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All SYSTEMS GO: FLTLT
Aaron Carswell checks over a map in the 285SQN simulator control
room.
Photo by AC Christopher Dickson |
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TRAINING future Hercules crews at 285SQN is soon to become more realistic
and comprehensive, thanks to a $14 million simulator upgrade.
Flight simulator contractor CAE Australia is installing the squadron’s
C-130H and C-130J simulators Tactical Training Capability Upgrade (TTCU).
Work on the TTCU began in January 2006 with a completion date of mid-2007.
Until now, the Hercules simulators have recreated only the basic elements
of flying training. When operational, the TTCU will create the levels
of combat realism necessary for the many operational activities undertaken
by C-130 crews.
Simulator Fidelity Manager for 285SQN’s C-130J simulator, FLTLT Rob
Crawford, said one of the biggest changes had been the upgrade to the
visual system.
“The quality and detail of the visuals has increased tenfold,”
he said.
“The terrain detail is such that Hercules crews can now fly over
an accurate map of Australia’s eastern seaboard, which utilises photo-real
ground textures taken from aerial imagery laid over a three-dimensional
ground surface.”
Environmental effects also allow a simulated Hercules to deploy flares,
fly through cloud levels, skim over waves at sea and kick up dust when
landing.
Both simulators also have additions to their cockpit environment, with
a functioning navigator’s station now included inside the C-130H
cockpit. Night training using night-vision goggles can also be practised
in both simulators.
Not all changes are reserved for the flight crews, as 285SQN’s instructors
now have a new office as well.
Previously, the instructors would have to ride out the training alongside
the crews inside the simulator.
“Working inside the simulator can be quite fatiguing, and there’s
an instructor limit of four hours a day inside the simulator,” FLTLT
Crawford said.
Now, instructors run the simulators from the off-board instructor stations,
a pair of consoles in a separate room that provide a Big Brother-style
view of what’s going on inside the cockpit.
From there, instructors control a new system, the Interactive Tactical
Environment Management System (ITEMS), which creates realistic tactical
mission scenarios.
Using ITEMS, the crews now fly in threat environments from surface-to-air
missiles, enemy fighters and other threats. Instructors can either control
the threat environment manually or allow ITEMS to load them automatically.
In turn, Hercules crews can defend themselves with counter-measures or
take evasive action including terrain-shielding.
“Before the TTCU, there were no simulated threats,” FLTLT Crawford
said. “Now crews are fully immersed in the tactical scenario and
must take real action against the simulated threats.”
Both the C-130J and C-130H simulators can now be networked.
“By combining the simulators with the instructors’ stations,
you can recreate a four-ship formation,” FLTLT Crawford said.
“Our aim is to transfer as much training as possible from the real
aircraft into the simulator.”
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