In collaboration with ANA Trading Corp, Spain-based simulator manufacturer entrol has installed a H145/BK-117 D3 FTD Level 5 simulator for Tokyo, Japan-based rotary operator Aero Asahi.

The simulator features a replica of the Helionix integrated avionics, a spherical visual system with six projectors, a vibration system, forward looking camera based on FLIR, mission scenarios and a high-resolution database of Japan with satellite imagery.

Aero-Asahi will use the simulator to practise the helicopter's normal and emergency procedures and to train HEMS and SAR operations.

"We believe that training as if it is an actual flight operation, and flying as if it is a training session, is an important factor for safety," says Aero Asahi executive officer Ichiro Tashiro. "We have installed the H145/BK117 D-3 simulator, which reproduces the actual aircraft with entrol's technology. This will provide customers with a higher level of safety operation through not only type transition training but also mission training and various scenarios.”

In the future, Aero Asahi is aiming for FTD Level 5 certification from Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. and after certification it will be possible to record in the flight log as the flight time of instrument flight etc.

In addition, FTD Level 5 certification can greatly contribute to the maintenance and improvement of pilot skills. It is expected to be widely used in the training of pilots belonging to local governments and business companies.

This is the second FTD introduced by Aero Asahi, the first was an AS350B3e type in 2018, and the third entrol device installed in Japan.