Story ID: 164Frasca.doc
Frasca Adds More Helicopter Simulators
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: The helicopter simulator market is growing globally for Frasca International.
Word Count: 375
Simulator manufacturer Frasca International (Booth 9256) has delivered more than 2,600 simulators since its founding in 1958, and its products are seeing growing use in the helicopter industry. Frasca recently booked an order for a Robinson R44 flight training device (FTD) from a customer in China, and recent contracts include a number of helicopter simulators, one of which is an AS350B that will be delivered to HNZ Group. Here at Heli-Expo, Frasca is sharing its booth with HNZ, and on display is the AS350B FTD and an S-92 cockpit procedures trainer (CPT).

Frasca is a vertically integrated simulator manufacturer, with in-house capabilities for “aerodynamics simulation, flight test, data acquisition, visual systems, night-vision goggles simulation, control loading, motion systems, fabrication, electronics design and more,” according to the company.

Recent wins for Frasca include China CAAC Level 5 approval for a TruFlite R44/Schweizer S300 convertible FTD, and this is the first Level 5 helicopter simulator delivered and approved in China, Frasca said. The FTD includes a helicopter-specific mission training visual database. The FTD is located at Xilin Fengteng GA’s Guanghang facility in Sichuan Province. The company operates 12 helicopters and provides flight training and business and aeromedical flight services.

The AS350B FTD is for HNZ Group of Montreal, Canada, and will be certified to Level 7 and convertible between the analog AS350B2 instrument panel and the AS350B2 and -B3e configuration with the VEMD instrumentation. “This will be the first Level 7 FTC certified in Canada,” according to Frasca, and it will be installed in the Edmonton airport terminal and available for pilot initial and recurrent training, for HNZ pilots and those flying for other Canadian operators.

The AS350B FTD is equipped with TruVision visual display, a database that includes the Edmonton area and other specialized training scenarios at locations in Canada, a vibration platform, Graphical Instructor Station and cargo mirror simulation.

Other recent simulator deliveries include a Bell 206L Level 7 FTD to Air Evac Lifeteam in O’Fallon, Missouri; a Bell 407 GX full flight simulator to the Bell Helicopter Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas; and a Bell 407 Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainer II to Horizon International Flight Academy in the United Arab Emirates.