Device Jointly Developed By Leonardo Helicopters And CAE

ENAC (Ente Nazionale Aviazione Civile – Italian Civil Aviation Authority) and EASA have certified the first Level D Full Flight Simulator for the new generation AgustaWestland AW169 light intermediate helicopter.

Based at the Leonardo Training Academy in Sesto Calende, Italy, the new simulator will be used to deliver advanced pilot training course for world customers.

Level D standard allows 1 hour flown on the simulator to be equal to 1 hour flown on the real helicopter for maximized safety and reduced operating cost. The Full Flight Simulator, jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE to EASA Level D, is a CAE Series 3000 device which will be operated by Rotorsim, the joint venture owned equally by CAE and Leonardo. The simulator features unprecedented realism for helicopter-specific mission training, including offshore, law enforcement, executive/private 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.

The event marks a major milestone in the AW169 program and the first ever implementation of the EASA OSD (Operational Suitability Data) process for helicopters as per the new Authority’s requirements issued in January 2014, mandating that aircraft manufacturers, including those building helicopters, to submit data EASA considers important for safe operations. OSD also covers pilot training, maintenance staff and simulator qualification.

The certification of the first Full Flight Simulator for the AW169 completes the comprehensive range of training solutions offer for the type which also include Flight Training Device (FTD), Full Maintenance Training Simulator, Virtual Interactive Procedural Trainer, Virtual Maintenance Trainer, Distance.

(Image provided with Leonardo-Finmeccanica news release)

FMI: www.leonardocompany.com