Dhruv simulator cockpit arrives at HATSOFF

Bangalore, Feb 2 (PTI) The Helicopter Academy to Trainby Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) today announced that itssimulator cockpit for the civil or conventional variant of theDhruv helicopter has arrived at its training centre herefollowing design and manufacture in Montreal, Canada.

"This is the world''s first simulator representing theindigenously developed HAL Dhruv helicopter and we are excitedto begin offering simulation-based training that willundoubtedly prove to be a safe and cost-effective method fortraining Dhruv helicopter air crew," Wing Commander (Retd)Chandta Datt Upadhyay, CEO of HATSOFF, said.

A joint venture of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)and CAE, a leading Canadian maker of flight simulators,HATSOFF began operating here in 2010.

The Dhruv simulator cockpit will be installed andintegrated with the CAE-built full-mission simulator currentlyin operation at HATSOFF, a release said.

The simulator features CAE''s roll-on on roll-offcockpit design, which enables cockpits representing varioushelicopter types to be used in the simulator, it said.

The cockpit for the civil or conventional variant ofDhruv is the second for the HATSOFF training centre, and willbe ready for training in May 2011, the release said.

The first cockpit for the simulator represents theBell 412 helicopter. Training for Bell 412 operators commencedin July 2010.

The CAE-built full-mission helicopter simulator atHATSOFF and the Bell 412 cockpit were certified in 2010 toLevel D, the highest qualification for flight simulators, byIndia''s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and theEuropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the release said. PTIJD ARP APR APR