Market Intelligence: -Simulator Training Center

Bell Training Academy in Spain Annually Welcomes 200 Pilots from Around the World

Every year, the Bell Training Academy (BTA) in Valencia, Spain welcomes around 200 Bell pilots to train using the class-leading facilities located there. At its center is the certified Bell 429 Level D Full Flight Simulator (FFS) which has so far accumulated 1,000 simulator hours in 2023 alone.

At the BTA, pilots can embark on the training program to train for any unforeseen circumstances in different meteorological conditions. The Level D Full Flight Simulator is the highest level approved by aviation authorities, providing customers with a regional solution for Bell 429 pilot training.

Patricia Charcos, Valencia Training Centre Manager, said: “I really enjoy talking to the pilots to learn about their experience, not only in the simulator and during their training but also their daily activity flying different missions. It’s rewarding to hear how useful the simulator training is to help pilots prepare in case of an emergency or a malfunction.”

The training facility receives customers from around the world, offering them the option of dry leasing the simulator to use their own instructors for training, along with ground school training and other options to match each attendee’s goals. This year, more than 200 hours of simulator dry leasing has taken place at the Valencia training facility.

Marcel Costa, a former trainee from Helitrans Pyrinees in Spain, said: “A few weeks ago, I attended the BTA in Valencia to do an initial type rating and found that the simulator exceeded all expectations. The visual system is close to reality and once you are immersed in the training you don’t realize you are flying in a simulator. I was able to perform all training maneuvers – especially malfunctions and emergencies – enabling me to understand and learn how the helicopter responds in the unlikely event of these failures.

“The instructors are exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable, and more importantly they know how to share that knowledge with the pilots. The facilities are impressive and the staff are very kind and attentive; I am sure I will go back to Valencia next year for further training.”

The Bell 429 Simulator has an operational efficiency of more than 99% so the number of training interruptions and reschedules is close to zero. The Level D Full Flight Simulator is used for the 429 Initial Course, involving EASA approved training with the introduction needed to fly a Bell 429; a Recurrent Course, consisting of refresher training with a combination of ground school and the flight simulator to help customers continuously master the aircraft; and a Performance Based Navigation Course, combining theoretical and practical training on the flight simulator to meet EASA requirements for all instrument rated pilots.

Tiago Mesquita, former BTA attendee from JCPM Group in Brazil, said: “I recently had the opportunity to re-train on the Initial Bell 429 Course. The Ground School was important to consolidate the knowledge acquired and learn about the updates to the GPS and display units installed on the new aircraft. The simulator training is of great value because we can train the loss of effectiveness of the tail rotor and other scenarios in IFR flight, where it is necessary to manage several systems.”

With training facilities in Europe, Asia, and America, Bell has attracted customers from around the globe, with over 130,000 pilots having completed pilot or technical training at a Bell Training Academy since 1947.

Source: Bell
Photo Credit: Bell

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Airbus Helicopters and ADAC HEMS Academy to Establish New Simulation Training Centre

During European Rotors, Airbus Helicopters and ADAC HEMS Academy announced the establishment of the joint venture HMotion, a new simulator training centre for the H135 and H145 family helicopters. HMotion will offer a wide range of cost-effective training courses for helicopter personnel, including mission and critical flight training. Subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities, it is expected to be operational in early 2024.

“With the creation of HMotion, we will further enhance the training capabilities for our H135 and H145 customers,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “We will combine the best of two worlds: the data and knowledge of Airbus as the helicopter manufacturer with the experience of ADAC Luftrettung, a world-renowned helicopter operator.”

“The collaboration between our two companies will create the world’s most modern simulator training centre for H135 and H145 helicopters,” said Frédéric Bruder, Managing Director of ADAC Luftrettung, which ADAC HEMS Academy belongs to.

As a first step, HMotion will integrate the full-flight simulators located at the Airbus Helicopters site in Donauwörth and at the ADAC HEMS Academy in Sankt Augustin near Bonn. In a second step, in 2025, all simulator activities will be transferred  to a new state-of-the-art training centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, which is easily accessible for international customers with Munich International Airport close by.

Airbus Helicopters’ training and flight operations’ goal is to design and provide innovative solutions to support its customers – which is key to enhancing operational safety. Efficient helicopter operations are directly linked to the proficiency of pilots, flight crew and technicians, as well as their ability to safely operate and maintain rotorcraft during a full range of conditions and missions.

The ADAC HEMS Academy is setting up a new, state-of-the-art location in Oberpfaffenhofen for the training and further education of helicopter pilots and medical crews. Here, at the future headquarters of HMotion, the best conditions will be created for personnel development (in helicopter flight operations and emergency and acute medical administration), with even more opportunities for qualified safety and team training in theory and practice.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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Training Aircraft Manufacturer, Cirrus Aircraft, Adds FAA-Certified Level D Full-Flight Simulator to Expand Training Network

Cirrus Aircraft announced the addition of a second FAA-certified Level D full-flight Vision Jet simulator to serve the company’s expansion plans and provide access to world-class flight training, including initial type ratings and recurrent training for new and pre-owned aircraft owners at the Cirrus Aircraft Vision Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The latest Vision Jet simulator, built by CAE, is now fully operational. As the world’s first single-engine personal jet, the Vision Jet has continued as the best-selling jet for the last five years. Owners enjoy the Vision Jet’s luxurious and spacious interior design, advanced safety systems such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland, reduced workload flight deck, convenience and entertainment features and impressive regional flight capability. Today, there are over 500 Vision Jets in the market and over 1,055 people are type-rated.

“Cirrus Aircraft is dedicated to providing world-class flight training and we are continually investing in the Vision Center campus to expand our capacity and offer ultramodern training resources,” said Todd Simmons, President of Customer Experience of Cirrus Aircraft.

The global leader in personal aviation now leverages two FAA-certified Level D full-flight simulators, two FAA-qualified Level 6 fixed-based training devices and multiple avionics trainers for Vision Jet training and demonstrating aircraft systems such as CAPS.

First established as a Factory Service Center in 2016, the Vision Center campus has grown to include an Experience Center, Delivery Center, Flight Training Center, additional Factory Service Center and a Flight Center/Hangar Complex. The state-of-the-art Vision Center also offers training for its best-selling, high-performance, single-piston SR Series aircraft. The SR Series accounts for 32% of single-engine piston aircraft deliveries worldwide and over 77% of the high-performance single-engine piston market deliveries.

Through the company’s award-winning flight training program called Cirrus Approach™, all Vision Jet and SR Series training is accompanied by a dedicated Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP), individual training aircraft and a diverse catalog of instructional video courses.

The Vision Center is complemented by three Cirrus Flight Training locations in Scottsdale, Arizona; McKinney, Texas and Orlando, Florida and over 100 Cirrus Training Center partners worldwide. The Vision Center in Knoxville is the only location that offers Vision Jet type ratings.

About Cirrus Aircraft 

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet™, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 16 million hours, and 250 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Benton Harbor, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; and Greater Orlando, Florida and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Source: Cirrus Aircraft
Photo Credit: Cirrus Aircraft

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ATP JETS Graduates 20,000th Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) Student

Dallas, Texas, United States based ATP JETS has graduated its 20,000th Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) student. Training nearly 500 pilots per month at its 29,380 sq. ft Part 142 airline training center in Irving, TX, ATP JETS has scaled to become the largest provider of CTP training to the nation’s airlines.

Nearly 50% of all new hire airline pilots attend ATP JETS for their CTP training, sponsored by their airline. Since first offering the program in 2015, ATP JETS has been trusted by 57 air carriers to deliver this FAA-required training through a commitment to providing airlines with the most professional, flexible, cost-effective training solution possible. Recently, ATP JETS became the first in the nation approved to deliver Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) for the ground school portion of the program. This innovative approach not only saves airline partners thousands in travel and hotel logistics but also provides students with a better learning experience while delivering the same proven training effectiveness.

Travis Sowers Recognized as 20,000th ATP CTP Student

Beyond ATP CTP training, airlines rely on ATP JETS’ advanced training capabilities to provide fully tailored programs and recruitment solutions. Innovative direct and jet transition programs effectively deliver airline-ready pilots at 1,500 hours – transitioning them from general aviation flying to advanced, highly automated turbine aircraft operations in a complex airline environment. As a Frontier Airlines Cadet and Airline Career Pilot Program graduate, Travis Sowers not only had the honor of being recognized as the 20,000th ATP CTP student but is also participating in just such a program.

Each direct program is customized to the individual airline’s needs, combining an enhanced ATP CTP with a jet transition course and even a complete Airbus A320 type rating in Frontier’s case. Year to date, ATP JETS has transitioned nearly 300 pilots to Avelo, Frontier, Spirit, and Sun Country through Direct Programs at 1,500 hours. The majority of these pilots are graduates of ATP Flight School’s Airline Career Pilot Program.

With the delivery of five new, state-of-art Airbus A320 Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTDs) in 2023 and increasing efficiency through the introduction of VILT, ATP JETS is positioned to continue its growth and meet historic levels of pilot hiring and the demands of its airline partners.

Source: ATP Jets
Photo Credit: ATP Jets

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L3Harris’ Training Facility in UK Welcomes Team from Major Airline to Discuss Pilot Pathway Program

L3Harris’ London Training Centre welcomed the team from British Airways (BA), who shared information about the BA pilot recruitment pathway in which students can be ‘tagged’ by the airline and go on to become a First Officer for the United Kingdom’s flag carrier.

Back in July 2023, British Airways (BA) announced L3Harris Airline Academy as an accredited pilot recruitment partner. The exciting agreement allows BA to select newly qualified pilots from L3Harris’ Graduate Placement Pool as well as ‘tagging’ students in various stages of their training.

“Throughout the year, we’ve been sharing our employment statistics regularly as airlines across Europe hire L3Harris graduates. With 317 employed since 2022 alone, this new agreement with British Airways builds further on our existing airline relationships and we are now even more excited for the career prospects of our students and graduates,” said L3Harris.

Source: L3Harris Airline Academy
Photo Credit: L3Harris Airline Academy

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