FRASCA PHOTO
HELICOPTER SIMULATION TRAINING: SHOULD IT PAY TO PLAY? continued As a direct result of their customers’ increased demand
for simulator training, helicopter manufacturers have stepped in with their own simulator-equipped training centers. Offerings range from FFS-focused instruction to a variety of technologies that include FTDs. Earlier this spring, Leonardo unveiled its new training
center in Philadelphia, featuring three Level D FFSs, three virtual interactive procedural trainers (VIPTs) that simulate cockpit controls and avionics systems, and two FTDs. With the opening of the Leonardo training center, all helicopter OEMs in North America now offer simulator training. Of all the OEMs, Bell operates the most FTDs in the
Frasca has worked closely with OEMs and operators to deliver the next
generation of flight training devices for
the industry, offering very realistic
experiences and training
environments at a significant savings
over Level D full flight simulators.
United States. In addition to the Level D FFSs at its training academy in Fort Worth, Texas, Bell operates Level 6 and 7 FTDs to represent the company’s light aircraft. Airbus Helicopters in Grand Prairie, Texas, built a new training center to house the first H145 and H175 Level D simulators in North America. Tis adds to Airbus’s FTDs for its EC135 and H125 aircraft. (Please see “Simulation Training Resource Guide” on p. 29 for a list of simulation opportunities.) “Te OEMs realize their customers require simulator training for their pilots to safely operate the aircraft,” Palmer
says. “Access to an affordable simulator is now a part of the buying decision. If you don’t have a simulator in-country, you could lose the sale to a competitor. At the same time, operators have not only accepted the value of simulator training for their own training regimen, but they also rec- ognize the technology has improved to the point where they don’t need the $20 million Level D simulators to achieve their training goals.” And the OEMs aren’t the only game in town. Established
flight simulation companies such as Frasca and Redbird have invested in developing more affordable FTDs with high-fidelity imagery and accurate aircraft responses, and many companies have begun purchasing their own FTDs. Med-Trans Corporation of Denton, Texas, used to out-
source simulator flight training by sending pilots to a third- party FSS. However, Level 7 FTDs provide high-value training at a fraction of the cost of sending pilots to a third-party FSS, prompting Med-Trans to purchase its own Frasca Bell 407GX Level 7 FTD, bringing its pilot simulator training in house. Each Med-Trans pilot trains three times a year, including one multiple-day training in the FTD. “We are absolutely happy with the device,” says Mike
28 ROTOR JUNE 2021
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
