Boeing has announced that it will now provide simulator-based training for Australian Army Bell 206B-1 Kiowa pilots, further extending its support offered under the current Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract.
Boeing will use a Helimod helicopter simulator leased from Ryan Aerospace, with delivery expected by year’s end.
“Under our Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract, Boeing has traditionally taught students to fly Kiowas using classroom-based instruction and real flight hours,” Boeing Defence Australia AATTS senior manager, Mark Brownsey said.
“The benefit of introducing students to helicopter simulator technology at an earlier stage of their rotary wing training is that we improve their overall readiness for learning to fly more advanced helicopters and, in turn, provide the Australian Army with pilots who are more technically proficient, safer and mission-ready,” he added.
“Over the next year, we’ll assess the effectiveness of transferring some of this curriculum to the synthetic environment, which has the potential to reduce costly flight hours and improve safety and training outcomes for the Australian Army.”
The Army primarily uses the Kiowa as a lead-in trainer for the service’s fleet of S-70A-9 Black Hawk, CH-47D Chinook, ARH Tiger and MRH-90 helicopters. Boeing currently provides ongoing maintenance and support to the Kiowa, Black Hawk and Chinook under the AATTS program
