Civil Helicopter
Training Solutions
Operation and Mission Readiness
At CAE, our entire focus is on creating simulation-based solutions that enhance safety and
efficiency. This focus is being applied to the new and emerging training requirements related to
commercial helicopter operators. The civil helicopter market has grown significantly in recent years
as helicopter operators around the world employ rotary-wing aircraft for specialized service roles,
including emergency medical, offshore support, search and rescue, law enforcement, executive
transport, and more. The industry has recognized the need for improved training, and CAE is
now leveraging its experience and expertise to support civil helicopter operators with innovative,
simulation-based training solutions.
Today’s rotorcraft are increasingly complex aircraft configured with integrated avionics, mission
equipment and computer systems, enhanced vision systems such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR)
and night vision goggles (NVG), and other advanced features. This complexity demands intensive
and thorough training that is specific to the mission environment in which the helicopter and its crew
will operate. No company is more capable of tailoring a helicopter training solution than CAE. In
addition to providing an array of helicopter training services, CAE designs and manufactures
world-class simulation equipment. In fact, no other company has designed training systems for a greater
variety of rotary wing platforms. This extensive expertise and know-how is now expanding to focus
on serving the civil helicopter operator with improved training programs, reduced training costs and
enhanced safety.
The changing nature of helicopter operations has made safety, flexibility and mission capability of
helicopters an even more important part of commercial aviation. However, simulating rotary wing
aircraft and designing a training program to meet safety, training and mission objectives remains
a major challenge. Helicopters exhibit unique characteristics in areas such as aerodynamics and
vibration that make high-fidelity simulation demanding to achieve. The varied operational uses of
the helicopter combined with specialized technical challenges place unique demands on helicopter
flight simulation and training.
CAE is uniquely qualified to handle civil helicopter simulation, training, and mission rehearsal needs.
From entry-level training devices to high-fidelity full-flight simulators complete with vibration, sound
and motion cueing, CAE has earned a reputation as the leader in helicopter simulation equipment.
Through our global network of aviation training centres, we offer turnkey helicopter training services
on a range of civil helicopter platforms. Our experience, technology leadership, and focus help ensure
your helicopter aircrews remain one step ahead in safety, efficiency, and operational readiness.
Experience, Technology,
Leadership...
Working closely with all industry stakeholders
The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) spearheaded the largest harmonization effort ever undertaken for
the flight simulation training industry when it established the Airplane International Working Group (IWG)
to standardize flight simulation training device (FSTD) qualifications. This effort was closely followed in
early 2007 by the creation of the Helicopter International Working Group (H- IWG). Recognizing the
growth in the helicopter industry, the increased interest in new simulation training technology and the
advent of new flight simulation training device (FSTD) regulations, the goal of the H-IWG is to draft a new
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) document for the qualification of helicopter FSTDs.
The H-IWG is comprised of a cross-section of people representing all stakeholders in the civil helicopter
industry – operators, helicopter manufacturers, regulatory agencies, simulation and training providers,
and other specialists. CAE is working closely with the H-IWG to address the overall classification and
qualification of helicopter FSTDs. The H-IWG effort aligns closely with that of the International Helicopter
Safety Team (IHST), which has a goal of reducing the civil helicopter accident rate by 80 percent by
2016.
As the civil helicopter industry focuses on enhancing safety and reducing helicopter accident rates,
industry stakeholders recognize the need for improved pilot training and safety standards through the
use of simulation-based solutions. CAE is committed to innovation, efficiency and simulation technology
leadership to support industry-wide regulatory initiatives and contributing to improved safety.
Technology leadership in an affordable
package
CAE has an unparalleled breadth of experience in helicopter simulation, training, and mission rehearsal, simulating
helicopters from virtually all the major manufacturers, including AgustaWestland, Bell, Boeing, Eurocopter, Kaman, Sikorsky, and NHIndustries.
Training leadership - a trusted partner
CAE offers general and customized training in existing simulators such as the A109, AW139, B412 and the S76 simulators. CAE is also the industry pioneer in designing and developing comprehensive turnkey training services for helicopter training, representing state-of-the-art training service for aircrews flying today’s complex multi-engine IFR-qualified helicopters.
Vibration Platform
When accurately simulated, vibrations combine with visual and sound system cues to ensure that the aircrew develops proper skill-sets while experiencing representative workloads. Vibrations in helicopters, in addition to creating a realistic operating environment, provide the aircrew with rotor system dynamic feedback critical to their ability to control the aircraft. CAE’s high-performance 3-DOF (degree-of-freedom) vibration platform replicates vibration cues that are representative of actual helicopter flight cues.
Blade Element Rotor Model
CAE has developed the Blade Element Rotor Model (BERM) as the basis for modelling the blade aerodynamic characteristics of helicopters. The BERM models the complex airflow around the rotating airfoils and accurately simulates the blade hinge and hub articulation, as well as drive system linkages. In addition, accurate simulation of blade malfunctions is a fundamental and integral part of the BERM.
Ground Contact
Ground contact simulation has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of helicopter flight simulation. To achieve simulation fidelity in crosswind takeoff, landing on sloping terrain, or taxiing on different surfaces, the interaction of the helicopter’s landing gear with the ground must be accurately simulated. CAE has developed advanced ground handling models that faithfully simulate the helicopter’s on-ground directional stability and control characteristics.
Training Centre Operations
In today’s economic and competitive environment, the most successful companies access resources that allow them to focus on core competencies while complementing their operations. CAE’s vast training centre operations experience can enable customers to focus on their helicopter operations while partnering with CAE to provide comprehensive, operationally-specific training. CAE’s highly skilled and experienced staff works directly with your team to improve training management, methodologies, standardization, recruiting, pilot screening, instructor training and other areas critical to the overall training program. CAE’s aim is to become your partner in your training operation. CAE’s focus is to help deliver the high-quality training needed to instill confidence and operational peace of mind, thus allowing you to focus on your core business – providing helicopter transportation solutions, and doing so safely and efficiently.
Visual Systems
The CAE Tropos™-6000 visual system combines a rich and proven
industry-leading feature set developed from decades of experience in high-fidelity visualization and is designed to satisfy a full range of training needs, either with a collimated or direct projection display, particularly for low-altitude helicopter maneuvering. The CAE Tropos-6000 image generator and high-definition projectors deliver unprecedented visual realism. CAE’s fully-integrated visual solution supports advanced weather effects, high-detail satellite imagery, and provides unparalleled training using visual databases and mission scenarios built specifically for low-level operations. The CAE Tropos-6000 visual system, built entirely using the latest commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) graphics hardware, exceeds the requirements for full-flight simulator Level D qualification.
CAE Northeast Training Centre – Morristown NJ
Located in Morristown, New Jersey, the fifteen-bay North East Training Centre (NETC) opened its doors in January 2007 and offers pilot, technical and flight crew training to business aircraft operators. A reconfigurable S-76C+/S-76B full-flight simulator qualified to Level D is dedicated to serving pilot training needs from customers throughout the United States and Europe. In addition, CAE’s NETC includes an AgustaWestland AW139 full-flight simulator operated by Rotorsim.
Rotorsim – Sesto Calende, Italy
Rotorsim is jointly owned by AgustaWestland and CAE with each owning 50 percent. Rotorsim began offering comprehensive training for A109 operators in 2006, and followed with a comprehensive training program for AW139 operators. The Rotorsim training centre features two CAE-built full-mission simulators that offer CAE’s revolutionary roll-on/roll-off cockpits. The Rotorsim training centre offers a full range of flight and mission training to military, civil, para-military, and offshore operators. The training centre is staffed by experienced subject matter experts using the latest technologies and training concepts to deliver a superior training experience.
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) – Dubai, UAE
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) is the result of CAE and Emirates joining forces to offer the highest-quality training to commercial airlines, business jet operators and helicopter operators in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. As a gateway between Europe and Asia, and the fastest growing economic hub in the Middle East, Dubai is an excellent location to train.
ECFT is a Joint Aviation Administration (JAA)-authorized Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) part 142 approved centre. ECFT is recognized as a world-class facility with a Bell 412 Level D full-flight simulator delivering world-class flight training to Bell 412 operators.
Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) – Bangalore, India
CAE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have established a joint venture company that will open a helicopter training centre in Bangalore, India. The joint venture, called the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), is owned equally by CAE and HAL and will be operational in 2010. When fully operational, HATSOFF will be able to train up to 400 helicopter pilots each year.
Initially, HATSOFF will offer comprehensive training to civil and military customers operating four helicopter types: the Indian Army/Air Force variant of the HAL-built Dhruv, the civil variant of the Dhruv, the Bell 412 and the Eurocopter Dauphin. The training centre will feature multimedia classrooms, computer-based training, brief/debrief facilities, and a training management information system. The CAE-built full-mission simulator for HATSOFF will feature a common motion system, vibration platform, and visual display system, and four separate cockpit modules that can be used in the full-mission simulator. When a cockpit is not used in the full-mission simulator, it will be used as a fixed-based flight training device (FTD). The simulator will be certified to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Indian DGCA Level D, the highest qualification for flight simulators.
CAE has a rich history of developing some of the most sophisticated and
advanced helicopter training solutions in the world. Following are brief descriptions
of some helicopter training programs developed by CAE.
Current Program Highlights
CAE Northeast Training Centre Morristown NJ
Rotorsim Sesto Calende, Italy
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) Dubai, UAE
Helicopter Academy to
Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) Bangalore, India
