FlightSafety International and Metro Aviation are celebrating five years of delivering training for single and multi-engine helicopters using Level D qualified simulators in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Co-CEO and president of commercial David Davenport says: “Our longstanding relationship with Metro Aviation continues to enhance helicopter safety through comprehensive professional training programmes using advanced technology simulators.”

Metro president and CEO Mike Stanberry was instrumental in the development of the first EC135 Level D qualified full flight simulator to be installed in North America for use in business and commercial aviation. “Mike’s commitment and determination to enhance safety at Metro Aviation and throughout the commercial helicopter industry is most appreciated and valued,” adds Davenport.

The EC135 and EC145 Level D qualified simulators installed at the Metro Aviation Training Center are used extensively by Metro to train its pilots, and by FlightSafety instructors to deliver a wide variety of courses that meet the specific operational needs and mission requirements of other operators.

“This has been an exceptional and unusual partnership between Metro and FlightSafety International,” explains Stanberry. “This is the first time FlightSafety International has partnered with an operator on this type of venture and I have always appreciated the fact that it joined forces with us to bring full motion Level D simulators to our industry that did not previously exist.”

Metro Aviation was incorporated in 1982 as a helicopter charter, flight training and maintenance operation. It entered the air medical service business in 1983 and now has air medical transport operations throughout the US, currently operating more than 140 aircraft for 35 programmes coast to coast. It is said to be the first air medical operator to equip its entire fleet with NVGs, the first to require that all of its pilots are IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) current and qualified and also the first to use simulators as part of its training curriculum.

FlightSafety is also now offering new Airbus Helicopters EC130T2 and AS350B3 courses at its learning centre in Denver, Colorado. “We are pleased to augment the support offered to operators of the EC130T2 and AS350B3 helicopter with these new courses in Denver,” says senior VP of commercial Steve Gross. “The development and introduction of the new programmes clearly demonstrates our commitment and ability to respond to the changing needs of our customers.”

The Denver centre now offers FAA-approved Part 142 initial, recurrent and prior experience courses for the Airbus Helicopters EC130T2. Other new programmes include EC130T2 initial, recurrent and recent flight experience NVG, along with AS350B3 differences training to the AS350B2 and AS350B3e/H125.

The Denver Learning Center currently offers a wide variety of training programmes using simulators for the single-engine Airbus AS350 B3, Airbus EC130T2, Airbus EC135 and Bell 407GX helicopters.