“We have invested in the flight simulator in Donauwörth
in order to be able to offer our national and international customers a
leading-edge training platform. Simulators increase flight safety, as
they provide an ideal training solution that is available irrespective
of the weather or the availability of helicopters, and enable very
demanding missions to be carried out at no risk,” says Dr.
Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Eurocopter Germany.
The fully
maneuverable flight simulator features a full motion system with six
degrees of freedom. It has a visual-system field of view of 160°
horizontal and 80° vertical and can visualize daylight, twilight
and night conditions as well as any weather situation. Its mission
spectrum includes, for example, rescue operations in high snowy
mountains. Landscapes and buildings are displayed realistically in 3D.
The simulator was developed by Eurocopter in collaboration with CAE and
Indra.
Charles Hebeka, Accountable Manager of the Eurocopter
Training Academy, comments: “We have already received bookings
for over 400 flight hours.” Certification according to JAA FTD
Level 3 will begin in April 2009, so that the simulator can be used in
JAR FCL 2 training courses. There are also plans to certify it to FFS
Level B at a later date.
Eurocopter is consistently expanding its global portfolio of
training means, including full-flight simulators, flight-training
devices, avionics trainers and computer-based training devices as part
of the company’s global training strategy, which aims to increase
flight safety. Another EC135 simulator at American Eurocopter (AEC) in
Dallas (USA) recently obtained its FAA certification whilst AEC has
also announced at Heli-Expo Air Show in February 09 an Astar/Ecureuil
simulator which will be available in late 2010. An EC225 simulator
operated by HeliSim has been in operation near Marseille, France, since
late 2008. In 2010, another EC225 simulator will be available for
training in Aberdeen, Scotland. In addition, two new simulators will be
set up for the EC225/725 helicopter: one in Brazil at the end of 2010
and one in Malaysia in 2011.
It is twelve years since the EC135
made its market debut in mid-1996, and around 800 helicopters of this
type have been delivered to date. Its mission spectrum ranges from
search and rescue missions and police work to pilot training courses.
The EC135’s lasting success and its uncontested leading position
worldwide among the latest-generation twin-engine light helicopters for
police and air rescue services is due to the helicopter’s
innovative and reliable technology.
About Eurocopter
Established
in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of
EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The
Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter
confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter
manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5
billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market
share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s
products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet.
Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five
continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified
agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters
are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140
countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter
range in the world.
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