Originally Posted by
gulliBell
Glass cockpit helicopters have been operating in Australia for the past 20 years...SAR optioned helicopters even longer. S92 is a more recent introduction to the national fleet. But a helicopter is a helicopter so surely there is ample local experience out there to fully crew all Australian requirements without needing to import foreign labor. It's a sign of the times moving away from expatriate helicopter pilots: China, Thailand, Indonesia, Nigeria, and many other jurisdictions are gradually closing up shop to foreigners and hiring and training only national pilots.
With modern fully automated glass cockpit all weather sar aircraft your assertion is absolutely not the case, as others have found out elsewhere to great cost and sacrifice. HNZ were offered current crews flying the very SAR airframe they later received but rejected this option even as a startup assistance, this would have been the quickest and crucially safest option but was rejected in favour of nationalism. No foreign pilots have been allowed near their SAR operation so any foreign pilots not validating licences in time etc certainly has not affected this. But it is true to say HNZ have rejected applications from former employees of other companies who were type rated and local residents and experienced despite them being short on crew. Also the fact that those appointed as line trainers are new to type is a disturbing situation given the massive s92 experience brought in from elsewhere and not being utilised to its maximum.