Donauwörth, Germany, May 31, 2012. The EC135 simulator operated by Eurocopter’s Training Academy in Germany has obtained full flight simulator (FFS) level B certification from Luftfahrtbundesamt, the German Aviation Administration. The simulator provides a training to international customers and is the first EC135 FFS in Europe to obtain this certification.
The EC135 simulator, located at Eurocopter’s site in Donauwörth, became operational at the end of 2009 as a full-motion level 3 flight training device (FTD). Every year more than 250 pilots have attended courses for mission training and over 2,500 flight hours have been clocked up on the simulator.
The FFS enables operators to perform initial and recurrent type training as well as specific training on emergency procedures, instrument flight rules (IFR), offshore, night flights, night vision goggles (NVG) and Cat A operations. With FFS Level B certification, Eurocopter is now able to administer skill tests and proficiency checks.
To provide a realistic representation of EC135 flight operations, the simulator incorporates an EC135 OEM level D data package from Eurocopter and its suppliers – including actual software and parts used in EC135s, to provide full simulated functionality for the helicopter, its engines, autopilot and other systems. All FFS are tuned, controlled and validated by the company’s design office, flight test engineers and flight test pilots that contributed to the EC135 helicopter development as part of the validation process.
The EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter. With a range of 395 miles and the ability to carry seven passengers along with one pilot, the EC135 is popular for law enforcement and medical evacuations.
Eurocopter has 21 training centers around the world. These training centers provide services for civilian and military pilots, technicians and aeronautics experts. Courses offered by Eurocopter include ab-initio and recurrent training, type rating and mission training via several means, including web-based training, computer aided instruction, virtual cockpit procedure trainers, avionics trainers, flight training devices and full flight simulators. Eurocopter is deploying FFS in close proximity to customers to enhance the training solutions available to them. Eurocopter will be operating 20 FFS by the end of 2012, a large growth from the 4 FFS Eurocopter operated in 2008.
