U.S. Army Flight School XXI employs L-3 Link helmet-mounted display for training applications
NEW YORK, 17 July 2007.L-3 Communications' L-3 Link Simulation and Training (L-3 Link) division is integrating its advanced helmet-mounted display (AHMD) system into the U.S. Army Flight School XXI (FSXXI) program's reconfigurable collective training devices (RCTDs).
This technology insertion upgrade effort replaces the existing helmet-mounted displays that have been used by U.S. Army aviators since 2005 on FSXXI's RCTDs. Integration of L-3's AHMD will represent the initial use of this immersive visual display on a military training and simulation program.
"L-3 Link's Advanced Helmet Mounted Display, which provides pilots with a 360-degree field-of-regard of out-the-window imagery and systems symbology, will bring several training benefits to Flight School XXI reconfigurable collective training devices," says Lenny Genna, L-3 Link's vice president of Army Programs. "This innovative display technology will improve visual resolution, enhance image quality, and provide greater transmissivity to enable aircrews to more realistically view their surrounding cockpit instrumentation. In addition, the display's ergonomic design enables it to be attached to an aviator's own helmet while providing a balanced center of gravity for improved comfort during training exercises."
"Helmet mounted displays have proven their effectiveness in supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center's conduct of large-scale, simulation-based aviation training exercises, which are conducted over geo-specific visual databases of areas in Iraq and Afghanistan to which units are preparing to deploy," Genna continues. "The integration of L-3's AHMDs into these exercises will further enhance the quality and training realism of these major training events."
To date L-3 has delivered 11 RCTDs, which can be reconfigured to support simulated training in the
UH-60A/L, CH-47D, OH-58D, AH-64A, and AH-64D aircraft. L-3 will be delivering an additional seven RCTDs in December 2007. In all, L-3 is providing 37 simulators and training devices to FSXXI.
L-3 Link is providing FSXXI simulators and other contractor logistics support services under a subcontract to Computer Sciences Corporation, which serves as prime contractor on this U.S. Army aviation training program.
FSXXI is jointly housed at the Aviation Warfighter Simulation Center situated at the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., and in nearby Warrior Hall, a new facility built and operated by Computer Sciences Corporation. At both facilities a suite of contractor-owned and operated helicopter simulators are used to provide basic flight techniques to new student pilots and advanced flight instruction to rated Army aviators.
