SERVICES | INFO
By Rotor & Wing staff
Enstrom Helicopter Corp.
Maj. Gen. Pittaya Krachangwong and a group of Thai Army pilots evaluated the Enstrom
480B during an October 2009 visit to the manufacturer’s plant in Menominee, Mich.
Enstrom Sells Trainers to Japan, Thailand
Two national defense forces have chosen the Enstrom Helicopter 480B to train pilots. The
Japanese Ground Self Defense Force has ordered a total of 30 Enstrom 480Bs, with deliveries scheduled to start this year and run through 2014. In a separate deal, Enstrom will supply 16 training-configured 480Bs to the Royal Thai Army. Representatives from the country’s military visited the Enstrom plant in October 2009. Maj. Gen. Pittaya Krachangwong
and three pilots flew the 480B, as well as the piston F28F. Both contracts resulted from a
competitive bid process. Blake & DeJong’s David Blake, Enstrom managing representative
in Asia, describes the JGSDF bidding and selection process as “extremely rigorous. To be
chosen after such an exhausting review really shows that Enstrom and the 480B are serious
contenders for military training aircraft.”
PILAS Demoed at
Heli-Expo in Houston
Eurocopter’s pilot assistance system
(PILAS) demonstration simulator was a
popular stop at this year’s Heli-Expo. Set
up inside the Eurocopter booth, the trainer
featured flight guidance and mission
information on two screens—a PFD and
navigation management display (NMD)—
that use aerial photos mapped on a digital
elevation model. After receiving a mission,
PILAS creates “tunnel-in-the-sky” symbology specifically tailored to helicopter
operations. The simulator also monitors
all potential hazards while flying, including deteriorating weather and air traffic
conflicts, and quickly proposes an alternate
route. Stephan Haisch, project manager
of Mission Systems & Research for Eurocopter’s Commercial & Research division,
explained various aspects of PILAS to
Rotor & Wing on Feb. 23, conducting a
HEMS demo. See the video of Haisch at
Rotor & Wing’s Heli-Expo Video Archive:
www.aviationtoday.com/rw/heliex-
po2010/videoarchive/
HotSeat Chassis
Markets Heli Sim
CAE Introduces 3000 Series Helicopter Trainer
The new CAE 3000 Series simulator offers realism for helicopter-specific mission training, including offshore, EMS, law enforcement, long line, high-altitude, corporate/VIP
and other operations. CAE says the new series, which will enter service in summer 2010,
results from the company’s simulator experience and helicopter training expertise, as well
as input from its Helicopter Advisory Board (which includes pilots, operators, manufacturers and insurers). All CAE 3000 Series mission simulators feature a Tropos-6000
visual system with high-definition commercial off-the-shelf projectors, up to a 220-degree
horizontal by 80-degree vertical field of view, direct projection dome with chin window
coverage, and high-resolution databases tailored to helicopter training.
The 3000 Series is the first to incorporate artificially intelligent human form and moving vehicle dynamic simulation for civil helicopter training tasks and mission scenarios.
When Rotor & Wing took a 3000 Series demo flight at Heli-Expo, we watched the power
lines go by while approaching a roadside accident site, we saw the crowds disperse while
landing and watched as the paramedic came around with a stretcher and loaded a patient
in the back. We also got a good view of an oil platform and could see the rusty paint on the
platform as well as the platform workers milling about the landing pad prior to our arrival.
As we got closer, the workers ran to clear the pad. The chin bubble view was tremendously
helpful in hover and landing scenarios.
Flight and racing simulator specialist HotSeat Chassis of Terryville, Conn. is offering
a new lost-cost helicopter trainer that is
easy to use. The HotSeat Heli Sim allows
operators to practice techniques such as
hovering, takeoffs and landings, and other
maneuvers in the cockpit. Built around a
steel tubular frame, Heli Sim comes with
Flight Link Cyclic III Plus, a collective
with throttle, foot pedals, six-speaker 5.1
surround sound and a flatscreen display.
It runs Microsoft Flight Simulator X as
well as applications from other software
companies.
HotSeat Chassis recently sent a demo
unit to Rotor & Wing’s offices in Rockville,
Md. Editor-at-Large Ernie Stephens, who is
a helicopter pilot with the Maryland State
Police, took the simulator through a variety
of scenarios. Keep an eye out for more
about the HotSeat Chassis Heli Sim in next
month’s issue.
