Entrol to develop Bell 214B simulator for McDermott Aviation in Australia

Spanish flight simulator manufacturer Entrol has been contracted to develop a customized Bell 214B flight training device (FTD) for Australian operator McDermott Aviation, marking the company’s first simulator for the heavy-lift helicopter type.

The project began following an initial milestone payment in June, with installation at McDermott Aviation scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.

Designed around the Bell 214B, the Level 7 FTD has been tailored to support one of the few remaining fleets of the aircraft in operation worldwide. The simulator will be used to train crews for heavy-lift and aerial firefighting missions and incorporates mixed reality (MR) technology, allowing pilots to operate the physical cockpit while immersed in a virtual environment.

Entrol is also developing a mission training package using an Unreal Engine image generator, featuring five elevated helipads and 10 airports and heliports to support realistic firefighting, cargo, and approach training scenarios.

The simulator will also feature an LED visual system, cockpit vibration to replicate Bell 214B flight characteristics, and an integrated debriefing station for post-mission analysis.

The program expands Entrol’s presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region while supporting McDermott Aviation’s investment in training infrastructure for specialist heavy-lift helicopter operations.

Entrol recently achieved its first certification in Brazil after the country’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) approved an H145 FTD Level 5 simulator operated by Brazilian flight school Safety Flight.