Helixcom, a Sicily-based AOC operator and subsidiary of Multicom, is to deploy a Loft VR Airbus H125 training device to establish a training and competence centre for helicopter pilots. This is Loft Dynamics' first simulator in Italy.

Helixcom will install and operate the Loft Dynamics H125 training device at its home base south of Caltanissetta, in the heart of Sicily. This showcases the versatility of the devices, as they can be efficiently operated in even the most remote locations. Pilots will no longer have to spend valuable time travelling to distant simulator centres. Having an on-site simulator also enables flexible scheduling of training sessions and checks, irrespective of weather conditions. An exemplary case is Air Greenland, which has already successfully integrated the Loft Dynamics training device into its operations in Nuuk, Greenland.

Helixcom currently operates five Airbus H125 helicopters at its own airfield south of Caltanissetta, with three of them owned by its parent company, Multicom. By acquiring a Loft Dynamics simulator, Helixcom aims to establish a comprehensive training and competence centre for helicopter pilots. This centre will provide pilots with realistic training experiences, leveraging the numerous advantages of simulator training, including the execution of abnormal procedures and the ability to handle demanding scenarios through scenario-based exercises.

“Multicom will install a simulator at its aviation technical centre in Sicily, which complements existing authorised training organisations (ATOs), aircraft operators and training centres. Safety is fundamental to any transport system, and it is our top priority. Helicopters are widely used in Europe, particularly in services such as HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service), surveillance, police operations, aerial work and agriculture. Statistics show that progress in reducing helicopter fatalities in the EU has remained virtually unchanged in recent years. This is where simulators come in; they have been proven to enable pilots to gain experience efficiently, safely and cost-effectively. Simulators allow future pilots to practise various training scenarios and operational procedures tailored to their specific field of activity, which has a positive impact on flight safety,” says Gianluca Mannino Gueli, owner of Multicom.

The simulator installed at Multicom in Sicily is the first of its kind in Italy.

“We are pleased that pilots in Italy now also have access to realistic state-of-the-art simulator training. This could be a sign that our training device will soon become established in other regions as well,” concludes Fabi Riesen, CEO of Loft Dynamics.