CAE and Bell Helicopter announced here yesterday that Bell is providing aircraft systems and performance data and technical support for the Bell 412 training programs that CAE will begin offering this summer in Mexico and Bangalore, India.
CAE, at Booth No. 2045, is installing a suite of Bell 412 training tools in Mexico, including a CAE 7000 Series level-D full-flight simulator (FFS), CAE Simfinity Integrated Procedures Trainer (IPT), computer-based training, e-learning and other courseware. A similar suite, including a previously announced CAE-built Bell 412 FFS, will be located in the new Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HatsOff) training center in Bangalore.
In Mexico, CAE will operate the CAE-built Bell 412 level-D FFS simulator and will deliver all ground school, instrument rating and simulator-type rating training with CAE instructors.
The HatsOff training center is a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) of India and CAE. The center will include a simulator featuring CAE’s revolutionary roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, which enables cockpits representing various helicopter types to be used in the simulator. HatsOff will offer complete training solutions for the Bell 412, the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and both civil and military variants of the HAL-built Dhruv light helicopter.
CAE and HAL announced earlier this month that their joint venture was progressing on schedule for the opening in mid-2010 of India’s first level-D helicopter simulator training facility. The first cockpit for the simulator represents the Bell 412 and is scheduled to be ready for training this summer.
“These two new training operations expand CAE’s global network to serve heli- copter operators in Central and South America, as well as Asia,” said Jeff Roberts, CAE’s group president, civil simulator products, training and services. “CAE is the only company that offers advanced technology helicopter simulator training in five major regions of the world so pilots may access high-fidelity training close to their home base.”
“We are delighted to support CAE’s expansion into these global markets,” said Danny Maldonado, Bell senior vice president and chief services officer. “This partnership provides our customers in Asia and the Americas with convenient access to high-quality training for Bell 412 operators.”
