FlightSafety adds Advanced Energy Management – Rotorcraft course

FlightSafety International will add a new Advanced EnergyManagement – Rotorcraft course to its Master Aviator program for helicopterpilots in the coming months.

Steve Gross, senior vice president,Commercial said, “Master Aviator sets a new standard for pilot achievement andrecognition, enabling pilots to develop a deeper knowledge of the helicopterthey fly, as well as a safe and correct response to a broad range of demanding,unexpected situations.”

FlightSafety Master Aviator forhelicopter pilots is earned by completing all advanced aircraft-specific corecourses and a choice of four electives. At least one FlightSafety initial orrecurrent training event must also be completed every 8 months.

The one-day core courses now include AdvancedEnergy Management - Rotorcraft, Advanced Helicopter Crew Resource Management,and Advanced Helicopter Surviving Inadvertent Instrument MeteorologicalConditions (IMC).

The Advanced Energy Management courseincreases a pilot’s understanding of helicopter aerodynamics and introducestechniques to improve control of the helicopter and rotor energy during normal& abnormal operations. Pilots will focus on crew resource management, energysituational awareness and managing the kinetic and potential energy availableto them while flying.

The Advanced Crew Resource Managementcourse enables the pilots to master the key aspects of CRM that uniquely applyto helicopter operation. This includes situational awareness, conflictresolution and communication skills. They will also experience how effectivecrew performance and decision-making can overcome situations caused by errorchains, human factors and fatigued or stressed operators.

The inadvertent IMC course will helppilots to be fully prepared when weather conditions unexpectedly and rapidlychange in order to have a sound and well-practiced strategy to maintain thesafety of their aircraft. This course provides the tools needed to reactappropriately as decisions made in the first pivotal moments often decide theoutcome. Pilots will also review and fully understand the major causes forinadvertent IMC accidents and master best practices for the safest responses.