The world’s first Eurocopter EC135 simulator has entered service at Bond Training Services’ new $2.5 million training facility at Gloucestershire airport in the UK.
The six-axis flight training device (FTD) was developed under a joint venture between Bond and Qinetiq subsidiary CueSim and will be used for type conversion of EC135 pilots and for instrument flying, for which Bond has been awarded the maximum 40h credit by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Initial courses are being held to train Bond Offshore Helicopters’ co-pilots to instrument rating standard, including multi-crew co-operation, autopilot and glass cockpit training. The FTD will also be used for competency and continuation checks by Bond, which takes delivery of its 11th (of 15) EC135 in September.
Bond Training & Emergency Services manager Paul Westaway says the simulator is attracting “considerable” interest from the private sector. “We’ll make training time available from September.”
- Helicopteros del Sureste, part of Spain’s INAER group, has ordered a CueSim Bell 412 simulator with motion, which will be qualified to European JAR-STD 2H Level 3 standard.
Source: Flight International
