German Federal Aviation Office certifies world’s first H145 full flight simulator at Airbus Helicopters

The H145 simulator at the Airbus Helicopters Training Academy in Germany has been awarded level D status by the German Federal Aviation Office – the highest possible certification for a full flight simulator. With such airworthiness authority approval, more training hours accumulated by pilots in the full flight simulator are now authorized to be logged as actual flight hours. The simulator provides national and international customers with a wide range of training opportunities, in particular for missions under extreme flight conditions and for practising various emergency procedures. Not only is it the world’s first certified full flight simulator for the H145, but it is also the first helicopter simulator in Germany to receive EASA level D certification. Level D helicopter simulators must meet a number of criteria, including the ability to move in six directions, to provide a field of view of at least 180°, to work with realistic acoustic and visual simulations, and to perform several special motion effects. The new simulator in Donauwörth fulfils and partially exceeds the requirements. The H145 simulator is suitable for pilots’ initial training and refresher courses, for specific instruction on emergency procedures, for flights according to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), in offshore conditions and at night (with night vision goggles), as well as for Cat. A operations. Each year, more than 400 pilots pass through the Training Academy in Donauwörth, completing over 1,500 flight hours in the process.