Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)

1. Helicopter Safety and Procedures : Introduces helicopter safety requirements, passenger responsibilities, pre-flight preparation, seating arrangements, safety equipment, emergency instructions, crew communication and appropriate behaviour during helicopter operations.

2. Emergency Equipment and Response : Covers life jackets, emergency exits, seat restraints, emergency breathing systems where applicable, personal safety equipment and the correct sequence of actions during a helicopter emergency.

3. Helicopter Ditching and Escape : Develops practical understanding of helicopter ditching scenarios, underwater orientation, escape-window identification, restraint release, exit selection, controlled evacuation and safe escape techniques following water impact.

4. Underwater Escape and Survival : Develops the practical skills required to remain calm, follow established escape procedures, maintain orientation underwater, reach a suitable exit and transition from the helicopter to the water-survival phase.

5. Post-Escape Actions : Covers immediate actions after leaving the helicopter, maintaining personal safety, supporting other survivors where appropriate, use of survival equipment and following established emergency-response and rescue procedures.

6. HUET Practical Competency : Integrates the knowledge and skills from the programme through supervised helicopter-escape simulation, demonstrating correct use of safety equipment, emergency procedures and escape techniques.

Successful learners can develop:

• Awareness of helicopter passenger safety.

• Knowledge of pre-flight and in-flight emergency procedures.

• Familiarity with emergency equipment.

• Understanding of helicopter ditching scenarios.

• Underwater escape techniques.

• Ability to follow emergency procedures under simulated conditions.

• Improved emergency-response confidence.

• Understanding of post-escape survival actions.

• Awareness of the importance of remaining calm and following established procedures.

• Practical experience through controlled simulation.

OPITO describes HUET as preparing offshore personnel with the knowledge and practical skills needed to respond effectively during helicopter emergencies, particularly following ditching.

The qualification is suitable for:

• Offshore oil and gas personnel.

• Offshore renewable-energy personnel.

• Offshore construction workers.

• Helicopter-transported offshore workers.

• Offshore maintenance personnel.

• Marine and offshore support personnel.

• Energy-sector contractors.

• Personnel travelling regularly to offshore installations or vessels by helicopter.

• Learners requiring foundation-level helicopter emergency escape training.

OPITO states that HUET is intended for personnel travelling to and from offshore installations and vessels by helicopter, including workers using different types of emergency breathing systems depending on the applicable HUET standard.

Assessment Format: Short written knowledge assessment combined with mandatory practical helicopter-emergency simulation and underwater-escape competency assessment.

Total Questions: 20 Questions

Passing Score: 70%

Duration: 30 Minutes

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) certificate, subject to the qualification's approved assessment and quality-assurance requirements.

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) may progress to:

• HiQual UK offshore emergency-response qualifications.

• BOSIET or relevant further offshore safety training, where required by the employer or operator.

• HUET variants involving EBS, CA-EBS or tropical offshore operations, where applicable.

• Offshore sea-survival, firefighting and first-aid training.

• Further training for offshore emergency-response responsibilities.

• Continuing professional development in offshore aviation safety and emergency preparedness.

OPITO distinguishes HUET from the broader BOSIET, with BOSIET incorporating additional offshore safety, sea survival, first aid and firefighting components.