Brazil-based agricultural aircraft operators can learn more about how their Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines operate, thanks to a new training course that FlightSafety International implemented last December.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Series Pilot Familiarization Course is available in Botucatu, Brazil, as well as Bangalore, India; Brisbane, Australia; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Haikou, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Montreal, Canada; Paris Le Bourget, France; Singapore; Toronto, Canada; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Wichita, Kansas. The Botacatu center is operated by Aeroglobo, which is a FlightSafety-approved facility.
The familiarization course takes one day and helps pilots learn more about the PT6A, including “an in-depth overview of the engine’s major systems and its interface with the aircraft,” according to FlightSafety. Other topics covered in the class include normal and abnormal operation, and operational procedures plus recommendations to help operators achieve maximum performance and peak efficiency from their PT6As.
The legacy turboprop powers a number of agricultural aircraft made by companies such as Air Tractor, Frakes, PZL-Okecie, Schweizer, and Thrush.
“This new course will provide agricultural pilots who fly aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-series engines with the information and hands-on practical training needed to help operate and maintain the engines to the highest standards,” said Steve Gross, senior vice president, commercial at FlightSafety.
“In listening to our agricultural customers’ needs, we’ve recognized that in addition to providing high-quality [original equipment manufacturer] maintenance training, it is equally important to optimize pilots’ understanding of engine operability and performance to enhance communication with the technicians maintaining the aircraft,” said Tim Swail, vice president, customer programs at Pratt & Whitney Canada.
FlightSafety, which was appointed Pratt & Whitney Canada’s authorized training provider in 2010, has provided more than 15,000 courses for the manufacturer's engines and APUs for customers in 126 countries, including at FlightSafety learning centers and via eLearning and interactive distance-learning courses.
FlightSafety’s other training facility in Brazil is in Curitiba, where it offers Embraer ERJ-145/Legacy 600 type rating and recurrent training in a level D full-flight simulator. EPA Training Center operates the training center in Curitiba, in joint cooperation with FlightSafety.