FRASCA will supply a dual qualified Bell 407 FAA Level B Full Flight Simulator/Level 7 Flight Training Device to Bell Helicopter for use at their Customer Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas. The FRASCA built dual qualified 407 will have capabilities to convert between the standard Bell Model 407 and the 407 GX, equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics system. The simulator will be used for initial aircraft qualification, recurrent training and instrument training, both initial and recurrent, at the academy.
The FAA Level B/Level 7 dual qualification is unique to helicopter simulators, and offers an opportunity for a comprehensive training program supported by cost-effective simulation. The combination of two levels of qualification supports high and low speed maneuvering, as well as hovering, and takeoff and landing. The data required to validate the qualification levels is comparable to that found on higher level simulators. Although this device will be the first simulator certified to this level by FRASCA in the United States, the company has provided similar simulators in Europe.
In addition to many standard features, this particular device will include an NVG (Night Vision Goggle) mode to enable simulation of the NVG environment using the actual NVG appliance. This capability will be used to support Bell’s continuing effort to provide state of the art night vision training for their customers.
FRASCA has provided Bell with several Flight Training Devices currently in use at the Customer Training Academy. These include Level 6 FTDs for the 429 and 407, a Bell 206B/L FTD, and cockpit procedure trainers for the 407 and 427.
