DRF Luftrettung has received certification for its hoistAR winch simulator from the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, Germany's federal aviation office, making it the first air rescue operator in Europe with a winch training syllabus approved by a national authority.

Crews at the organisation's five stations equipped with winch helicopters will be able to conduct part of their training virtually, supplementing the twice-yearly real-world sessions that have until now been the only way to practise the procedure. Winch rescues require regular, intensive and realistic training to be carried out safely and quickly, and previously this could only be achieved in the aircraft itself.

The mobile hoistAR simulator, developed by DRF Luftrettung with Reiser Simulation and Training, uses extended reality (XR) technology to train pilots and hoist operators, the crew members who work from the skid, independent of time of day or weather. All of the technology is housed in a trailer, making the unit mobile and location-independent. Hoist operators can train alone in a “stand-alone” mode without travelling to a simulation centre. The system also features an XY-axes motion platform that adapts to changing flight attitudes and weather conditions, along with realistic cable and load movement.

A further capability, described as unique worldwide, allows the hoistAR to be coupled with the H145 full flight simulator at LAT Lufthansa Aviation Training in Frankfurt, enabling hoist operators and pilots to train together in a “slave to FFS” mode. The approach is expected to improve safety through repeated, individualised training of emergency procedures and reduce the amount of time aircraft are taken out of service for training purposes.