Facility Should Be Operational By The End Of The Year
A new Bell Helicopter Training center in Valencia, Spain is nearing completion, according to an update from Textron companies Bell and TRU Simulation + Training. When completed the facility will bring a regional training solution to Europe.
The Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) – Valencia, Powered by TRU Simulation + Training is designed to serve the training needs of European customers, beginning with pilot training on the Bell 429. Training will be conducted through a full flight simulator (FFS) designed and produced by TRU Simulation + Training.
BTA-Valencia is on track to be operational by the end of the year. The Bell 429 simulator has arrived in Spain and is currently undergoing reassembly and final preparations for its certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Additionally, BTA-Valencia instructors have completed their necessary training for the 429 with both the Bell Helicopter Training Academy and EASA.
“We have received a significant amount of interest from a variety of world-wide operators, with training contracts in process in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America,” said Ray Lamas, general manager, Global Customer Training at Bell Helicopter.
BTA-Valencia instructors each have more than 5,000 hours of helicopter experience across multiple platforms. The instructors additionally bring English, French, Spanish and Italian language capabilities to the facility.
“Our instructors are currently onsite in Spain preparing the training center for our customers,” added Lamas. “We are preparing for completion by year-end with regularly scheduled classes starting in January 2017.”
“TRU and Bell Helicopter are hard at work qualifying the world's first Bell 429 full flight simulator to bring true-to-life training closer to home for worldwide 429 customers, especially those in Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” said David Smith, vice president of TRU’s Training Centers.
The Bell 429 FFS will be the first-ever Bell 429 Level D simulator with FAA and EASA qualifications for pilot training. TRU Simulation + Training will employ its new ODYSSEY H FFS design, developed especially for the unique training requirements and needs of the helicopter pilot. The ODYSSEY H utilizes TRU Simulation + Training’s state-of-the-art, ultra high definition visual system with a 240-degree horizontal by 80-degree vertical field of view and 41 megapixel total system resolution visual display. The ODYSSEY H also utilizes primary and secondary motion systems, and features a roll-on/roll-off capability, which allows the simulator to be reconfigurable for other helicopters.
(Image provided with Textron news release)
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