Today, Helisim inaugurated its first NH90 flight simulator at the training center in Marignane (South of France) where it will be used to train military helicopter pilots. Helisim is a company jointly created by Eurocopter, Thales and DCI. The Australian Army Aviation, the French Navy and the French Army Air Corps (ALAT) will be the first customers to send their pilots to the Helisim facility for NH90 training.

“The inauguration of our new simulator for the NH90 is an extremely important step for Helisim,” said Guy Dabadie, the company’s CEO. “We can now offer all NH90 customers a more complete service. Since it was first created, Helisim has always been firmly committed to providing its customers with the highest quality training, as we are keenly aware of how crucial it is to flight safety.”

Helisim’s NH90 Full Flight simulator (manufactured by Thales), is equipped with the very latest generation database,of visual images, capable of simulating all types of environments (be it desertic, mountainous or maritime), weather conditions, special effects and battlefield threats via the use of “computer generated forces” (CGF).

Realism was a key objective in the design process, enabling the simulator to produce special effects of unrivaled quality for training sequences. Satellite images with resolution down to 12.5 cm in urban areas were included in the database to achieve the desired effects.

The NH90 cabin is also fully compatible with the use of third-generation night vision goggles, or with special helmets fitted with head-up displays (HUD) that are projected directly onto the visor, essential for night flight training.

Since 2002, Helisim has successfully introduced simulators for the Super Puma L1 and L2, the AS 365 N2 Dauphin, the EC155 and the EC 225. Each simulator uses the latest technology and ultramodern training tools. The new database of visual images, developed for the NH90 will also be used on the Super Puma L1 and L2 and the EC225 simulators in 2010.

Helisim is a consortium of 3 companies: Eurocopter (45%), Thales Training & Simulation (45%) and DCI (10%) (Défense Conseil International). It has provided more than 12,000 flight hours of training over the past twelve months to a total of 2400 pilots, which corresponds to more than 120 different customers.

The team of Helisim instructors has a great deal of operational experience and the training courses comply to the strictest standards for training and flight safety. Helisim’s customers include the majority of off-shore, corporate,, VIP and governmental operators, as well as numerous army, air force and navy pilots from around the world.

This inauguration ceremony was also the occasion for Guy Dabadie to hand over the reins of Helisim to his successor, Alain Salendre who has until now, occupied the functions of Military Advisor for Governmental Programs. Amongst his many achievements, Mr. Salendre, who is 49, directed the French-German Training Academy based in Le Luc, France, where German and French pilots are trained to fly the Tiger. Following a storied career during which he headed the Eurocopter flight test department, Guy Dabadie has spent the last decade insuring Helisim’s place amongst the top simulator training centers in the world.

Source: EADS