Coptersafety joins Whirly-Girls International scholarship

Matt Presnal, Coptersafety’s Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor, said: “At Coptersafety, we recognize the importance of increasing diversity in the vertical aviation industry. As part of our commitment to fostering inclusivity, we are proud to announce the Whirly-Girls scholarship.

“By investing in women in aviation, we not only promote gender equality but also cultivate a strong, more inclusive workforce for the future of vertical aviation. Through different initiatives, we aim to inspire a new generation of skilled and empowered pilots, regardless of their gender.”

Coptersafety provides pilot training with Level D full flight simulators (FFS). The Finalnd-based company’s flight instructors actively fly and instruct in helicopter operations such as in helicopter emergency medicine (HEMS), offshore, and search and rescue (SAR), providing students with knowledge of real-world operational flying in the helicopter they are training in.

It is a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Approved Training Organisation, FAA Part 142 certified Training Center, and UK Part ORA certified training organization, among others. The company offers helicopter training courses in H125, H145, AW169, and AW139 Level D full flight simulators.

Fallon Blattner, Vice President of Scholarships for Whirly-Girls International, commented: “The addition of this esteemed training facility and company provides unprecedented opportunity to our members and significantly aids the career advancement of women within the rotary wing industry worldwide.”

The scholarships provide an opportunity for two female helicopter pilots to complete an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AW139 type rating and/or ATP training course, including technical ground training, full flight simulator training, and practical tests. The scholarship will be offered to current members of Whirly-Girls International in their mid-year scholarship round in 2024 and will be awarded in the summer.

In further news, Coptersafety's AW169 is being upgraded.

Head of FSTD at Coptersafety Toni Rönnberg said: “I’m pleased to announce that Coptersafety is upgrading its TRU AW169 full flight simulator to avionics Phase 8. This will ensure our customers can use the latest avionics and features to support their training.”

Installed in 2020 and operational since early 2021, the TRU Odyssey H AW169 full flight simulator is Coptersafety’s most recent simulator. It has extended Coptersafety’s range of training scenarios and operational training for AW169 helicopter operations.

According to the company, with the increasing use of the AW169 aircraft by operators, upgrading to avionics Phase 8 will provide a higher level of training for current and future customers.

The upgraded simulator will initially be authorized by EASA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), followed by the FAA and Transport Canada, and others as required.