Coptersafety, an independent helicopter flight training service provider, has announced the order of five new full flight simulators (FFS) and the construction of a new flight training center to a host variety of FFS.
The center will be located in the vicinity of Helsinki Airport, Finland next to the existing Coptersafety facility.
“With current investment we want to take the next step in improving helicopter operators’ safety performance by offering our mission-specific simulator training for a wider range of helicopter types. At Coptersafety we strongly believe in simulator based training. It’s our core business and that’s why we want to make this significant investment in the helicopter pilot training domain,” said Coptersafety CEO Mikko Dahlman.
Coptersafety has selected TRU Simulation + Training – a Textron Company – to deliver five Level D FFS representing Airbus Helicopters H125 and H145, and AgustaWestland AW169 and AW189.
The fifth FFS will be decided in the coming months in response to market conditions. In addition, Coptersafety will follow the possibility of converting the H145 simulator to be H135/H145 compatible in the future. All FFS will be certified to European Aviation Safety Agency/Federal Aviation Administration Level D.
“TRU is very excited to have this opportunity to work closely with Coptersafety, combining our innovative ODYSSEY H FFS products with Coptersafety’s world class training program,” said Ian Walsh, TRU president and CEO.
“Together we share a common vision of utilizing innovation and technology to provide superior mission training solutions to the global helicopter market.”
TRU will employ its ODYSSEY H FFS simulator platforms and debriefing stations, with Rockwell Collins EP-8100 image generation systems in order to provide a totally immersive and most realistic training experience with technologies, previously used in military helicopter applications such as the new WholeEarth world model and laser-illuminated high fidelity projectors.
All the new simulators are expected to be ready for training by late 2018
Installation of the new simulators will start in late 2017, with the H145 being the first simulator to be installed and ready for training in Q4/2017 in conjunction with the introduction of the new training facility.
Coptersafety’s new training center will provide the very latest facilities and highest levels of customer, instructor and employee premises to host up to eight simulator bays.
“The location has proven successful for our current operations with the AgustaWestland AW139 full flight simulator, which is why we wanted to expand our simulator fleet and facilities at Helsinki Airport to improve the training and safety performance possibilities for our current and prospective customers,” said Hannu Marjoniemi, Coptersafety vice-president, strategy and finance.
In order to provide unmatched levels of training services to Coptersafety customers, there will also be further investments in key personnel.
“Coptersafety will stick with its instructor policy of employing only pilots who fly actively in search-and-rescue, oil-and-gas, emergency medical services, and, with the new H125 investment, also aerial work and law enforcement missions, in order to share knowledge, experiences and best practices with its customers,” said Dahlman.
