HeliOffshore Publishes Line Training System Recommended Practice
Today, [7 December 2023], HeliOffshore published its new Line Training System Recommended Practice, which aims to provide Offshore Helicopter Operators with a clear guide to all relevant aspects of Line Training and to encourage better quality and more standardised training across the offshore industry.
Several recent offshore helicopter accidents have occurred during night training flights. Two of these accidents were assessed by HeliOffshore in collaboration with IOGP in 2022 and the resultant output was summarised in the Industry Action Plan: Industry Action Plan for Night Deck Landing Practice — HeliOffshore.
These accidents reinforced the need for clarity, standardisation, and best practices across all areas of Line Training to enhance the safety of the offshore aviation industry. The Line Training System Recommended Practice outlines the importance of assessment criteria and performance standards for operators, so that the quality of internal line training is continuously monitored and improved.
Jim Evans, Operations Director, HeliOffshore commented: ‘Training is at the heart of operational safety. We need to ensure that knowledge sharing takes place from industry veterans to the next generation of talent and that operators maximise the quality and effective impact of their training. By implementing standardised Line Training, we expect our members to see a clear enhancement to their operational efficiency.’
This resource shares critical insights into all aspects of Line Training, including recommended competencies for an LTC, suggested content for Line Training programmes and provides specific guidance in relation to Night Offshore Helideck Training. Importantly, it highlights the need for a contractual obligation to facilitate helideck training, by day and night.
HeliOffshore has aligned our recommended practice with the IOGP Report 690-2, which sets many of the essential baseline contracting requirements for offshore helicopter pilot qualifications and training.
The Line Training System Recommended Practice is available on HeliOffshore’s website, found here Line Training Systems (LTS) — HeliOffshore.