Guidance

Section 5 - Large Yacht Helicopter Refuelling training

Published 11 March 2024

1. Specification of Large Yacht Helicopter Refuelling training

1.1 Introduction

All personnel who are engaged in the handling and dispensing of aviation fuel should understand that the safety of a helicopter and its passengers depends on their ability to deliver fuel that is free from contamination including water particles. It should be noted that fuel delivery system manufacturers will provide operating instructions that should be followed and as such the training offered within this manual is restricted to generic systems.

The use of correct helicopter refuelling procedures by the refuelling team significantly reduces the likelihood of an incident occurring and improves the safety of all personnel involved.

This module includes basic instruction on the aviation fuel storage and quality control schedules. It is not designed to satisfy the requirements of the Red Ensign Group (REG) Yacht Code Common Annex H3 7.d, “Where there are refuelling facilities onboard, at least one member of crew shall be trained in the handling of aviation fuel and associated quality control procedures.” This must be made clear during the module.

As per the REG Yacht Code, Common Annex H, This training described within this module must be completed before undertaking refuelling duties on a large yacht helideck.

It is acknowledged that some large yacht jet fuelling systems will have a de-fuelling capability. Manufacturer specific training for de-fuelling must be attended before utilising this capability and is applicable only to that system.

1.2 Aim

The aim of the Helicopter Refuelling Training is to equip the learner with the initial knowledge, understanding and skills required to safely and effectively operate and carry out basic quality assurance tests on helicopter fuelling systems installed on a large yacht or support vessel.

1.3 Objectives

Trainees will be able to:

• Understand helicopter refuelling regulations, guidelines and documentation and relevant roles and responsibilities.
• Understand the properties of, and understand and perform operational requirements for handling and sampling of aviation turbine fuel.
• Understand basic helicopter fuelling system design and maintenance.
• Perform operational requirements for helicopter fuelling system setup and operation.
• Understand and perform pre helicopter refuelling operations.
• Understand and perform helicopter refuelling operations.

1.4 Entry Standards

Trainees must hold valid certificates for all four elements of t he International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Basic Training prior to attending this module.

• Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-1);
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-2);
• Elementary First Aid (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-3);
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-4).

And either:

• An in-date Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Large Yacht (LY) Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO)/Helideck Assistant (HDA) Certificate;

OR

A valid, industry recognized, certificate or qualification which ensures and understanding of Helideck Operations (such as Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) approved Helideck Initial Operations Training (HOIT)).

The training provider must ensure that learners are fit to participate in all aspects of the training. If there is any doubt as to an individual’s ability to participate in such exercises an appropriate risk assessment should be carried out to determine what is required in order to proceed in a safe manner. Training providers may consider utilizing the ENG1 medical certificate, or equivalent, as an indicator of fitness.

1.5 Course Intake Limitations

The trainer to learner ratio shall not exceed 1:6 for practical and 1:12 for non-practical sessions. The training provider, having due regard to health and safety and the objectives of the training, shall determine other staffing requirements.

Practical elements are to be conducted in groups of a minimum of 3 or as per the yacht’s Helideck Landing Areas Operations Manual, whichever is greater, with one trainee (or an additional instructor) acting in the HLO role during each exercise.

1.6 Staff Requirements

Properly qualified personnel should carry out all training and assessments. All staff must:

• Understand the specific objectives of the training,
• Be familiar with the use of and operation of refuelling appliances and equipment commonly found on large yacht helidecks,
• Be familiar with fuel quality sampling and testing techniques and practices,
• Be familiar with the operation of helicopters from marine helidecks,
• Have an understanding of instructional techniques and practices, and assessment methods and practices. As a minimum, this should meet the standards of the City & Guilds Train the Trainer course^{[footnote 1]}, or equivalent,
• Have an understanding of the particular problems of helicopter operations on large yachts.

1.7 Facilities

This course may be delivered onboard or ashore following a risk assessment conducted by the approved trainer to ensure the facilities are suitable.

These risk assessments shall be retained as they may be audited at Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) course reapproval audits.

As a minimum the following equipment must be available for practical demonstrations and learner practice:

Helicopter refuelling system, or simulator, equipped with:

• Gravity feed refuelling connections;
• Earthing points for connecting earthing clips from fuelling nozzles and fuelling cabinet;
• A set of refuelling pumps;
• Refuelling package with fuel meter, fuelling hose, filtration system;
• Sample point;
• differential gauges, earth bonding cable and clip;
• Stop/Start button;
• Light to indicate the pump is running.

Fuel sampling equipment including:

• Sample jars;
• Lint cloths for jar cleaning;
• Surgical gloves;
• Fuel (appropriate analogue);
• Sample syringes;
• Chemical Water Detectors (e.g. Shell water capsules or equivalent);
• Waste Container for hold syringe samples;
• Fuel logbooks or sheet;
• High-vis vests with HLO and HDA printed on the back.

1.8 Training Plan

The training should be provided as a full-time block course of at least three hours duration, ie, three hours contact time.

The training should be provided over an appropriate number of days to fully cover the course criteria. A training day should have no more than eight contact hours and cannot be more than 10 hours, including relevant breaks.

It is recommended that demonstrations and practical work should make up at least 75% of this contact time.

1.9 Assessment

The training must be organised so that by demonstration, trainees are able to show that they meet the requirements of column 2 of Table D in accordance with the methods for demonstrating competence in column 3 of that table and the criteria for evaluating competence in column 4.

1.10 Quality Management System

The training provider must have a formally documented health and safety management system and a Quality Management System (QMS) that complies with MSN 1865 – Amendment 1, Annex F (or subsequent publication) and ensures: 

• A continued satisfactory delivery of the programme to the current standards, reflecting changes of technology and best practice(s);
• The training programme entry standards are met;
• Where a written assessment or a practical examination is required, the same person does not carry out the training and assessment of the programme. Where two people are acting as instructors they may alternate between assessor and instructor. QMS procedures should detail how the assessment is quality assured and, if required, how continuous practical assessment is achieved;
• Only those who complete the training programme and meet any other necessary requirements are issued with certificates/documentary evidence;
• Certificates are issued in a format that meets the MCA requirements (available in the MCA criteria guidelines);
• Records of certificates issued are securely maintained until the 70th birthday of the certificate holder or 5 years from the date of issue, whichever is the longer;
• The record system enables the authenticity of certificates to be verified and replacement certificates to be issued;
• Where approved for peripatetic delivery^{[footnote 2]}, a formal risk assessment (see section 4.3 of MSN 1865 – Amendment 1, Annex F) is carried out to ascertain the suitability of each venue and records of such assessment are retained for 5 years. This risk assessment can be conducted by the instructor on arrival to the venue;
• The approving MCA Marine Office has information about the dates, timing and venues of all courses delivered; and
• Any changes made to the course content, facilities, equipment, training staff or other matters that may affect the delivery of the programme are reported to the approving Marine Office without delay.

2. Guidance on conduct and structure of Large Yacht Helicopter Refuelling training

The duration of the course will depend on the background and prior experience of the trainees; however, the course must be delivered in a manner that allows all trainees sufficient opportunity to meet the requirements of Table C.

Practical training is best completed in teams of 3, with one trainee (or an additional instructor) acting in the HLO role during each exercise.

The course should be delivered over a minimum of 3 hours with 75% of this time dedicated to demonstrations and practical exercises.

2.1 Principles and Procedures Session

Classroom instruction on principles and procedures regarding jet fuel sampling and testing

1. Helicopter Refuelling Regulations, Guidelines and Documentation, Roles and Responsibilities

1. Regulations and Guidelines
   1. Aviation Fuels
   2. CAP 437^{[footnote 3]} Chapters 7 & 8 (still very relevant and the only robust overview out there)
   3. Relevant Joint Inspection Group (JIG) quality assurance requirements (overview only of key sections required)
   4. Record keeping and quality control documentation requirements
   5. REG Yacht Code - Common Annex H - (H5) Refuelling facilities
2. Roles and Responsibilities
   1. Roles and responsibilities of the Aviation Inspection Bodies (AIBs) regarding approval of refuelling systems
   2. Roles and responsibilities of the Helicopter Refuelling Team on a large yacht or support vessel
   3. Key roles and responsibilities and corresponding limitations relating to maintenance and quality checks (what the ship can legally maintain)
   4. The role of third-party fuel inspection companies and system certification validity

2. Aviation Fuel

1. Properties, Transport and Handling
   1. Aviation turbine fuel properties and characteristics, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
   2. Safe handling of aviation fuel and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements
   3. Record keeping and quality control documentation
2. Sampling and Storage
   1. Purpose of fuel sampling
   2. Fuel sampling equipment types and minimum equipment requirements
   3. Fuel contamination – common types, possible causes and sources
   4. Actions and lines of communication following discovery of suspected fuel / system contamination
   5. Sampling timescales, retention and sample storage
   6. Disposal of hazardous waste and good housekeeping practices
3. Sampling and Storage (Practical)
   1. Fuel sampling equipment checks, preparation and cleaning prior to sampling
   2. Fuel sampling techniques
   3. Fuel sample visual inspection and Water Detector testing
   4. Interpretation of fuel sample results
   5. Marking of fuel sample jars
   6. Recording of samples

3. Helicopter Fuelling System Design and Maintenance

1. Helicopter fuelling system purpose and design
   1. System purpose and design overview
   2. Function and characteristics of fuel system major components including:
      1. Static storage tanks
      2. Pump Cabinet and control systems
      3. Filtration
      4. Flow meter
      5. Delivery hose and reel
      6. Delivery nozzle and final filter.
      7. Bonding, including aircraft connection points and dispenser/nozzle bonding cables/crocodile pins.
   3. Product identification, labelling and recognised markings (tanks, pipelines)
2. Helicopter fuelling system maintenance
   1. Purpose and importance of regular system maintenance
   2. Daily and weekly sampling, recirculation, flushing and refuelling equipment maintenance checks including recording.
   3. Third party maintenance and inspection
   4. Common maintenance issues and reporting

4. Helicopter Fuelling System Setup and Operation

1. System Setup and Operation
   1. The standard principals for the set-up of system valves for fuelling from static tanks
   2. Correct valve alignment

5. Helicopter Refuelling Operations

1. Hazards associated with helicopter refuelling operations and corresponding control measures, including:
   1. Weather
   2. Fuel spillage and ignition
   3. Vapours
   4. Hoses
   5. Fuel handling
   6. Pressurising and depressurising of fuel system
2. Pre-Refuelling Procedures (Practical)
   1. Communications with HLO and aircraft captain
   2. Confirmation of fuel requirements (quantity and grade)
   3. Acknowledgement and acceptance of pre-fuel sample by flight crew member
3. Helicopter Refuelling and post refuelling procedures (Practical)
   1. Personnel positioning (HDAs, Fire Watch, Dispensing unit)
   2. Aircraft earth bonding for pressure refuelling and gravity refuelling
   3. Aircraft fuel sponson cap removal and nozzle cleanliness check & connection
   4. Gravity refuelling including nozzle change-out process
   5. Correct hand signal communications during refuelling
   6. Operation of system pump switches and valves
   7. Procedures for observed abnormalities during refuelling including emergency fuel system shutdown
   8. Disconnection from aircraft and stowage of refuelling equipment
   9. Final checks (fuel cap, lead, loose items)
   10. Post refuel paperwork (recording of fuel dispensed)

6. Refuelling Emergency Response

1. Pre-Helicopter Refuelling Emergency Response Preparedness
   1. Manning during helicopter refuelling (Including fire watch)
   2. Emergency response equipment requirements
   3. Restricted equipment
   4. Open lines of communication (Including use of intrinsically safe equipment)
2. Helicopter Refuelling Incident Response
   1. Emergency Stop / Isolation / Dead man’s switch
   2. Use of emergency response equipment (fire and spill)

2.2 Practical Session

All trainees are required to participate in a practical re-fuelling exercise, and demonstrate the competence to perform the actions listed in Column 3 of Table D.

It is acknowledged that some large yacht aviation fuelling systems will not have a de-fuelling capability. If the practical session is conducted on such a system, the certificate awarded should be annotated “refuelling operations only”.

2.3 Table D - Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence in Large Yacht Helicopter Refuelling

COLUMN 1	COLUMN 2	COLUMN 3	COLUMN 4
Competences	Knowledge, Understanding and Proficiency	Methods for Demonstrating Competence	Criteria for Evaluating Competence
Fuel sampling and testing	Characteristics of jet fuel Use of sampling equipment	Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance on an approved course, including practical demonstration. Practical demonstration of sampling techniques on various fuel samples.	Correctly identify clean and contaminated fuel samples
Conduct refuelling of helicopter	Procedures for refuelling helicopter Safety rules during refuelling/de- fuelling Emergency stop procedures Fuel documentation	Assessment of evidence obtained from approved instruction or during attendance on an approved course, including practical demonstration	The timing and sequence of individual’s actions are appropriate to the prevailing circumstance and conditions and minimize potential risks to helicopter, yacht and all personnel

2.4 Competence evaluation guidance

Fuel sampling and testing

In achieving this element, the candidate will be able to:

• Be aware of jet fuel characteristics;
• Identify clean and contaminated fuel samples.

Conduct refuelling of helicopter

In achieving this element, the candidate will be able to:

• Identify procedures for refuelling a helicopter;
• Explain the safety rules during refuelling/defuelling;
• Follow emergency stop procedures;
• Correctly deal with fuel documentation.

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1. https://www.cityandguilds.com/qualifications-and-apprenticeships/learning/training-and-development/7300-introduction-to-trainer-skills#tab=information ↩

2. This is where a course can be delivered at any site that meets the requirements of the facilities and equipment specifications detailed in MSN 1865 – Amendment 1, Annex F, section 4.3, or subsequent publication. Peripatetic delivery of courses is normally only available for theory-based courses. A list of courses the MCA considers able to be delivered peripatetically is contained in MIN 643. ↩

3. CAP 437 ↩