FlightSafety International is pleased to announce that its new Eurocopter EC135 aircraft simulator is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2010 at the company’s Rotorcraft Learning Center of Excellence in Lafayette, Louisiana. This is the first Eurocopter EC135 aircraft simulator designed by FlightSafety to achieve Level D qualification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration.

“Customers who operate EC135 aircraft will now benefit from the competitive advantages FlightSafety’s professional training and industry leading full motion simulator technology provides,” said Rick Armstrong, Vice President, Simulation.

The EC135 simulator will feature FlightSafety’s 60-inch electric motion and control loading system. It contributes to the simulator’s high level of fidelity, enhanced performance and increased reliability and offers environmental advantages compared to previous generation motion systems.  It will also include FlightSafety’s VITAL X Visual System. It provides a 60 x 200 degree Field of View and features continuous global high-resolution satellite imagery capable of presenting environmental conditions experienced during all phases of flight, from taxi and takeoff to landing.

“These systems and other recent advances in flight simulator design and manufacturing demonstrate our ability and commitment to develop and integrate advanced technologies into our industry leading training devices,” added Armstrong.

“Pilots and technicians from all segments of the helicopter industry understand the importance and value of FlightSafety’s comprehensive training programs and appreciate the significant investment the company is making in this vital industry,” said George Ferito, Director, Rotorcraft Business Development.

FlightSafety provides a wide variety of factory authorized pilot and maintenance training programs for the vast majority of fixed and rotor wing business aircraft manufacturers including Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft Company. The company will offer a fleet of 15 helicopter simulators and other advanced training devices by year end located at its Learning Centers in Fort Worth, Texas; Lafayette, Louisiana; West Palm Beach, Florida and in the United Kingdom at the Farnborough Airport.

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and manufacturer of flight simulators, visual systems and displays for commercial, government and military organizations. We provide more than a million hours of training each year to pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 154 countries. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at Learning Centers and training locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Asia.