The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) and Helicopter Association International (HAI) are pleased to announce that the final phase of the USHST’s “56 Seconds to Live” Unintended Flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (UIMC) Awareness and Prevention Course is now live and available for use by pilots.

This one-hour course provides pilots with scenario-based training designed to teach them to recognize situations in which they can reduce the chance of an accident by stopping a flight before an accident occurs.

The USHST “56 Seconds to Live” program consists of multiple parts that reinforce the importance of identifying circumstances in which sound aeronautical decision-making (ADM) will reduce the chances of an accident occurring. 

The elements of the program include:  

• A professional, simulated-accident video produced to capture the attention of the rotorcraft industry. Included in the course are four alternate scenarios demonstrating examples of ADM that save the life of the fictitious pilot featured in the video.
• Supporting video messages from members of the USHST steering committee and other respected industry leaders.
• Guidance, tips, tactics, and recommended practices that make up the balance of one hour of related course content.
• Web links to dozens of course-related materials, available at https://ushst.org/56secs/. 

Interested pilots can access the program through the USHST’s training course introduction page, https://ushst.org/56secs/training/. Pilots can also access the course through the HAI Online Academy at rotor.org/academy. Users without an HAI Online Academy account will need to register to track their progress and obtain a completion certificate and WINGS credit.  

This press release was jointly prepared and distributed by U.S. Helicopter Safety Team and Helicopter Association International.