STEWART PENNEY / STANS
Development comes less than a month after go-ahead from company's board
Pilatus has developed an in-flight radar simulation for its new PC-21 turboprop trainer less than a month after being given the green light by the Swiss company's board. The training system is available for installation on the aircraft with the next software upgrade.
The tandem-seat trainer first flew in July last year and Pilatus is aiming for certification by late 2004 (Flight International, 27 May-2 June). It foresees the PC-21 being used to teach mission systems management and for other "advanced training" roles, perhaps including operational conversion topics not possible with current turboprop-powered aircraft, says Pilatus managing director strategic projects Kevin Smith.
According to Nigel Wainwright, Pilatus new aircraft projects training systems consultant, the company was able to develop the radar simulation quickly using the VAPS rapid avionics prototyping system. It allows a simulated radar picture to be displayed on one of the two 150 x 205mm (6 x 8in) multifunction displays (MFD) in each PC-21 cockpit. Typically, the stores management system (SMS) - another embedded simulation - would be shown on the other MFD, says Wainwright.
The VAPS-developed software is being sent to the UK for test and certification and will then be used for non-flight-critical functions, such as driving the MFDs, which means customer requirements for systems such as the radar simulation can be quickly implemented. The single primary flight display in each cockpit is flight critical with software writing procedures reflecting this.
Pilatus has a cockpit working group headed by Wainwright, who says VAPS has permitted rapid improvements to be made to the presentations on the MFDs and head-up displays (HUD) as the group defines the system.
The radar simulation is a generic US APG-type display, integrated with the HUD. The instructor will be able to create virtual targets for the student.
A datalink could be added so that another PC-21 could act as the target, with the position data used to place the other trainer in the display. This will allow the student to be taught manoeuvring basics against another air target, says Wainwright.
The SMS allows students to be taught the basics of a system without the aircraft needing to carry or drop weapons. A poll among potential customers suggests no-drop weapons training and the SMS are the preferred future training means. "We're convinced no live weapons is the way to go," says Wainwright.
Source: Flight International
