ESPN-R Helicopter Hoist Pilot Training Guide

ESPN-R Helicopter Hoist Pilot Training Guide published on the EASA Website here. 

Introduction to ESPN-R

The European Safety Promotion Network – Rotorcraft (ESPN-R) is a collaboration between EASA, National Authorities, and the Rotorcraft Community, which works together to provide non-binding best practice information to support safe operations.

Hoist Operations

Helicopter Hoist Operations (HHOs) are considered as a full crew mission concept where responsibilities and leadership change within the crew throughout the completion of the mission. During the flight, pilots, hoist operators, rescuers, medical personnel and other human external cargo (HEC) are identified as a group of interdependent individuals working together to complete a specific task. The Crew, considered as a team, must depend on each other’s knowledge, skills, and competence to achieve the same goal.

The Pilot Training Guide

This document, published here on the EASA Website — which is focused on HHOs pilots, aims to highlight the different training phases of the pilot, and considers the interactions with other crew members and specificities of the mission — must cover essential aspects of HHOs including, but not limited to, normal and emergency procedures, crew resource management (CRM), and airmanship among others.

This training guide does not contradict the Air OPS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 965/2012), which remains the reference document for this kind of operation. The present document is a recommended guideline to create a competence-based training scenario for pilots, not adding requirements, but rather helping the operators to comply with existing regulations. The guide is not legally binding; it was developed by a group of experienced hoist pilots and hoist operators, and therefore it should be regarded as a role model. 

HHOs are very challenging and bear certain risks. In order to enhance safety and efficiency, a proper pilot training dedicated to hoist operations shall be promoted and stimulated within the industry.

This work is a key deliverable of EPAS Safety Promotion Task (SPT).0099 covering 'Helicopter Hoist Safety Promotion'. This present Helicopter Hoist Operation Pilot Training Guide is the second training guide delivered by the ESPN-R Hoist Safety Promotion Working Group, following the issuance of the Hoist Operator Training Guide in 2021. 

SPO.SPEC.HEC activities are not considered in this document, as SPO.SPEC.HEC regulations are different from SPA.HHO, and adaptations would be necessary.

Topics Covered in the Guide

The guide is split into various sections and looks at both on-shore and off-shore situations. It covers the following: 

• Prerequisites for HHO Pilots.
• Basic Pilot HHO Training, Theoretical Fundamentals.
• Basic practical / flying Training HHO Pilots.
• Operator on Type Training for HHO Pilots.
• NVIS.
• Conditions for assignment to duties. 
• Recency.
• Recurrent training and checking.