Swiss Helicopter and Rega invest in helicopter pilot training
A ‘Full Flight Simulator’ will be used to train pilots for standard and emergency procedures
Helicopter company Swiss Helicopter AG and the Swiss Air Rescue Guard (Rega) have jointly acquired an Airbus H125 cockpit module for Rega’s new modular simulator.
The new helicopter simulator is a ‘Full Flight Simulator’ (FFS) with the ‘Level D’ certification class of Reiser Simulation and Training – the highest certification class.
The simulator is composed of two elements: a motion platform that translates pilots’ command orders into authentic movements using electric motors and a replica of the cockpit that can be moved on rails on the movement platform.
Because of this ‘roll-on/roll-off’ system, cockpits of different types of helicopters can be used on a single platform.
The use of this simulator will not only improve the quality of training, but also reduce environmental impact and costs. In a simulator, helicopter pilots can train for different standard situations and emergency procedures that cannot or rarely be practiced in real situations. In addition, these flights do not make noise and do not pollute the environment.
By jointly investing in the training of helicopter pilots in Switzerland, Swiss Helicopter AG and Rega help to ensure that enough experienced pilots can be recruited in the future for the demanding activities of commercial helicopter flights or air rescue.
Recently, Rega reported that it came to the aid of 14,000 patients in 2022, its highest amount in 70 years of operating.