- The system will train AS350 pilots at the American Eurocopter centre in Dallas (Texas).
- It is the most technologically advanced system for single-engine helicopters.
- Indra reinforces its position in the civil simulation market where the demand is increasing.
Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, has delivered a simulator of the AS350 helicopter destined to police surveillance to the American Eurocopter. The company implemented the system at the training centre of the aircraft manufacturer in Dallas (Texas). The price of this type of system is around € 6M in the market.
The standards established by American Eurocopter for this system makes the simulator the most advanced of the world for single-engine helicopters. It will train the pilots of the most widely employed surveillance helicopters in the USA. Over 750 units of this model are in use by the police forces of Washington, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, among others.
Indra’s simulator will be the first of the USA to be equipped with a solution to adequate training to civil environments. Pilots will be able to practice the more usual police operations in urban areas; for instance ground crew support, close protection or following suspicious vehicles, among others, including contact and coordination with the command post.
The avionics and navigation systems of the simulator are the same as those of the helicopter. The visual system will offer highly detailed scenes and a 210 degree vision. Since the flying altitude is low, the simulator will reproduce streets and buildings very accurately. It also offers the possibility to train under different weather conditions and in night time mode.
The contract was closed upon delivery of the simulators of EC135 and EC145 helicopters to American Eurocopter. The aircraft manufacturer commissioned the development of the new system after testing Indra’s simulators which reflects their satisfaction.
Growing presence in helicopter simulation
This project reaffirms Indra’s position in the international market of civil simulation besides strengthening its relationship with Eurocopter, one of the main helicopter manufacturers worldwide.
The demand of training solutions has increased lately due to the establishment of stricter requirements by international authorities. In addition to this, helicopter operators strive to enhance the training of their pilots and improve the security levels.
The contract to develop the AS350 adds to a recent commission of the EC225 simulator to train the pilots who transport people and goods to oil drilling platforms located in the North Sea. The company has also delivered simulators of the EC135 helicopter; a versatile helicopter destined for police, sanitary and transport use, to Germany and Poland, besides the Eurocopter centre in Dallas.
Civil simulation
Indra is one of the main simulator manufacturers worldwide with over 25 years of experience. It develops simulation systems for aircrafts, trains, metro systems, buses and other vehicles such as heavy machinery, among many others.
Within aeronautics simulation, Indra has used its leadership and knowledge as a developer of cutting-edge military simulators-such as those embarked on Harrier AV V8 for the US Navy, the simulators of the Eurofighter and of the Tiger helicopter- for the civil sector. We should mention a system recently developed for the ATR 72 passenger aircraft as it is the most advanced for this model and the Airbus 320 simulators.
Indra
Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the first European company in its sector according to investment in R&D and is the second Spanish company in absolute value investments in R&D. In 2009 revenues reached € 2,513 M of which a 40% came from the international market. The company employs more than 30,000 professionals and has clients in more than 100 countries.