Story ID: 
L-3 Trains Predator Operators
By: David Donald
Caption: In May L-3 Link Simulation and Training division delivered the first five of seven Predator Mission Aircraft Training Systems (PMATS) to the U.S.
Word Count: 160
In May L-3 Link Simulation and Training division delivered the first five of seven Predator Mission Aircraft Training Systems (PMATS) to the U.S. Air Force’s main UAV center at Creech AFB, Indian Springs, Nevada. PMATS provides Predator pilots and systems operators with fully immersive, mission-based training and is the first high-fidelity training system for UAVs to be adopted by the USAF. Currently, PMATS is configured to accurately model the MQ-1 Predator and its weapon system, with a synthetic environment that can reflect time of day, varying weather patterns and thermal effects. Next year L-3 expects that PMATS will be expanded to cover the MQ-9 Reaper (previously Predator B), a larger and more powerful UAV. Supporting the PMATS are instructor operator stations (IOS), from which instructors can set up conditions and insert malfunctions into the mission simulation. Along with the five PMATS/IOS systems, there are two brief/debrief rooms that allow instructors and pupils to review simulator missions.