Toll Helicopters has signed agreements with Leonardo-Finmeccanica to become the sole authorised training centre for the Australasian region, delivering a full suite of AW139 pilot training packages.
Jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE, Toll Helicopters has installed a CAE 3000 Series AW139 full flight simulator (FFS) at its new Aeromedical Crewing Excellence (ACE) training centre at Bankstown Airport, which recently passed full Level D flight simulator Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) accreditation and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) technical accreditation – the first civil helicopter simulator to achieve both EASA and CASA recognition in Australia.
The agreements establish Toll Helicopters as a regional centre for the delivery of OEM AW139 training courses fully compliant with Leonardo’s standards.
“We are extremely proud to be appointed for the region by Leonardo-Finmeccanica,” Toll Helicopters general manager Mark Delany said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This allows us to provide OEM supported training to all AW139 operations in the region. To have full access to Leonardo’s training systems, courseware and technical support models guarantees the highest quality and fidelity of training for all air crews.”
The full motion simulator has on-board and off-board instructor operator consoles including the ability to drive the simulator from the cockpit through a mobile tablet instructor/operator console.
Existing instructional staff qualified on the CAE Series 3000 FFS will have their qualifications recognised by Toll allowing a seamless and risk free transition onto the simulator for all crews.
“The fidelity achieved by combining the OEM flight model and aircraft systems, with the CAE300 platform built by the world leader in flight training devices, is unrivalled,” said Toll’s in-house flight test engineer Chris Andretzke.
“Being part of the existing AW139 FFS network will provide ongoing benefits through timely upgrades to the device, keeping it closely aligned with the AW139 aircraft as enhanced capabilities are introduced.”
The training centre also includes facilities for maintenance, crew training, a virtual reality crewman and integrated crew training simulator and a high fidelity helicopter underwater escape training device, which features a wave pool, wind generator, lighting and sound effects.
Toll Helicopters was selected in December 2014 to operate a 10-year aeromedical contract for NSW Health servicing the southern half of NSW and the ACT commencing early next year.
