Pacific Sky Aviation, the sister company of Viking Air, secured Transport Canada level-D approval for a Twin Otter Series 400 full-flight simulator that will be able to provide training in both wheeled and seaplane configurations.
The simulator, manufactured by TRU Simulation + Training, replicates operations to and from any airport—or GPS coordinates—which will help customers operating from remote locations, Viking noted. With the seaplane configuration, pilots will be able to practice takeoffs and landings in a range of sea states, winds, and water conditions, including glassy water, using level-D capabilities. That configuration is expected to be available beginning in mid-February.
“The simulator’s leading-edge technology will allow [Pacific Sky Aviation] to provide training for customers with diverse requirements, including operation of both wheeled and seaplane configurations of the Series 400 Twin Otter,” said David Curtis, Viking president and CEO. “This state-of-the-art training will not only enhance pilot proficiency and safety, but will also reduce the risk inherent with using actual aircraft for training.”
The approval was the culmination of “several years of hard work and brain power” from Viking, Pacific Sky, TRU Simulation, Honeywell, and the National Research Council of Canada, added Pacific Sky CEO Michael Coughlin.
Pacific Sky Aviation, which also uses a Twin Otter flat-panel training device, will offer a range of Twin Otter type courses with the trainers, including initial, recurrent, differences, and upgrade courses. Training on the simulator has already begun with the first two customers.
Based near Viking at Victoria International Airport and in Calgary, Canada, Pacific Sky provides training, Twin Otter Series 400 production flight testing, aircraft ferry services, corporate flight operations, and aircraft maintenance services.
Viking launched the Twin Otter Series 400 production program in 2007. Since then, the company has sold aircraft to customers in 29 countries. Viking in 2016 further expanded its portfolio, acquiring the type certificates of the CL-215, CL-215T, and CL-415 firefighting amphibious turboprops from Bombardier.