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Besides the script, the training is needed because they fly real low, and particularly in mountain zones (it is the same for the Giro d'Italia [1]) there can be

by jaclaz 7y ago

Besides the script, the training is needed because they fly real low, and particularly in mountain zones (it is the same for the Giro d'Italia [1]) there can be a lot of obstacles, particularly high voltage lines, that may be badly signaled or have been changed recently. [1] curiously enough one of the pilots for the Giro d'Italia has been for years Gianni Bugno, who won the actual race in 1990, here is an interview (Italian, but not too bad via Google translate): http://www.manualedivolo.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=521:il-campione-in-elicottero&catid=45:cronaca&Itemid=74 http://www.manualedivolo.it/index.php?option=com_content&vie...

24gttghh 7y ago
I did not mean to imply 6 month's was excessive. Far from it in fact. It seem's to be just right, considering they're the pro's and they do this every year.
- jaclaz 7y ago
  Sure, I was referring to the fact that the main reasons for the training is due to safety requirements. In the original article it seems like the importance of the safety procedures were minor compared to the director's needs. As a side-side note, several years ago I happened to be involved in a couple "normal" projects (construction) involving transporting machinery and materials via helicopter, and the guys doing the actual work, besides the helicopters pilots, the ones hooking/unhooking the loads (that we provided) followed (understandably) much, much more strict safety rules than "common" building crane operators and workers, including (much like - say - firefighters do) exercising on things like quick load release, communication (via radio), ropes/belts checks, etc. It's risky business.
- FireBeyond 7y ago
  Right, and the training is on this specifically - remembering that these are mostly ex-military helicopter pilots with already thousands of hours of training.
davidw 7y ago
Hah, yeah I was going to post about Bugno too. It was cool to see him flying during the Giro - they'd always give a bit more of a shout out to him than the regular chopper pilots got.

by jaclaz 7y ago

24gttghh 7y ago

I did not mean to imply 6 month's was excessive. Far from it in fact. It seem's to be just right, considering they're the pro's and they do this every year.

jaclaz 7y ago
Sure, I was referring to the fact that the main reasons for the training is due to safety requirements. In the original article it seems like the importance of the safety procedures were minor compared to the director's needs. As a side-side note, several years ago I happened to be involved in a couple "normal" projects (construction) involving transporting machinery and materials via helicopter, and the guys doing the actual work, besides the helicopters pilots, the ones hooking/unhooking the loads (that we provided) followed (understandably) much, much more strict safety rules than "common" building crane operators and workers, including (much like - say - firefighters do) exercising on things like quick load release, communication (via radio), ropes/belts checks, etc. It's risky business.
FireBeyond 7y ago
Right, and the training is on this specifically - remembering that these are mostly ex-military helicopter pilots with already thousands of hours of training.

davidw 7y ago

Hah, yeah I was going to post about Bugno too. It was cool to see him flying during the Giro - they'd always give a bit more of a shout out to him than the regular chopper pilots got.