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“The CH-47 sim allows us to simulate 490 aircraft system failures while the Black Hawk simulator can simulate over 561 failures,” Ceccanti said. “We can run our pilots through the gauntlet without the expense, wear, and risk of training in the helicopter. The simulators are extremely realistic – the cockpit, seats, and flag controls are identical to what we have in our aircraft, to the point that the whole simulator shakes as you’re flying along like a real helicopter. It’s a very realistic experience, which will be more so after our high fidelity upgrades.”
Coulson Aviation Gets World’s Only CH-47D Level-D Full Flight Simulator and a UH-60A/L Level-D Simulator
Coulson Aviation recently increased its training capabilities via the procurement of two Level-D full flight simulators – the world’s only CH-47D simulator and one of two existing UH-60A and L simulators – from CAE in Arlington, Texas. The simulators,
which are night vision
goggle (NVG) compatible and currently undergoing significant upgrades, will be located in a new simulator facility at Coulson’s Thermal, California, base.
“As the only company conducting NVG firefighting operations with large aircraft, training and currency is paramount to Coulson,” said Mel Ceccanti, director of
BY THE NUMBERS 68
The average high temperature in San Diego for April. (The average low is 56.) Rotor Pro plans to enjoy the April weather at AUVSI’s Xponential 2024 expo, where we’ll be distributing print editions of our upcoming Jan.-Feb. issue.
40 Nov/Dec 2023
The simulators are currently completing extensive
upgrades before beginning
service, including a state-of-the-art high- fidelity image generator and projection system, upgraded avionics packages, new operating systems, and new databases.
flight operations-rotorcraft at Coulson Aviation. “We have an extensive training program for initial pilot hires and for annual pilot recurrency that are twice as intensive as anyone else in the industry. These NVG-compliant simulators further strengthen that program, greatly expanding our rotorcraft training and assuring our flight crews meet the highest standards.”
Coulson’s initial pilot training averages 28 days with up to five days in the simulator. Every pilot also undertakes intensive annual recurrency training using the sims. By procuring the simulators and upgrading
them, the company can
customize simulator training to the wildfire fighting environment and save considerable money down the road.
Coulson hired an experienced CAE technician to disassemble the simulators, oversee their transportation to Thermal, update them, apply for FAA certification, and then run them when they are fully operational.
The newly upgraded simulators are currently in Thermal and are expected to enter service in 2024. They will also be available for contract to outside companies seeking to provide valuable and economic Level-D simulator training in the two helicopter models.
40+
The approximate number of helicopters expected to be on the floor at HAI Heli-Expo 2024 on Feb. 27-29 in Anaheim, California. (The average February high is...wait for
it...also 68!) Yep, Rotor Pro also plans to distribute bonus print editions of our upcoming Jan.-Feb. issue at Heli-Expo 2024.
95
The number of facilities where the FAA plans to deploy tower simulator systems by December 2025. The first system is to be deployed in Austin this January.
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