The EC135 simulator operated by Eurocopter’s Training Academy in Germany has obtained Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Level B certification from Luftfahrtbundesamt, the German Aviation Administration. The simulator provides a multitude of training possibilities to international customers and is the first EC135 FFS in Europe to obtain this certification.

The EC135 simulator, located at Eurocopter’s site in Donauwörth, became operational at the end of 2009 as a full-motion Level 3 Flight Training Device (FTD). Every year more than 250 pilots from around the world attend courses for a wide array of mission training, and so far, over 2,500 flight hours have been clocked up on the simulator.

The FFS allows operators to perform initial and recurrent type training as well as specific training on emergency procedures, instrument flight rules (IFR), offshore, night flights, night vision goggles (NVG) and Cat A operations. With FFS Level B certification, Eurocopter is now able to administer skill tests and proficiency checks. “Developing training capabilities is a major step towards fulfilling Eurocopter’s commitment to improving overall flight safety. This new Level B certification allows us to complete our training offer in Donauwörth and to better meet our customers’ requests for comprehensive and specialized Full Flight Simulator services,” said Charles Hebeka, senior accountable manager of the Training Academy.

To provide a highly realistic representation of EC135 flight operations, the simulator incorporates an extensive EC135 OEM level D data package from Eurocopter and its suppliers – including real software and parts, ensuring full simulated functionality for the helicopter, its engines, autopilot and all other systems. In addition, all of them are tuned, controlled and validated by the company’s design office experts, flight test engineers and flight test pilots that contributed to the EC135 helicopter development, as part of the validation process.

Around the world, Eurocopter’s 21 training centers provide a complete range of services for civilian and military pilots, technicians and aeronautics experts. Courses offered include ab-initio and recurrent training, type rating and mission training via a variety of flexible training solutions, including web-based training, Computer Aided Instruction (CAI), Virtual Cockpit Procedure Trainers (VCPT), Avionics Trainers (AVT), Flight Training Devices (FTD) and Full Flight Simulators (FFS). As part of its commitment to improve overall fleet safety, Eurocopter is deploying FFS all over the world in close proximity to customers to enhance the quantity, quality and cost-effectiveness of the training solutions available to them. Eurocopter will reach 20 FFS by the end of 2012, where Eurocopter was at 4 by mid-2008.

EADS press release