Eurocopter is pleased to announce the introduction of the first Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the Dauphin AS365 N3 in South East Asia. The simulator is being developed and built in partnership with Thales and will be operational in Eurocopter South East Asia’s (ESEA) new training facility in Singapore by mid 2012.

“Simulators are widely used by operators, and are becoming increasingly widespread for safety reasons, cost benefits and the high quality of training they offer. The development of the AS365 N3 FFS in ESEA is in line with Eurocopter’s worldwide training policy, which aims to create a vast network of training centers equipped with simulator training facilities at close proximity to our customers’ operations,” says Lutz Bertling, president and CEO of Eurocopter. The new FFS in Singapore is actually the second of its kind: The first AS365 N3 FFS was launched just a year ago – to be operational in 2011 – with Heli Union Training Centre in Angoulême, France.

Designed to meet operators’ current and future expectations, this new simulator features a 6- axis motion system, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) helicopter data pack, an advanced reconfigurable cockpit concept and the latest avionics equipment technologies (MFD255 and APM2000). Cockpit reconfiguration for different missions is also possible within just 4 hours.

The simulator will meet both JAR FSTD dual qualifications of FFS Level B and FTD Level 3 and FAR Part 60 Level 6 standards. It will allow operators to perform ab initio and recurrent training as well as specific training covering emergency procedures, instrument flight rules (IFR), offshore and search and rescue (SAR) operations, night flight (night vision goggles), flights over mountainous regions and low altitude navigation.

The simulator will be located at the Singapore Helicopter Training Centre (SHTC), the training arm of ESEA, which is moving from its current facility at Loyang Way to Seletar Aerospace Park in the 4th quarter of this year. SHTC was established in 2007 and currently operates an EC120 flight training device (FTD) used primarily for military operator training. The addition of the multi-role configuration AS 365 N3 FFS will enable the school to extend its training services to operators performing corporate, law enforcement, offshore and SAR missions in Asia Pacific. ESEA aims to provide 3,500 training hours per year with the FFS.

A total of 950 AS365 helicopters are currently operated worldwide: In Asia Pacific, close to 170 are operated by some 700 pilots. The AS365’s fantastic reliability, multi-purpose capability and continuously improved state-of-the-art technology make it an automatic choice for a wide range of civil, parapublic and military missions. Key fleet operators in the region are located in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The strategic geographical location and upcoming new facilities of ESEA in Singapore make it an easily accessible destination and comfortable training environment for the operators in the region.

With 19 training centres throughout the world, Eurocopter is actively pursuing its strategy to continue deploying simulators worldwide to improve flight safety, reducing training costs and maximizing training opportunities – all for the benefit of its customers. Flight simulators are capable of simulating the toughest and most complex missions in complete safety regardless of aircraft availability, thus making them an appropriate, cost effective and attractive training solution. Training provided by Eurocopter is certified according to the requirements of EASA, FAA and other national aviation authorities such as CAAS, CAAC, TCCA, ANAC, and CASA.

Source: EADS