The three simulators include an Airbus AS350 B2/H125 Level 7 FTD; an R44 Level 5 FTD, and a Sikorsky S92 CPT. Frasca Photo
Frasca International Inc. will have three operational helicopter flight simulators on display and available for test flights at the 2016 HAI Heli-Expo annual convention March 1 through 3 in Louisville, Ky. Attendees are invited to demo the simulators and meet with Frasca experts at the joint Frasca/HNZ Group exhibit 9256.
The three simulators include an Airbus AS350 B2/H125 Level 7 Flight Training Device (FTD) —the first Level 7 FTD to be certified in Canada — an R44 Level 5 FTD, and a Sikorsky S92 cockpit procedures trainer (CPT).
“This range of helicopter devices on display illustrates Frasca’s expertise as a global leader in rotary-wing simulation as well as the company’s ability to build quality simulation devices for any customer worldwide,” said John Frasca, president of Frasca International.
AS350 B2/H125 Flight Training Device
The AS350 B2/H125 FTD is being built by Frasca for Canadian Helicopters, an HNZ Company, and is convertible between three different configurations of the aircraft, including the AS350 B2, the AS350 B2 VEMD and the AS350 B3e VEMD.
The FTD will be installed inside the airport terminal at Edmonton International Airport and will be used for initial and recurrent training for pilots flying demanding missions in remote areas of Canada. It will also be made available for training use by other Canadian helicopter operators.
Features of the highly advanced AS350 B2/H125 FTD include Frasca TruVision Global visual system with a direct projection display system in a totally enclosed spherical screen (200 degrees by 70 degrees field of view). Databases include the Edmonton area and specialized training scenarios at various locations in Canada.
The FTD also incorporates a unique vibration platform, Simplicity IOS, and cargo mirror simulation.
R44 Level 5 Flight Training Device
The R44 Level 5 FTD is a high-fidelity simulator for the Robinson R44 helicopter. The R44 FTD is designed for use by helicopter flight schools, commercial operators, and parapublic organizations.
Future plans are to add an R66 configuration and electronic flight instrumentation as options. Frasca recently sold R44 FTDs to Sky Safari and Xilin Fengteng GA, both located in China, and to Central Oregon Community College.
“We introduced the Frasca R44 FTD at HAI last year. We have since put dozens of pilots through it and continued to improve its fidelity and performance,” said Frasca. “We have observed it to be very effective at teaching hover and autorotation as well as other tasks more commonly taught in the aircraft.”
The cockpit of FRASCA’s R44 Level 5 FTD is a replica of the aircraft and includes panels, controls, and instrumentation. Control pressures are realistically simulated by Frasca’s TruFeel control loading system. The R44 FTD includes Frasca’s TruVision Global visual system, featuring a specialized helicopter mission training database.
“With this incredibly accurate R44 FTD, we have elevated the level of simulation available for this class of aircraft, which allows more training to be performed in the simulator,” Frasca added.
Sikorsky S92 cockpit trainer
The Sikorsky S92 CPT on display provides simulated cockpit environment for pilot training, which includes all aircraft systems and avionics. It utilizes touch-screen monitors, which are spatially oriented to represent the aircraft’s main instrument panel, center console and overhead panels.
Frasca’s design includes multi-touch capability allowing two pilots to activate multiple switches at the same time to facilitate crew resource management training.
A real flight management system (FMS) unit is provided to allow for full tactile simulation of the FMS system, which is a benefit when entering data. The CPT can be configured for many aircraft types with the ability to incorporate one or more aircraft systems.
The CPT was developed in response to Frasca’s customers’ need to perform procedures training.
“The Sikorsky S92 CPT is the perfect device for an operations base or to supplement an overworked simulator or FTD in a training center,” said Frasca. “We were able to exploit our flight training device and full flight simulation technology into Frasca’s CPT, providing high fidelity simulation by reusing our existing.”
