As part of Eurocopter UK’s launch of their new North Sea Service Centre in Aberdeen, the company also provided a focal point with the opening of a Eurocopter EC225 simulator.  They have already made significant progress selling time on this simulator, made in Spain by Indra, by using the event to host a contract signing with CHC.  The Canadian based operator has signed a long-term contract for 800 hours a year – effectively three hours every weekday through the year.  CHC’s simulator training at Eurocopter’s Aberdeen centre will host pilots from their operations worldwide.

In this photo, Tilmann Gabriel, President of European Operations of CHC, signs the contract with Markus Steinke, Managing Director of Eurocopter UK

The North Sea Service Centre’s new, full-motion EC225 simulator answers operators’ needs for recurring training, enhanced safety training and FLIR sensor training for crews in transport missions, support service, and SAR missions. It guarantees the most representative synthetic environment and the latest aircraft configuration, with through-life upgrades based on Eurocopter data packages and flight loop software using genuine aircraft manufacturer software.

The EC225 simulator features a full-motion system with six degrees of freedom, an instructor station, simulation of all systems and optional equipment solutions, avionics system and full replica of the EC225 cockpit, sound and vibration, system and a visual system field of view of 210° horizontal and 80° vertical, which exceeds the highest Full Flight Simulator Level D requirements. A 50° vertical field of view located below the horizon gives a real “look down” capability for SAR and night helideck landing training.  The visual database features the exact replica of airports, helipads, oil platforms and ships as experienced in the North Sea and is compatible with FLIR and night vision goggles (NVG) operations.

In anticipation of future expansion for the North Sea Service Centre, sufficient space is available to add another simulator at a later date, potentially for Eurocopter’s new EC175 helicopter.