Helideck Operations Initial Training Standard (HLO and HDA Initial Training) Standard

This Product is for personnel who are to be appointed to the role of an Offshore Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) and/or Offshore Helideck Assistant (HDA).

Training and competence assessment of OPITO-approved Helicopter Landing Officers (HLOs) and Helideck Assistants (HDAs) will comprise both onshore training and offshore workplace training and assessment.

This Helideck Operations Initial Training Standard forms part of a wider industry Helideck Training and Competence Framework including helideck operations initial training, helideck emergency response team member and team leader initial/further training and associated helideck role workplace competence assessment standards. Further information on the wider industry Helideck Training and Competence Framework is depicted in the Helideck Training and Competence Framework - See supporting document.

Appointment of HLOs and HDAs

The Installation, MODU or vessel Duty Holder is responsible for ensuring that personnel appointed to Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) and Helideck Assistant (HDA) roles have received sufficient training and gained relevant experience to undertake the role competently and safely.

The Duty Holder must ensure that, apart from the provision of onshore training:

a) Workplace training is provided and workplace competence assessment is conducted, AND

b) Additional Training - e.g. radio operator’s certificate of competence (HLO only), helicopter refueling (where required) and meteorological/weather reporting training (where required by duty holder) is provided before the HLO or HDA is appointed to the role.

This Product aims to equip the learner with the initial knowledge, understanding and skills required to perform the roles of Offshore Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) and Offshore Helideck Assistant (HDA) safely and effectively.

Note: Additional training, as determined by the Duty Holder, in offshore site-specific elements is required before appointment to the HLO and/or HDA role.

Duty Holders will need to check the statutory, regulatory and company-specific HLO and HDA training requirement for the particular region of operations, so that the HLO and/or HDA candidate receives all of the required training for the HLO and/or HDA role.

As a minimum, learners must have completed Dangerous Goods by Air training course in accordance with Part 1 of the ICAO Technical Instructions and sub section 1.5 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, Functions 7.2, 7.4 and 7.5, previously categories 7, 8 or 9 or state aviation approved dangerous goods awareness training course 

Medical entry requirements 

Training activities contained within this Product may include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be capable of participating fully. Therefore, OPITO-approved training centres are required, as a minimum, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learner is declared fit, in that they 

a)Possess a valid, current offshore medical certificate or 

b)Possess an operator approved medical certificate, And 

c)Undergo medical screening by completing an appropriate medical screening form provided by the OPITO-approved Centre The OPITO-approved Centre shall keep a record of the learners’ declaration(s) of fitness in accordance with their document control policy(s) or procedures. 

This information, along with summary details of the type of physical activities the delegate/candidate will be asked to perform, will be given to learners by the OPITO approved Centre and, if applicable, to their sponsoring company as part of the joining instructions. The responsibility for declaring any current or pre-existing medical conditions that could have adverse effects to the individual’s state of health while undertaking the training and/or assessment activities lies with the learner and/or company sponsoring the learner. 

Where doubt exists regarding the fitness of any learner, the OPITO-approved Centre must direct the individual to consult a medical officer familiar with the nature and extent of the training. Note: Practical exercises must be designed and delivered solely to meet this Product and must not place on the learners any demands other than those required to meet the Product.

To complete the Helideck Operations Initial Training  all five mandatory units must be achieved. 

18 hours

Helideck Emergency Response Team Member Initial Training

No formal expiry Note: It is the learner’s employing company’s responsibility to determine the validity and revalidation requirements of this certificate.