Mission Aviation Fellowship International has ordered a specialized flight simulator to train pilots for operations in challenging remote environments.
The humanitarian organisation commissioned European manufacturer Euramec to build a Cessna Caravan training device that will be installed in the Netherlands by late 2025.
MAF Flight Simulator Project Lead Rene Don said the simulator would enhance safety while reducing environmental impact.
“Investment in this simulator will also bring cost and environmental benefits because it significantly reduces the number of hours in the air during training,” Mr Don said.
The system will support MAF’s goal of cutting carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2035 relative to flight hours.
Euramec CEO Bert Buyle said the simulator was customised for MAF’s unique operational requirements.
“Euramec worked out a unique concept that caters exactly to the training needs for MAF pilots. The main flight training device comes with a high-fidelity visual system with extended vertical views to allow for maximum immersion in the uniquely tough terrain MAF pilots operate in,” Mr Buyle said.
The simulator will be certified to European Union Aviation Safety Agency FTD2 standards and feature a six degrees-of-freedom motion system.
It will include custom scenery with detailed renderings of remote airstrips where MAF operates, along with virtual reality capabilities through Dutch firm Multisim.
Mr Don said the advanced ground modelling would help prepare pilots for real-world hazards.
“Our highest safety risk is runway collisions with animals, vehicles etcetera. The simulator will contain special animations to train for these scenarios,” he said.
A second simulator is planned for installation in Australia.
MAF operates 117 aircraft globally, supporting approximately 1,500 aid and development organisations in remote communities.
