Turkish Naval Forces Command receives new Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator

The Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) Simulator Project, developed by Meteksan Defence on behalf of the Defence Industry Agency, has been completed and delivered to Turkish Naval Forces Command.

The simulator consists of cranes, platforms and ancillary systems. There is also a pool that has a wave generation and sprinkler system with adjustable intensity, day or night lighting, a sound system, fans to simulate wind and helicopter blade effects.

This new HUET facility will allow the Turkish Navy to provide training for:

• Escape and rescue from a helicopter crashing into the water and from a plane making a forced landing
• Search and rescue with rescue helicopter simulation
• Landing on the water with a parachute
• Abandon ship and boarding.

A key skill for military and civilian personnel in marine-deployed areas such as oil facilities is to rescue from a helicopter crashing into the sea or a plane crash landing in the water. The HUET Simulator Project offers training for this, plus other programs as well.

The helicopter mock-up is lowered into the pool, while rotating up to 180 degrees in both directions in a controlled way, with the personnel inside the helicopter exiting throughout this process.

Additional programs at the HUET facility can be run independently or in coordination with each other:

• Rescue Helicopter, in which the helicopter is equipped with a crane and rescue equipment to take a victim from the pool to the platform
• Landing on the water with a parachute, with a platform consisting of a tower and rail system
• Abandon ship and casualty handling training, simulating a ship’s deck, with a net ladder system, closed life raft and throwing mechanism.

Aero Asahi, a Japanese operator, has also acquired their own simulator to replicate Helionix integrated avionics, to train crew in specific HEMS and search and rescue procedures.