The International Association for Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) Report 690, (Aircraft Management Guidelines Version 2 May 2017) clearly states that, with regards to offshore training:
“Helideck staff are trained in accordance with OPITO standards or equivalent.” (690-3,16A page 113)
As per the legal definition of “compliant”, our courses follow and adhere to standards as laid out by OPITO. This means that, if the training can be cross-checked to match the requirements of OPITO it is accepted by IOGP.
To this end, and as there are very limited OPITO Approved helideck crew training organisations around the world (UK and Malaysia only), the Flight Safety Group has developed training courses that are fully OPITO compliant and rigidly follow the requirements as laid down by OPITO. These courses are now internationally recognised and many of the leading Oil and Gas companies have their crew members trained by Flight Safety Africa on a regular basis.
The Flight Safety Group is conscious of the fact that both time and cost are of great importance to the Oil and Gas companies and have therefore designed their OPITO compliant courses to be both cost and time effective, without forfeiting any of the requirements which ensure the crew members get the maximum benefit from the training.
In addition, to facilitate the offshore training even further, the Flight Safety Group has now placed all their training courses on the online platform. These include:
- Helideck Operations Initial Training (HOIT)
- Helicopter Emergency Response Team Member Training (HERTM)
- Helicopter Emergency Response Team Leader Training (HERTL)
- Offshore Meteorological Weather Interpretation (OMWIT)
- HERTM and HERTL Refresher Training (for candidates with current valid certification)
- Helicopter Landing Site Officer (HLSO) – onshore helipad requirement
- Offshore Heli Refuelling
As per the latest OPITO Standards, various changes have been made that have a dramatic effect on the manner in which the various disciplines are certified. Straight forward Helideck Assistant (HDA) and Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) certification is no longer acceptable.
The table below (HOIT Standard 7040 Revision 1 April 2019) illustrates the training requirements for certification of HDA’s and HLO’S:
*As a minimum delegates must have completed Dangerous Goods by Air training in accordance with Part 1, Chapter 1.4 of the ICAO Technical Instructions and sub section 1.5 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, Category 7, 8 or 9 or state aviation approved dangerous goods awareness training course.
If a delegate holds a valid Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM), Helideck Emergency Response Team Member Further (HERTM-F), Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader (HERTL), or Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader Further (HERTL-F) certificate then there will be no requirement to complete the Helideck Operations Initial Training Standard.
In a nutshell:
- All helideck crew workers require a Dangerous Goods certificate.
- Helideck Operations Initial Training (HOIT) is the first requirement for both HDA and HLO operators.
- Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM) is required for both HDA and HLO certification.
At this point, the Helideck Assistant (HDA) may be certified.
- The VHF radio training is a prerequisite for the HLO
- Helideck Emergency Team Leader (HERTL) is required for the potential HLO
At this point the Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) may be certified.
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) also requires training in:
- Offshore Meteorological Weather Interpretation (OMWIT) for all crew members involved in the interpretation and reporting of weather conditions (i.e. HDA’s and HLO’s)
- Offshore Heli Refuelling for all crew members involved in offshore refuelling (i.e. HDA’s and HLO’s)
The OPITO Compliant training courses are offered on three platforms:
- Classroom training in Cape Town, South Africa (these courses are arranged at the client’s request)
- Classroom training at the client’s facility, either onshore or offshore
- Online training (there is no set time for the candidate to complete any of the online training courses – these are done at his own pace.
In addition, the candidate may leave a course at any time and return to it at a time that suits him)
These courses are all available at: https://flightsafetyafrica.matrixlms.com/
To accommodate the Oil and Gas Service providers, the Flight Safety Group offers the following OPITO COMPLIANT courses:
Helideck Operations Initial Training (HOIT)
- Offshore Helideck Regulations and Guidelines
- Helicopter and Helideck Hazards and Management Systems
- HLO and HDA Responsibilities during Helicopter Landing and Departure Supervision of Passengers and cargo handling
- HLO and HDA responsibilities on a NUI
Helideck Emergency Response Team Member (HERTM)
- Helicopter Emergency Response Preparedness
- NUI Emergency Response
- HERTM response in Helideck or Helicopter Emergencies
- A desk-top practical in Emergency Response
- Offshore Meteorological Weather Interpretation (OMWIT)
Helideck Emergency Response Team Leader (HERTL)
- Helicopter Emergency Response Preparedness
- NUI Emergency Response
- HERTM response in Helideck or Helicopter Emergencies
- A desk-top practical in Emergency Response
- Concept of Leadership
- Risk Analysis (including Risk analysis practical exercise)
- Offshore Meteorological Weather Interpretation (OMWIT)
Offshore Meteorological Weather Interpretation (OMWIT)
- Legal references for offshore weather interpretation and reporting
- Understanding meteorological equipment
- Wind speed and direction
- Air Temperature and Dew Point Temperature
- QNH and QNF
- Cloud amount and height
- Precipitation
- Visibility
HDA and HLO Refresher Training
As per OPITO Standards, if a crew member holds valid qualifying HDA or HLO certificates, i.e. HOIT plus HERTM (HDA) or HOIT plus HERTL (HLO), these may be renewed prior to expiry by completing a HERTM Refresher Course (for HDA’s) or a HERTL Refresher course (for HLO’s).
The aim of these Refresher courses is to update the candidate on key changes to helicopter operations, systems, relevant legislation and regulation over the previous 2 years (approx.) and to refresh the skills required when dealing with helicopter emergency response situations or incidents as members of an Offshore Helideck Emergency Response Team.
Offshore Heli Refuelling
- Legal references to Offshore Refuelling
- The fuel system description
- Design considerations
- Fuel types
- Static storage tanks
- Delivery systems
- Transfer systems
- Transit tanks
- Helicopter Maintenance and fuelling procedures:
- Sampling
- Maintenance schedules
- Inspections
- Aircraft refuelling
- Safety Considerations
- Quality control documentation
Please note:
As the HERTM and HERTL have a high content of similarity, it is not necessary for the HLO candidate to complete both the courses – he need only complete the HOIT and the HERTL to be OPITO Compliant.
For quotes or costing details, or to arrange classroom training or online enrolment,
CONTACT US
call +27 (0) 83 263 4439 or select an option below to send and email:
Flight Safety AfricaHelideck Certification