Flight Simulator Manufacturer entrol Delivers Purpose-Built AT-802 Fire Boss Aerial Firefighting Simulator to Aquarius Aerial Firefighting

Luxembourg – entrol, a Madrid-headquartered manufacturer of EASA and FAA-certified flight simulators, has delivered a state-of-the-art Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss amphibious firefighting simulator to Aquarius Aerial Firefighting (Aquarius AFF) in Luxembourg — a purpose-built device specifically configured for the aerial firefighting mission environment and designed as a cornerstone of Aquarius AFF's pilot training programme.

• The simulator is configured for the AT-802 "Sea" (Fire Boss) variant — the amphibious water-scooping configuration of the Air Tractor AT-802 used in aerial firefighting — and features original aircraft components throughout, including the real pilot seat and genuine Garmin G600 TXi avionics hardware, eliminating tactile differences between the simulator and the aircraft and allowing pilots to develop precise muscle memory for high-stakes firefighting missions.
• The visual system comprises a triple-laser projection display complemented by an Aerodisplay Head-Up Display (HUD) integrated with a long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal camera, enabling pilots to navigate and execute water drops through dense smoke by projecting critical flight symbology — airspeed, altitude, and heading — directly onto the pilot's line of sight overlaid with a high-contrast thermal imaging feed that identifies hotspots, terrain, and fire lines when visual references are obscured.
• entrol has developed a dedicated vibration system that replicates the structural loads experienced during water scooping operations and the sudden centre-of-gravity shift that occurs during a water drop — phases identified as among the most demanding and dangerous in the aerial firefighting mission profile.
• The simulator includes a geo-specific high-resolution database of critical operational areas including Welzow Aerodrome (EDCY) in Germany, and an Advanced Debriefing Station that enables instructors to review mission parameters in 3D, analysing drop accuracy and flight path efficiency for tactical performance optimisation.
• A dedicated second station allows crews to practise two-ship missions — a common tactical configuration in aerial firefighting operations — enabling co-ordination and formation training that would otherwise require live aircraft sorties.
• Aquarius Aerial Firefighting is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargolux, Europe's largest all-cargo airline, based in Luxembourg and dedicated to addressing the structural aerial firefighting capacity deficit in Europe and beyond.

Statements

• "This simulator is a leap forward in tactical training for Europe. We have developed a specific vibration system that replicates the structural loads during water scooping and the sudden change in Center of Gravity during a drop. This allows Aquarius AFF pilots to master the most dangerous phases of the mission in a controlled, high-fidelity environment," said Juanjo Lechosa, Business Development Manager, entrol.

Source: entrol