Ground mission for Orion aircrews

By Deanna Nott

AP-3C Orion aircrew can access full crew, tactical and procedural training inside the Maritime Patrol Group’s new Operational Mission Simulator (OMS).

The Air Force formally accepted the OMS from primary contractor L3 Integrated Communications at a ceremony two months ago.

The OMS closely emulates the actual AP-3C but is firmly attached to the ground inside a purpose-built room.
It was developed as part of Project Air 5276, which aims to ensure the current fleet of Orion aircraft can operate effectively until 2015.

A great advantage of the new simulator is the increase in sensor simulation fidelity. This means a much greater level of realism is now possible which means crews can gain higher levels of skill and qualifications on the ground. It also means less fatigue on actual AP-3C Orion airframes.

Commander Maritime Patrol Group Air Commodore Philip Byrne, who accepted the OMS on behalf of the Air Force, said crews would gain much higher levels of proficiency in the new simulator.

“The OMS can be used in a full crew scenario or be utilised to test individual crew members, such as Tactical Coordinators, Airborne Electronics Analysts and Navigators,” said AIRCDRE Byrne.

“This simulator is a particularly important asset as it is used for initial training for all AP-3C Orion aircrew.”

Air Force personnel are responsible for creating scenarios, while Air Force Engineers and Airborne Electronic Analysts and civilian contractors are responsible for performing maintenance on and minor enhancements of the computer system.

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