Air force NH90 chopper pilots can train in NZ
At a time of border closures and cancelled flights the air force no longer has to send its pilots overseas for training.
Its $42 million NH90 helicopter simulator allows pilots to fly a chopper across the world from the comfort of a warehouse at hakea air base.
Previously, pilots in training had to travel to Australia, Germany, Italy and France to use a simulator, where they can train without the risk of being in charge of a real helicopter.
Covid-19 had stopped pilots travelling for the training. Squadron leader Ben Pryor said training was integral preparation for flying one of the air force’s eight NH90 helicopters.
‘‘Having our ownmeans that we can continue without the initial risk of them not being trained.’’
It was a drain on resources to pay for personnel to go overseas several times, meaning they were away from the air base, he said.
Instead of condensing training into a short block, they were able to have pilots in and out of the simulator throughout their training.
It would significantly reduce costs, although Pryor did not know how much it would save.
Yesterday, he sat in the simulator immersed in a virtual reality of flying through Palmerston North, the Southern Alps in the snow, and around Parliament in Wellington.
The simulator was built in Canada over six months and shipped to New Zealand. It has been operational for about six weeks.
Pryor said it could take pilots through scenarios that were risky to train for in real life, particularly aircraft system failures and war zone flying.
‘‘We are trying to make it as realistic as possible. All of the terrain information should be exactly how it looks in the real world, but we will never get it to be exactly like real life.’’
The instructor was able to pause and move the helicopter through time and space to maximise all aspects of the training, from the height of the helicopter to its location.
It could also replicate flying at night, as well as different weather conditions and hazards, such as power lines and windmills.
‘‘It’s incredible how realistic the simulator can be. With the sound up and the motion seats, all of the cockpit is replicated,’’ Pryor said.