Posted by John McHale
SESTO CALENDE, Italy, 30 March 2011. A new CAE 3000 Series full-flight simulator (FFS) for the AW139 helicopter was purchased by Rotorsim, the consortium owned by CAE and AgustaWestland.
The AW139 FFS for Rotorsim will feature AgustaWestland-certified avionics and aircraft software combined with CAE core simulation technologies, including: CAE True six degree-of-freedom (DOF) electric motion system and high-performance vibration platform to replicate vibration cues critical to helicopter pilots; a high-fidelity CAE Tropos-6000 visual system; and a direct projection 210 degree by 80 degree extreme field-of-view dome display system.
Jointly developed by CAE and AgustaWestland, the simulator will be qualified to Level D, the highest qualification for flight simulators. I is scheduled to be delivered next year.
"The AW139 continues to enjoy great success in the global market for applications such as VIP/corporate transport, offshore, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and other commercial and government roles," saysJohn Ponsonby, senior vice president of training, AgustaWestland. "Our customers require cost-effective, high-fidelity training for their AW139 initial and recurrent training, and the addition of another AW139 full-flight simulator will enable us to meet growing demand."
The CAE 3000 Series helicopter mission simulator features realism for helicopter-specific mission training, including offshore oil and gas producer (OGP), law enforcement, corporate VIP, and other operations. The simulator enables pilots to practice challenging procedures without risk such as low-level flight, confined area operations, autorotation, and landing on platforms at sea.
Rotorsim was established in 2003 as a joint venture of AgustaWestland and CAE to provide classroom and synthetic training solutions for AgustaWestland AW109 and AW139 helicopter operators around the world. The Rotorsim training center in Italy is located within the AgustaWestland A. Marchetti Training Academy and already houses two CAE-built FFSs. These simulators feature CAE's roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, enabling cockpits representing the AW139 and three variants of the AW109 to be used in the two simulators.
Rotorsim also offers training on a CAE-built AW139 simulator located at CAE's North East Training Centre near New York City. Later this year, Rotorsim will begin offering training in Sesto Calende, Italy, on the NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH).