The pilot skills required to land a helicopter onto the shifting deck of a warship in a strong wind and rough seas can never be underestimated. In Canada such skills are further tested by the demanding and mountainous terrain of the huge nation. Much of the training program for maritime helicopter pilots takes account of these conditions as it is likely they’ll be called upon to rescue people in such areas.
406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron
Canada’s main maritime helicopter training is carried out by 12 Wing of 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron based at Shearwater in Nova Scotia. 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron, (HT 406) is the operational Training Unit for Sea King Pilots. The squadron also trains the Navigators and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AES Ops). HT406 also run a large number of courses for technicians, together with courses in sea survival, wet dinghy training, Waterbird training and Maintenance Test Pilot Course.
The Sea King Helicopter remains in service with the Canadian Defense Forces
The Sea King Helicopter Pilot Training Unit (OTU) Course is divided into four parts. The first three parts - a Clearhood phase, an instrument phase and a Tactical phase - are completed at the OTU. The fourth part is an On the Job Training (OJT) package, which is completed at the member’s Operational Squadron. On the Job Training would include deck landing qualifications on available warships. The equally important skill of gaining a Landing Safety Officer qualification is highly regarded by all aviators and with Canada’s rugged terrain the Mountain Flying Course is not for the faint hearted and is conducted with the help of Canadian Helicopters Ltd at Penticton, British Columbia.
Flying the Sea King helicopter
The course lasts for a period of 62 training days and numbers are strictly limited to a maximum of six pilots. The complex training will normally consist of fifty one periods of ground training inside a classroom. Then the students will conduct 67.5 dual instruction flying hours, with around 28 flights in a Sea King helicopter. Further simulator training is then carried out in the Operational Flight and Tactics Trainer (OFTT). Students are expected to spend at least 32.5 hours within this simulator honing their skills.
Air Department Ship Safety Training (ADSST) will usually then follow in the course and occupy a period of up to ten days. Finally, students on the course will be expected to attend two days of emergency ditching training.
If a student pilot successfully completes all parts of the course they can expect to receive a posting to one of the Canadian’s shore based bases or one to a warship.
