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The suite of training devices at MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, have been declared Ready for Training. “These training devices will prepare aircrew and maintainers for the full suite of capabilities of the CH-53K in a safe and cost-effective manner,” said Tom Gordon, Lockheed Martin, vice president of Training and Simulation Solutions. “Crews can rehearse for operational deployment, ensuring the U.S. Marines are ready to successfully complete their missions.”
The Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) are portable full-mission flight simulator that will allow flight crews to train on the full scope of Marine Corps heavy lift missions, including external lift operations. The Marines began training with the CFTD earlier this year. Capt. Nick Moran, U.S. Marine Corps operational test pilot for the CH-53K and CH-53E shared, “The scenarios for the system in the simulator there’s nothing we cannot program it to do that we would not find in real life.” The CFTD replicates the functionality, flight characteristics, mission profiles and unmatched capabilities of the CH-53K helicopter. Lt. Col. Jonathan Morel, USMC, retired, CH-53K test pilot for KBR explained, “What we realized this simulator here is as close to the aircraft as any flight simulator I’ve seen before.”
The device can replicate the various environmental conditions that the aircraft is likely to fly in as well as a multitude of mission profiles in the operation of a true heavy lift helicopter.
The Helicopter Emulation Maintenance Trainer (HEMT) and Composite Maintenance Trainer (CMT) are both purpose-built for the King Stallion’s maintenance training. The HEMT is a computer-based lab that familiarizes the mechanic with maintenance tasks they perform, including tools, functions and checks. By virtually depicting the inside and outside of the aircraft and providing feedback, maintainers can learn many of the maintenance functions utilizing the HEMT prior to working on the aircraft. The CMT is a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft and is the final step of familiarizing the maintainer with the aircraft. The device allows students to interact with the physical controls of the aircraft to learn to remove and install hardware and perform functional checks. An instructor operating system assigns tasks and monitors progress for focused feedback. David Karcher, Lockheed Martin, senior specialist mechanic shared, “The benefit to a trainer like this is to create an environment that is somewhat realistic to a real aircraft but has safety in mind.”
