TRU Simulation + Training Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced that it has signed agreements to provide five Level D full-flight simulators (FFS) for various rotorcraft aircraft models to Coptersafety — an independent helicopter flight training service provider based in Helsinki, Finland. These five high-fidelity simulators will represent Airbus Helicopters H125 and H145, Leonardo-Finmeccanica (formerly AgustaWestland) AW139, AW169 and AW189 and all will be dually European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified.
The installation will begin in mid-2017 to Coptersafety’s new state-of-the-art Flight Training Centre, adjacent to the current training center in Helsinki. The first device is expected to be ready for customer training in late 2017, while the last device is planned to be ready by late 2018.
Built upon TRU’s industry-leading Odyssey H roll-on/roll-off platform, the simulators will employ a 240- by 80-degree standard visual field-of-view, which is currently the largest field-of-view available. The simulators will also be reconfigurable to accommodate various types of mission training.
Additionally, the devices will come equipped 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 ultra-high-definition 4K projectors.
“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’s 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.”
“The Odyssey H platform is designed specifically for rotorcraft training — with a focus on key characteristics that maximize visual and motion cues,” said Troy Fey, TRU’s vice president of technology. “By combining a wide 240- by 80-degree field-of-view and ultra-high visual resolution with an added secondary six-degree freedom of motion system that complements the primary 62.5-inch motion system, we have provided a totally immersive and unique training experience that is necessary for rotorcraft pilot mission training.”
“With current investment, we want to take the next step in improving helicopter operators’ safety performance by increasing our mission-specific simulator training capacity for our customers, including our current AW139 customers,” said Coptersafety’s CEO Mikko Dahlman. “At Coptersafety, we strongly believe in simulator based training; it’s our core business, and this is why we wanted to increase our simulator capacity — to being able to accommodate new customers — and we strongly believe that TRU has the capability to deliver world-class equipment for us to support our customers’ training needs.”
