Will Supply CH-47F Operational Flight Trainers To The U.S. Army

L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) has been awarded a contract modification from Computer Sciences Corporation to provide two additional CH-47F Chinook Operational Flight Trainers (OFTs) for the U.S. Army’s Flight School XXI program. L-3 Link will be replacing two CH-47D OFTs, formerly used by the Flight School XXI program, with new simulators in the CH-47F configuration.

The simulators will become Flight School XXI’s second and third CH-47F high-fidelity training devices. The first CH-47F OFT, also provided by L-3 Link, began training Chinook aircrews in 2013.

“We look forward to providing Flight School XXI with additional CH-47F Operational Flight Trainers to support the growing demand for aircrew training on this advanced aircraft,” said Gary Coleman, L-3 Link’s vice president for Army programs. “In addition to CH-47F aircrews gaining aircraft-equivalent training for all modes of flight, these high-fidelity simulators will provide the government a substantial cost savings compared to instruction undertaken on an actual Chinook helicopter.”

The two new CH-47F OFTs will be integrated with a high-performance visual display system and LED projectors. This will be the first use of LED projectors for the out-the-window display on any Flight School XXI training device, a move that will offer higher resolution and brightness while providing longer operational performance at a reduced maintenance cost. Geo-specific databases will provide a realistic, high-fidelity virtual environment that immerses aircrews in dynamic training scenarios. Aircrews will be able to use their actual flight night vision goggles when conducting simulated nighttime missions.

Flight School XXI, recognized as the largest helicopter simulation training program in the world, is managed and operated by CSC. L-3 Link is the largest supplier of flight simulators to the program, which includes delivery of 17 OFTs and 18 Reconfigurable Collective Training Devices.

Flight School XXI annually trains 1,200 new student pilots, who have no previous flight experience, to become combat mission aviators. In addition, each year, 1,600 rated Army aviators undergo training that enables them to operate a new aircraft platform.

(CH-47 image from file)

FMI: www.link.com