reduction in costs?
Although technically, since the 3rd pilot is not a necessary member of the flight crew, he/she is a passenger on a commercial flight. But never mind, unlike oil co. passengers, pilots are expendable!