Indian Navy commissions aviation simulators

Two state-of-the-art simulators - a Flight and Tactical Simulator (FATS) for Seaking helicopters and a Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) for aircrew - were commissioned here Thursday.

Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command inaugurated the twin facilities, housed at the INS Garuda Naval Air Station.

Admiral Soni said that such facilities would help in reducing accidents and asked aircrews to focus on proper maintenance so that they can be utilized for many years.

FATS is designed for pilots and observers of Seaking helicopters for initial and periodic training, as well as evaluation of new procedures and tactics.

The simulator is a PC-based system with a glass cockpit, collimated visuals and an electro pneumatic system with six degrees of freedom and motion.

The simulator is a roll on/roll off system wherein other aircraft cockpits can also be substituted.

The simulator can factor-in all scenarios encountered by a navy pilot, including deck landings on different warships, various emergencies and night flying.

WSTF will provide realistic training to aircrew for escaping from a ditched aircraft under varied simulated conditions and crash scenarios.

The facility, the first in India, has s state-of-the-art Survival Training Simulation Theatre (STST) with several components.

The helicopter underwater escape trainer and the cockpit underwater escape trainer of the STST trains the crew in escaping from a submerged aircraft.

The Parachute Disengagement and Drag Trainer provides a realistic experience of entering the water while descending by a parachute into the sea.

The Rescue Hoist Trainer of the STST, as the name suggests, provides the aircrew with rescue procedures and techniques while being rescued.