Course Overview
The Helideck Operations course gives learners the practical skills to safely support helicopter landings and take-offs on offshore or remote helideck landing areas. This course focuses on managing landing and departure procedures, identifying hazards, following safety protocols, and working effectively as part of a helideck team.
Helicopter operations are critical to the daily functioning of offshore and remote sites, where mistakes can have serious consequences. The 2-day Helideck Operations (HDO) course delivered at ERGT Australia provides learners with the practical knowledge and hands-on experience required to perform operational helideck duties safely and confidently. Designed for helideck crew, safety observers, and support staff responsible for assisting with landing and departure procedures, this course focuses on helideck layout and equipment, communication and hand signals, aircraft arrival and departure procedures, and routine inspection and reporting in accordance with site operational procedures and safety regulations.
Key details
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Understand offshore helideck regulations and guidelines
- Identify helicopter and helideck hazards and apply management systems
- Demonstrate HLO (Helicopter Landing Officer) and HDA (Helideck Assistant) responsibilities during helicopter landing and departure
- Perform safe cargo and passenger handling procedures
- Demonstrate HLO and HDA duties for normally unattended installations
Prior Skills & Knowledge
Training standard prerequisite:
There are no prerequisites from the training standard for this course.
Prior skills and knowledge
While there are no formal training prerequisites required. Learners should have familiarity with offshore safety practices, site induction, and operational procedures is recommended.
This course is aimed at operational helideck personnel, not emergency responders. If learners are required to work as part of a helideck emergency response team, ERGT recommends attending emergency response training. Please contact ERGT for further information.
What to expect
Learner Support
Learner wellbeing for this course is supported through measures that recognise the physical, cognitive and psychological demands of helideck operations training in a simulated operational environment. As the course involves outdoor practical exercises, team-based drills, scenario-based helideck operations, and performance under realistic operational conditions across a 2-day program, ERGT implements support strategies that prioritise learner safety, confidence and readiness. This ensures learners can safely participate in all practical components without compromising their wellbeing or safety.
Physical Wellbeing Support
- Trainers continuously monitor learners during outdoor practical activities for signs of fatigue, heat stress, cold exposure or restricted movement while wearing PPE and performing helideck duties.
- Practical activities are structured to include scheduled rest, hydration and recovery periods between helideck drills and scenario-based exercises to manage fatigue across the two-day program.
- PPE fit and comfort, including hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and hearing protection, are checked before and throughout practical sessions, with trainer support for adjustment where required.
- Learners are encouraged to disclose any physical concerns (e.g. fatigue, heat stress, cold exposure, restricted movement, or any physical limitations) so adjustments can be made to participation.
Psychological & Emotional Wellbeing Support
- Trainers provide clear pre-activity briefings to prepare learners for helideck operational drills, including what to expect during simulated helicopter movements and safety controls in place.
- Learners experiencing discomfort or anxiety when participating in time-critical operational drills or team-based exercises are supported through gradual exposure, additional guidance or alternative sequencing of activities where appropriate.
- Post-activity debriefs are conducted to reinforce learning, address concerns and build confidence in safe helideck operational practices.
Cognitive Support for Safety-Critical Tasks
- Structured delivery of helideck regulations, operational procedures, hazard management systems, and HLO/HDA responsibilities with opportunities to consolidate understanding before practical application.
- Progressive skill development through staged helideck drills, beginning with basic communication signals, then equipment handling, then coordinated team procedures, then full landing and departure scenarios.
- Opportunity to practise and refine operational skills through repeated drills and scenario-based exercises with trainer feedback and guidance.
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