First H125 VR FTD EASA Now Qualified

EASA, VRM Switzerland and Airbus Helicopters open have qualified an Airbus Helicopters H125 flight training device (FTD) Level 3 with Virtual Reality (VR) technology at Helitrans in Norway. This training device is approved by Airbus Helicopters and enables pilots to fly and feel the H125 with a level of fidelity very close to the real helicopter in all phases of flight and during emergency situations. The simulator will be used for pilot training and checking and will provide training credits.

“VRM Switzerland has further enhanced its innovative VR technology that was first qualified in 2021 for a different aircraft. Backed by Airbus Helicopters’ expertise, the newly qualified H125 simulator meets FTD Level 3 requirements and achieves a very high representativity level.  An in-house developed electrically driven high-dynamic motion platform and our full replica cockpit layout in combination with the VRM pose-tracking system, allow the pilot to operate the helicopter like real. The VR system with 3D vision and high-resolution sceneries rounds up the full- body immersion. A novelty is the common tablet with stored checklists and other documents which is fully integrated in the virtual world. This allows the pilot to operate a real tablet in VR for the first time ever,” says Fabi Riesen, CEO of VRM Switzerland.

Francesco Gaetani, Acting Head of Air Crew & Medical Department at EASA says: “The H125 FTD approval represents a milestone for the use for virtual reality in devices from FNPTs to FTDs. EASA has carefully investigated the capabilities and effects of this combination of VR and motion systems for helicopter training. EASA is confident that such types of new technologies will bring added value to training organisations in terms of cost and flight safety. As these devices are utilising new technologies not foreseen in existing regulatory requirements, special conditions for the approval had to be developed, ensuring an equivalent level of safety. During this process, EASA and the industry effectively collaborated to establish a sound qualification basis for the H125 FTD.”

VRM Switzerland and Airbus Helicopters signed a commercial partnership agreement for the commercialization of the simulator. In the frame of this agreement, both companies will cooperate to deploy the device worldwide and identify new areas of development for other helicopters and missions.

“The H125 training solution allows recurrent programmes to be run more effectively. Today operators execute, as per regulation, manoeuvre-based proficiency checks mostly on real helicopters. With this simulator, pilots can learn more purposefully in scenario-based trainings completely without carbon emissions. The device is approved for proficiency checks, type ratings according to EASA part FCL, and parts of an instrument rating. With this technology, Evidence Based Training (EBT) concepts can be implemented,” Fabi Riesen comments.