Advance Simulator Allows Pilots To "Fly" Realistic
Scenarios
American Eurocopter announced that
it has received CFR Part 142 certification for its EC135 training
program at the Air Medical Transport Conference Tuesday in San
Jose, California. This certification, along with approval by an
operator's principal operations inspector (POI), authorizes
American Eurocopter to deliver its part 135 approved training
programs. The company plans to add its EC145 and AS350 programs to
this certificate, pending FAA approval, in late 2009 and third
quarter 2010 respectively.
"This certification will allow our customers to fully utilize
our EC135 training program and our EC135 FTD for their training
needs," said Marc Paganini, President & CEO of American
Eurocopter. "This is the first full motion, developed on
manufacturer product knowledge EC135 Simulator in the U.S."
The EC135 CFR Part 142 certification, coupled with American
Eurocopter's FAA approved EC135 FTD, enables operators to use
training credits to reduce and in some cases eliminate in-aircraft
training requirements.
The use of the advanced simulator allows pilots to 'fly'
realistic emergency scenarios alone as the aircraft commander,
maximizing the flying experience and the lessons learned. As a
level B FFS, this simulator and approved training program provides
a complete training experience. It also reduces the risk of
weather or operational related delays, while reducing environmental
impact.
American Eurocopter is developing an AS350 simulator, which
along with the training program, will be operational in the summer
of 2010. The future AS350 program will include training on unique
mission profiles associated with EMS, airborne law enforcement, off
shore and business aviation.
EC135 File Photo
This new simulator will be a part of American Eurocopter's
investment in the enhancement of training capabilities to support
and improve the flight safety of its helicopter operators. It will
be fully factory supported and integrated with a training
department with more than 30 years experience. American Eurocopter
says it will seek certification by the Federal Aviation
Administration as a Level B Full Flight Simulator (FFS), which will
be followed by approval for the training program under CFR Part
142.
The courses include aircraft systems, emergency and abnormal
procedures, human factors analysis and specialty courseware, which
contain a scenario mission-specific format and can incorporate
different operator's operating procedures. These training programs
are tailored to build the pilot's decision making skills with the
goal to deliver a qualified aircraft commander upon completion of
the course.