This is an essential 16-hour course for
anyone who works in or around helicopter flight operations. The course
can be taught in two 8-hour modules. Half of the course focuses on
safety rules and procedures around helicopters and is excellent
training for ground personnel who meet incoming aircraft, and
occasionally board/ride helicopters. The other half of this course
concentrates on routine and emergency safety procedures as they relate
to crew and passenger responsibilities, emergency preparedness,
ditching and post crash survival techniques. Improvements such as
helicopter design, rubber fuel tank bladders and better protective
clothing will always improve chances for survivability in the event of
an emergency landing. However, frequent and better training in basic
helicopter safety around these machines coupled
with better management decisions about their use and application can
also reduce the chances of accidents. Helicopters are highly
sophisticated and costly solutions to unique problems and have a
significant potential for death and injury associated with their use
when training is not up to standard.