Indra develops a trainer for theA330 MRTT in-Flight Refueling Tanker

Airbus Defence & Space has entrusted Indra, one of the world's leading global consulting and technology companies, the development of a tactical and integrated procedures trainer (IPT) for training pilots who operate the A330 MRTT aerial refueling tanker. System delivery is scheduled for 2019.

With this new project, Indra strengthens its leadership position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of simulators. The company has supplied over 200 simulators to over fifty clients in 23 countries.

The trainer will be a key element for pilots to familiarize themselves with the systems of the A330 MRTT tanker. All of them must pass a mandatory training period before assuming control of the real aircraft, which requires the completion of a number of flight hours onboard simulators and trainers. These types of equipment enable training on protocols to be applied in anomalous situations which are impossible to reproduce using a real plane, such as engine failure, stall of the aircraft, or emergency landings, for example.

The trainer replicates the cockpit's instrument panel with the aid of touchscreens. This reduce costs, in avoiding the need to use real equipment, and enables pilots to learn by "putting their hands on the wheel" of the aircraft from the very beginning, to move on to "flying" in the Full Flight Simulator during the final stage.

This preparation is intense and eminently practical. This results in pilots' having a faster and improved training process so that they're ready to fly an aircraft with maximum safety levels as soon as possible.

Indra's IPT may be connected to the Partial Training system (PTT) used by boom operators for refueling the A330 MRTT. This way, pilots can train to perform this complex operation in which they must coordinate with the boom operators and with the crew of the aircraft being refueled.

Full Flight Simulator of the A330 MRTT

The contract for developing the trainer of the A330 MRTT is in addition to the one already awarded to Indra in 2015 to develop the level D Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for this same aircraft.

Level D is the maximum level possible for a simulator, meaning that the system offers a degree of realism that makes one hour of training onboard it equivalent to one real hour of flight with that aircraft, for training purposes. Indra takes advantage of the software it currently develops for this simulator for use in the trainer as well.

The company counts with broad experience in the development of aircraft simulators. In Europe, it participated in the development of state-of-the-art simulators, like the Eurofighter and A400M. Indra has also delivered simulators to the US Navy and the Marine Corps of Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among other countries. In Spain, its collaboration with the Spanish Army Airmobile Forces (FAMET) in implementing one of the continent's most advanced helicopter training centers is worth highlighting. This center is equipped with Indra's Chinook, Cougar, Tigre and EC135 and will also count with the NH90 simulator that the company is currently developing. 

Indra has also developed simulators of the Airbus commercial aircraft A320 and A330, and of the Airbus helicopters H135, H225, H175, H145 and AS350. Its systems fly in countries all over the globe, including among others the USA, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Malaysia and Brazil.

About Indra

Indra is one of the main global consulting and technology companies, the top IT firm in Spain, and the technology partner for the core operations of its clients businesses worldwide. It offers a comprehensive range of proprietary solutions and cutting-edge services with a high added value in technology, which adds to a unique culture that is reliable, flexible and adaptable to its clients’ needs. Indra is a world leader in the development of end-to-end technology solutions in fields such as Defense and Security, Transport and Traffic, Energy and Industry, Telecommunications and Media, Financial Services, Electoral Processes, and Public Administrations and Healthcare. Through its Minsait unit, it addresses the challenges of digital transformation. In 2016 Indra posted revenues of €2,709m and had a workforce of 34,000 professionals, a local presence in 46 countries, and sales operations in more than 140 countries. Following its acquisition of Tecnocom, Indra's combined revenues amounted to more than €3,200m in 2016 with a team of nearly 40,000 professionals.