Leonardo opens Norway training centre

Leonardo has opened its AW101 Norway Training Centre at Stavanger Sola Airport, the company announced on 13 June.

The centre includes a new AW101 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) which will support the training of Norwegian aircrew, along with supporting other AW101 customers.

The first training course for Royal Norwegian Air Force pilots at the centre has also now commenced. The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security has ordered 16 AW101 aircraft for search and rescue (SAR).

Jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE, the Level D AW101 FFS is a CAE Series 3000 device. The simulator will be operated and managed by Leonardo Helicopters. The centre will also house a Royal Norwegian Air Force owned AW101 SAR console training device that is linked to the FFS to provide rear crew training.

The simulator offers highly realistic helicopter-specific mission training, including SAR, offshore transport, combat SAR and naval operations. The simulator will enable pilots to practice challenging procedures without risk, including low-level flight, confined area operations, autorotations and landing on platforms at sea.

The AW101 FFS combines a Leonardo Helicopters-developed flight dynamic model, avionics and aircraft software modelling, with CAE’s core simulation technologies, including: CAE True six degree-of-freedom electric motion system and high-performance vibration platform to replicate vibration cues critical to helicopter pilots; a high-fidelity CAE Medallion-6000 visual system; and a direct projection 210 degree by 80 degree extreme field-of-view dome display system.

The simulator also includes important mission systems such as SAR autopilot modes, digital map, radar, aircraft mission management computer, multi-purpose control and display units, cockpit display system and flotation system.