Bc Forest Service

[Frequent Flyer]

Just reading through my pilot briefing package and I see that the hourly minimum for pilots has been lowered to 500 hours. You still require the mountain coarse but no 1500 hours as in the past. Is this a new thing and I have been under a rock for the last few years?

[Chopper_Stew]

Finally, good news for low-timers. Only 350 hours to go!

[canuck]

Me thinks a bad photocopy?

[Skidz]

No, but I was told BC FS must approve pilots in this range on a one by one basis...

[Chopper_Stew]

Better a one-by-one basis than not at all. A step in the right direction.

[bladethrow]

Wonderfull, That opens up the west to the eastern czar who's average pilot flight time is around 500hrs. Hydro Q is terrified when they send low timers out to fly under the power lines. A mountain course is great but 500hrs only. .....Nothing surprises me anymore.....watch the incident and accident stats.

 

Misprint perhaps or is this for real???

[Skidz]

Wonderfull, That opens up the west to the eastern czar who's average pilot flight time is around 500hrs. Hydro Q is terrified when they send low timers out to fly under the power lines. A mountain course is great but 500hrs only. .....Nothing surprises me anymore.....watch the incident and accident stats.

 

Misprint perhaps or is this for real???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

So......Exactly how many accidents have these 500 hour (and it's 250 hours BTW + a 13 hour specific training course) people had in the past 18 months the new HQ policy has been in effect ?

 

Answer: None, otherwise the program would have been halted. This is the first instance in a long time where responsibility for determining pilot suitability to specific taskings has been put back into the hands of Ops Mgrs and CP's, where it belongs, rather than in the hands of know-it-all aviation consultants and insurance adjusters. And it isn't just the C2C roup and CHL taking advantage of it. Just about every operator working with Hydro-Quebec is as well. This program, put forth by the AQTA (Quebec Air Transporter's Association), applies to both fixed and rotary wing. I'm in the process of getting carded myself... :up:

 

If the same kind of program is being put into place out west, it'll make life a little better for all low-timers...

 

Is your beef with "the eastern czar" or with low-timers finally getting a fair shake ?

[raqattack]

Frequent flyer - I am interested in finding out where you got your forestry pilot briefing package.

[Frequent Flyer]

Got it from KFC on my first day of hire. Read it 3 times to be sure. Doesnt look like a typo to me.

[raqattack]

Thanks - I sure wish I could see it, is there a contact e-mail by any chance?