Helicopter Flight Training –

Fit for purpose?

James Newton DFC

BACKGROUND

CEO of Vantage Group

Head of Training and Accountable Manager

EASA ATPL (H) FI, IRI, CPL (A) IR

FAA Commercial (H) CFI, FAA Commercial (A)

• 24 years as Commando Aviator (1991 – 2015)

• Started Vantage Aviation in 2007

• EASA and FAA approval (ATO and 141 school)

• Private, Commercial, Type, Instructor, Instrument (SE IR)

and all theory courses.

• Parapublic courses – sensor and specialist.

HISTORYLegacy is MOD to CAA…

• Works – right?

• Fit for purpose?

• MOD course was part of a wider

construct

• Military change is underway

• Reverse engineered Flying Training?

• My views….

PPL (H) Course

• 35 / 10 Hours– average is 65

• Handling….

• Core, basic, foundation…Skill

• Remember a good teacher…

• Under pressure… revert to basics?

• First learned is best learned…

• Only ‘tweaks’ needed

• Role model – Mentor (Hours building)

CPL (H) • At 155 Hrs TT – 30 hour course

• (Not PPL +!)

• How to train new technologies?

• Limit Indicators / Glass / Touch screen

avionics / Ipad ?

• Link complexity without cost?

• Legacy analogue trainers

• New modern Glass cockpit trainers

• TEM…Spare capacity…Situational awareness…

• Perhaps ‘adjustments’ needed

Glass v Analogue

• How do we equip pilots with the necessary skills to cope?

• Difference of the Onshore V Offshore

• Complex, varied, multiple types

• A to B (FW?) – job complete (generally)…

• What about what happens at B?

• RW start work (HEMS, PAS, Corporate – remote night HLS)

• We all need to speak the ‘same language’ –

• This ‘language’ must be consistent

• Varied routes to ‘on shore’ capability (all have the same

qualification though…)

• R22 to AW 189

US Army – MG William Gayler

Bell TH 67 (206) v UH 72 (Lakota) (SET analogue v Glass

twin)

‘ The TH 67 creates better pilots…’

‘The Lakota is too stable and easy to fly…’

‘What we have found is that the TH 67 students

turn out to be good pilots but poor system

managers and the UH 72 students are poor

pilots but good system managers…’

Clean Slate - Future?

• Single pilot operations from the start

• Simulation – further integrate into the ‘system’

• Glass cockpit now essential – (as is a Trim system, Auto pilot)

• Mentored training – more time hours building than training

• Specialist courses…

• Industry buy in…CPL Plus (SAR course?)

• Best practice – shared goal, inclusive industry

?