Airbus Helicopters selects Thales and Helisim for its H160 full flight simulator deployment
“This partnership is an essential milestone in the H160 program and key to meeting the needs of our customers in order to prepare the smooth introduction of H160 into their operations” explained Bernard Fujarski, head of the H160 Program at Airbus Helicopters, “The first FFS will be installed at the Helisim simulation centre in Marignane, France and additional simulators will be deployed worldwide in line with market needs” he added.
Helisim has been the world’s foremost simulation centre for Airbus Helicopters platforms for more than 15 years.
The new generation 5.5 to 6-tonne twin-engine H160 helicopter will be tailored for a wide range of applications, including oil & gas operations, emergency medical services, public service, and private and business aviation.
To accompany the innovative H160 design, the FFS will be based on the Thales Reality H series, the most advanced helicopter training simulator on the market. Reality H is perfectly suited to respond to the training needs of the H160, as it produces the most vivid synthetic environments of any civilian based training scenarios and is fast becoming a mainstay for all type of mission-readiness within training centres around the world.
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 61,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €13 billion in 2014. With over 20,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its unique international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world.
About Helisim
Helisim is a Joint Venture between Airbus Helicopters, Thales and DCI providing high-end simulation services for pilots. Helisim is the world’s foremost simulation centre for Airbus Helicopters platforms, operating 24/7 with over 135000 cumulated flight hours, since its creation in 2000, and over 3000 pilots trained every year.
About Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters is a division of Airbus Group. The company provides the most efficient civil and military helicopter solutions to its customers who serve, protect, save lives and safely carry passengers in highly demanding environments. Flying more than 3 million flight hours per year, the company’s in-service fleet includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in 152 countries. Airbus Helicopters employs more than 23,000 people worldwide and in 2014 generated revenues of 6.5 billion Euros. In line with the company’s new identity, fully integrated into Airbus Group, Airbus Helicopters has renamed its product range replacing the former “EC” designation with an “H”.