Bell/AB 212/412 Helicopter SimulatorTraining - Oxford Aviation ...

The benefits of using a helicopter
simulator
There is no doubt that aviation training using simulators offers a cost effective and safe alternative to training
during actual flight. The real cost of helicopter training consists of many variables but includes the hourly costs
associated with fuel, maintenance and insurance. Training in simulators provides a low cost virtually risk-free
alternative allowing pilots to be trained for emergencies and other dangerous real world experiences.
Safety
Historically a large number of serious accidents have
occurred when training in helicopters. Pilots and crew
members have died or become seriously injured and expensive
equipment has been damaged, often beyond repair.
Training in a simulator is totally safe even when practicing
the most severe malfunctions under adverse weather
conditions. Simulation based training allows for the training
of maneuvers or situations that may be impractical (or even
dangerous) to perform in the helicopter, while keeping the
pilot and instructor in a relatively low-risk environment
on the ground. For example, electrical system failures,
instrument failures, hydraulic system failures, engine fires
and even flight control failures can be simulated without risk
to the pilots or helicopter.
Cost effectiveness
Flight simulation provides a significant economic advantage
over training in an actual helicopter. Once fuel, maintenance,
and insurance costs are taken into account, the costs of using
a flight simulator are usually substantially lower than the
operating costs of flying the helicopter for training purposes.
Regulations
JAR-OPS 3.965 and Appendix 1 effectively require training
to be conducted in a simulator if available.
Pilot flying skills
Flight control malfunctions such as loss of control of the tail
rotor, stuck pedals and malfunctions leading to a full down
autorotation can be trained. Many of these malfunctions are
not possible to practice in the helicopter or are considered
unsafe to practice. Instructors can also provide students with
a higher concentration of training tasks in a given period of
time than is usually possible in the helicopter. For example,
conducting multiple instrument approaches in the actual
helicopter may require significant time spent flying the
helicopter to a position where the exercise can begin, while in
a simulation, as soon as one approach has been completed,
the instructor can immediately re -position the simulated
helicopter to an ideal (or less than ideal) location from which
to begin the next approach.
Standardisation
It is important for helicopter operators to ensure that all
crews are trained to the same uniform standard when
confronted by changing weather and operational conditions.
To ensure training is conducted for all crews under the same
conditions the simulator environment can be controlled for
many variable conditions including wind, visibility, daytime
/ night time, cloud ceiling, thunderstorms and outside air
temperature. This ensures that all pilots will be trained and
assessed under the same conditions.