Basilisk Salvage Tug Type Rating

The Basilisk Salvage Tug Type Rating qualifies a pilot to fly the Basilisk, Halcyon's 118-metre, two-pilot salvage tug, in both seats. Holders are certified to approach, capture, de-spin and tow uncontrolled objects, from dead satellites to retired mining rigs, using the tug's grapples and tethers.

Requirements include a Commercial Pilot Licence (Orbital), 250 hours as pilot in command, 80 simulator hours and 65 flight hours, during which the candidate must capture at least one genuinely tumbling target. The check ride ends with a full tow and controlled release into a disposal orbit.

Lumen's Salvage Tug Operations course, run on the Lumen Orbital Range near L5, is the accredited route. Revalidation is every 12 months.

Salvage firms, mining cooperatives and orbital traffic authorities hire holders of this rating, which is among the quickest and most affordable heavy-handling qualifications to obtain.

Holders are also trained in the legal side of salvage, including claims and liability, which is assessed in a short written examination. Many salvage pilots later add the Valkyrie rating to move into survey work.