Story ID: 404
FlightSafety International Expands Helicopter Training
By: Alexa Rexroth
Caption: FlightSafety International offers new helicopter simulators and more than 100 courses approved for U.S. Veterans Affairs benefits.
Word Count: 234
FlightSafety International has introduced new level-D-qualified helicopter simulators, along with more courses approved for education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The simulators include training programs for the Airbus Helicopters EC130T2 and Sikorsky S-70A and S-76B.

“We are pleased with the response to our level-D-qualified simulators for single-engine helicopters…[and] the increased focus and emphasis on safety across the helicopter industry is resulting in more operators training using advanced simulators, as opposed to training in an actual aircraft,” said FlightSafety executive vice president David Davenport.

The EC130T2 simulator includes FlightSafety’s Vital 1100 visual system and CrewView collimated glass mirror display, allowing for an expanded field of view. As the factory authorized training provider for Sikorsky, FlightSafety is now offering a new series of S-70A courses and a S-76B simulator at its learning center in Lafayette, Louisiana.

After working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, FlightSafety was able to “qualify more than 100 of our courses to help our veterans prepare for a career in the business and commercial aviation industry or to enhance their current skills,” Davenport said.

Approved courses are available to veterans interested in pursuing a career as a professional pilot or for initial or recurrent training for experienced pilots. Active-duty military, National Guard members, and reservists might also qualify for assistance.